Pennsylvania
A Week With the Scientists at Penn State University
Program No. 14314RJ
Choose your week: science behind searching for planets, weather forecasting or modern materials, all through captivating discussions and excursions with Penn State experts.
Participant Reviews
Based on 21 Reviews
SHOWING
The instructors were first-rate, and we had ample time to ask questions during our class sessions. I enjoyed our field trips to the State College National Weather Service office and the AccuWeather headquarters. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in meteorology.
— Review left July 11, 2025
Very informative. Like opening a whole new world. A lot of material is presented so good idea to take notes to help your memory later on.
— Review left July 7, 2025
A Top Notch Chemistry program on how Polymers are created, modified, and structured. Detailed info is presented on the use of various electron microscopes to study molecular structures . Field trips are made to various laboratories to see the equipment used to create & study polymers. Presentations describe how polymers affect our daily lives including medical applications, sport & leisure equipment, and current research. A fundamental understanding of basic chemisty is helpful, e.g. periodic table, metals/non-metals, atomic structure, ions, molecules, polymers. Overall, an excellent course to find out how chemistry processes are used to create materials that improve our daily lives.
— Review left June 26, 2025
This was a great program. The lectures were so informative. For example-- we learned about research being done at Penn State to improve glass and plastics in ways that would help the environment. We toured the labs and we had interactions with students that were so fun. The hotel was very nice and the meals were all excellent.
— Review left June 21, 2025
I'd give this program on meteorology a solid WOW! The Penn State faculty members were really... I mean REALLY... into the subject matter. The amount of knowledge shared was at once overwhelming, eye-opening and intellectually exhilarating. Our field trips to the local National Weather Service office and AccuWeather broadcast center were, I thought, quite enlightening. I learned to look at meteorology from a totally different perspective, and I came away with a decidedly stronger respect for the science of meteorology and the folks who study it as their life work.
I need to give a shout out to my fellow Road Scholar participants in this program. They were genuinely interested in the subject matter, particularly questioning and curious, and respectful of the professionals we had the opportunity to meet. This program is the epitome of what Road Scholar is all about. I'd rank the astronomy program in the same class.
— Review left June 7, 2025
This program was awesome with a fascinating, mind-blowing topic, brilliant professors, a beautiful campus location, and a wonderful program leader in Nolan. The 3 scientists were just great and devoted so much time and energy to our program. They included amazing lectures, a planetarium presentation, a stargazing night, Astro Jeopardy and a specially-designed video game to reinforce our learning of astronomy. I loved it all!
— Review left June 6, 2025
If you are at all interested in astronomy this is the course for you! The instructors are leaders in their field, yet are able to explain mind-boggling concepts so lay folks can understand them. I learned so much! We also got todo some telescope viewing. The campus was beautiful and super close to the hotel, restaurants and shops. Group leader was great too. A + course!
— Review left May 27, 2025
This was my first road scholar trip. I went by myself. The trip was great, the group was friendly, the professors were excellent and Nolan, our leader was wonderful. I learned so much science in 4 days that my mind was blown but in a good way. Road scholar seems very well run and organized. I will be looking for another trip soon.
— Review left May 26, 2025
This trip was exactly what I was hoping for. Limited time on wheeled transportation...very walkable. Lovely campus setting. Excellent hotel. Good food. Great company, not too many, not too few. The lecturers were obviously experts who enjoy bringing others into meteorology. Great field trips...I am an Accuweather junkie. And the host...what a marvelous person and great addition to any trip. Made me happy every day.
— Review left June 29, 2024
A Top Notch Astronomy program, clearly presented by experts, covering a survey of celestial topics, including current knowledge of the solar system, the latest deep space discoveries, and current research. A BIG BANG (of a) Course!
— Review left June 24, 2024
What a rare privilege to spend the week with world-class astronomers. Not only were they knowledgable, but they were kind and patient with our many questions. I definitely want to do more reading on astronomy. It was also a pleasure being on the lovely Penn State Campus. Nolan, our group leader was a delight. The hotel location was great--close to shops and restaurants, and even a Target next door! I hope to return for another program.
— Review left June 14, 2024
Learning about weather and climate from experts was such fun. Wonderful people delivering the program throughout and like me participating. Nolan, the Road Scholar Guide, was the best! Plus the professors and staff were all top notch and truly cared about our learning and enjoying the process.
— Review left June 8, 2024
Excellent program! The Penn State faculty members who taught our classes were fantastic and kept us engaged. Also, my fellow class members were fully engaged in our interactions with the instructors. I, for one, came away with a decidedly expanded knowledge and understanding of the forces at play in our universe and a much deeper respect for the scientists and technology involved in studying them. Being on the Penn State campus rather than in an off-site classroom added to the depth of our experience. Our group leader Nolan did a super job. I'm already looking forward to returning to Penn State for other Road Scholar programs.
— Review left May 27, 2024
This is a great program - I am not a scientist, but I came away from the program understanding much more about our universe and encouraged to learn more. I am planning to view the sky at night and to continue my education in this are.
— Review left May 26, 2024
This was an awesome experience but please be aware that it involves sitting in class for extended periods of time. But it was such a good experience that I signed up for physics and got on the wait list for astronomy. I can’t wait to go back! Too bad Jon and Bill won’t be the instructors.
— Review left August 18, 2023
The Meteorology section for a week with Penn State scientists Jon Nese and Bill Syrett was and incredible and interesting program, world-class experience.
— Review left June 19, 2023
The week with the scientists at PSU covering Meteorology was excellent. The main instructor is a great teacher who tailors the material to all levels of Road Scholar participants, independent of their background.
— Review left June 12, 2023
Excellent course! My primary goal was to learn more about climate change and to understand its issues and impacts. Jon Nese (primarily) and Bill Syrett (secondarily) presented all this information in a professional yet impassioned manner. Their materials were easy-to-understand, and both readily answered the many questions asked by the participants.
The multiple 15-minute presentations by guest speakers were disappointing, though, because the speakers tended to cram as much information as possible into the limited time frame. It appeared that Penn State wanted to give speaking opportunities to as many as of their professors as possible, but I would have preferred 30-minute sessions from half the number.
The accommodations and meals for the trip worked out very well. The food at the Nittany Lion Inn was excellent, especially the lunch and dinner buffets. My only disappointment with accommodations was the trolley that transported us back and forth from the hotel to the Penn State locations as well as to off-site locations: the wooden slat seats were very uncomfortable, even for the short rides, and the driver always had the air conditioner on, which blew in strong gusts, even though the outside temperatures were quite unseasonally cool.
Based on my participation in this trip, I plan to sign up for the sister week on astronomy for 2020.
— Review left June 21, 2019
You will definitely learn something new on this trip. This trip contained more educational content than any other Road Scholar trip we have taken so far. All material was presented in a fun, easy to understand manner. When we played Astronomy Jeopardy on the last night,I was surprised how much I learned during the week.
— Review left June 21, 2019
Superior teaching that vastly enhanced my understanding of astronomy. I recommend this program without reservation. It is truly a wonderful week at Penn State.
— Review left June 21, 2019
The program content is mostly interesting. However, be prepared for many hours in the class room with some of the lectures rather boring.
— Review left June 14, 2019