Science, Innovation & Design

SID Program Lead Dr. Patrick Fitzgerald




From the Program's Founder

Upper School Science teacher Dr. Patrick Fitzgerald currently serves as the program lead advisor and mentor. Dr. Fitzgerald can be contacted at pfitzgerald@hamdenhall.org.

The Science, Innovation, and Design program was established by Dr. Frank Gasparro during the 2011-2012 academic year. He served as the program director since its inception and mentored students with their research projects.


Premier Program Creates 'Culture of Innovation'

Hamden Hall’s Science, Innovation, & Design Program (SID) enables inquisitive, independent learners to pursue and study research topics of their own choosing.

The Middle School Science, Innovation, & Design Program (MS SID) provides interested students an additional opportunity to develop their scientific knowledge and skills. Through this program, students will use the scientific method to complete observations, come up with hypotheses, and formulate a question that culminates in the design and execution of their hands-on research. The overall goal is to cultivate these skills in preparation for high school level courses.

In our Upper School, SID is an extracurricular, interdisciplinary program that encourages highly motivated and intellectually curious students to excel as they develop a panoply of skills in scientific research, technology, public speaking, and more. A culture of innovation is created as students work with faculty mentors and each other to undertake goal-oriented projects. Some samples of this work include:

•Photochemotherapy research in conjunction with Duke University’s Immunolight Project to develop new treatment for internal cancers.

• Water projects that include spectrophotometry research.

• Carbon monoxide and radon detection projects.
 
Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.