Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Investigate germs, immunity, and disease in this three-week microbiology course for middle school students on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.
Course Description
Microorganisms are everywhere, but their effects range from helpful to harmful. Students begin with the history of medical microbiology and the scientists whose discoveries changed how people understand infection. A Glo Germ investigation makes transmission visible and gives students evidence for testing a handwashing protocol.
The course compares bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes, then connects them to immune-system responses, infectious disease, microbiomes, and biotechnology. Students sort microbes by function, map immune cells involved in different disorders, research how a treatment affects a disease process, and communicate findings through diagrams and short presentations.
For the capstone, students identify a challenge or opportunity where microorganisms play an important role. They investigate the underlying biology, current approaches, and emerging trends, then propose a scientifically grounded response. Checkpoints guide research, evidence, and presentation so the final project explains both the problem and the microbiological reasoning behind the solution.
This three-week course is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Bryn Mawr College’s campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The program is available to commuter students. Beyond class, students take part in campus activities, make new friends, and build confidence and independence in a college setting.
What Will You Do?
• Build a timeline of discoveries in medical microbiology
• Model germ transmission and test a handwashing protocol
• Compare bacteria, viruses, fungi, and beneficial microbes
• Map immune-system responses to infections and disorders
• Research a disease and explain how a treatment works
• Develop and present a microbiology capstone proposal
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Compare major types of microorganisms and their roles in health and disease
• Use experimental and research evidence to explain transmission and immune response
• Propose and present a scientifically grounded response to a microbiology challenge
Students will leave with laboratory-style observations, disease and treatment diagrams, and a capstone proposal connecting microbes to a real medical opportunity.
Why Microbiology Skills Matter
Microbiology helps students connect invisible organisms to visible outcomes in health, food, ecosystems, and biotechnology. Designing a handwashing test shows how a procedure and evidence can replace assumptions. Comparing microbes and immune responses prevents the common mistake of treating every infection as the same.
Researching a disease or treatment also develops source evaluation and causal reasoning. Students must distinguish the organism, the body’s response, and the mechanism of an intervention. These habits support future learning in biology, medicine, public health, environmental science, and laboratory investigation.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for middle school students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and are curious about germs, disease, medicine, the immune system, or how tiny organisms can change the world. It is a good fit for students who enjoy experiments, diagrams, research, and explaining scientific evidence.
Students should be ready to handle classroom materials carefully, discuss health topics respectfully, work in teams, and revise a project through checkpoints.
View the eligibility requirements for the Institute for the Gifted on our FAQ page. A completed program application is required.
Why Bryn Mawr?
Bryn Mawr gives middle-school students a welcoming place to explore challenging ideas, create, and meet peers who share their interests. Its historic, tree-lined setting near Philadelphia makes the day feel distinctly advanced while allowing students to return home each afternoon.
The commuter-day format combines active academics with a clear daily routine, shared activities, and Summer Discovery support throughout the program day. Students can test new interests, contribute to discussions and projects, and become more confident navigating a college setting without an overnight stay. For families, Bryn Mawr offers a thoughtful balance of substantive learning, friendship, guidance, and age-appropriate independence in a structured day-program environment.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification of completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive