Hariri Institute Hosts RSI High School Student from Lebanon

This summer, the Hariri Institute participated in the Research Science Institute (RSI), a residential summer enrichment program for high school juniors who show extraordinary potential in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The program is a rigorous six-week introduction to aspects of scientific research, from formal coursework to design, execution, and analysis of experiments. It includes an individualized research mentorship, culminating in students completing research papers and delivering oral presentations reviewed by a panel of experts. Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education, the program is held at MIT and has been educating students from the United States and around the world.

Each summer since 1994, the Hariri Foundation has sponsored several Lebanese students to participate in RSI. During the summer of 2014, Hariri Institute Founding Director Azer Bestavros was chosen to mentor Sally Akkawal, a high school junior from Beirut, Lebanon.  They worked together on a project related to big-data analytics. Sally, with a passion for biology and a self-proclaimed “warrior,” her goal is to attain a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology. Sally’s participation in the RSI program was funded by the Hariri Foundation.