SchoolNova at Stony Brook University will offer free math and physics clubs this fall for students from elementary through high school. The initiative aims to help students improve their problem-solving abilities and engage with advanced topics beyond the standard classroom curriculum.
Established in 2004, SchoolNova is a weekend enrichment program that serves about 500 students annually. It provides both in-person and online instruction in mathematics, science, languages, and art. The teaching staff includes professors, scientists, and educators affiliated with Stony Brook University who hold advanced degrees.
The new math and physics clubs are structured to challenge participants academically and prepare them for national competitions. They also aim to foster a community among students with similar interests.
“Understanding the foundations of physics and mathematics allows us to engage with the world in a rational, critical, and first-principles way,” said Zohar Komargodski, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Physics and Astronomy and faculty in the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, as well as a SchoolNova parent. “SchoolNova provides a framework to learn the core ideas of mathematics and physics, which provide the tools we need to navigate the modern world.”
High school students from the local community can join both the Advanced Math Problem-Solving Club and the Advanced Physics Club at no cost. The math club meets on campus and focuses on Olympiad-style problems to prepare students for contests such as AMC 8, AMC 10/12, and AIME. Each year some SchoolNova participants qualify for AIME or advance further.
The Advanced Physics Club is conducted online by Stony Brook faculty members and graduate students. Both clubs run for 90 minutes per session over 25 sessions throughout the academic year. Students do not need to be enrolled in other SchoolNova courses but must commit to regular attendance.
Middle schoolers currently taking SchoolNova math or physics classes can also join free clubs: an in-person middle school physics club or online math clubs that feature small group sizes for more personalized instruction. Elementary schoolers enrolled in relevant courses may participate in similar online math clubs.
These offerings supplement SchoolNova’s Sunday programs covering various levels of math, science, foreign languages, and art. The program also organizes competitions like Math Kangaroo, PhysicsBowl, and American Mathematics Competition.
Registration is now open for SchoolNova’s 22nd year; classes begin September 14. More information about courses, clubs, or competitions is available at https://schoolnova.org/.
