Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: applications open for the 2024 Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program
Davis-Bahcall Scholars travel the world each summer touring cutting-edge research facilities.
Applications are now being sought for SURF’s annual Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program, which takes students around the world of modern scientific research on an all-expense-paid, once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
“The Davis-Bahcall Scholars program was an extraordinary experience,” said Ike-Njoku Theresa Ahunna, a freshman at Augustana University and a Davis-Bahcall scholar during the summer of 2023.
The Davis-Bahcall Scholars program invites students into laboratory spaces where impactful research is taking place around the world. Scholars learn about such research initiatives as the nature of dark matter and neutrinos, engineering processes, as well as immediately-applicable disciplines including engineering, animal medicine, and agricultural research.
“Every moment was filled with joy and adventure, from the forged friendships to the unforgettable road trips and deliciously unusual meals. The program offered me an endless wealth of knowledge, and every lecture provided a fresh perspective on the captivating realm of science,” Ahunna said.
Other past scholars agree, William Kuhl, a freshman at South Dakota Mines, was a Davis-Bahcall scholar during the summer of 2023.
“As we traveled from lab to lab, I noticed a recurring theme: the scientists we met were as passionate about learning from their work as my group members. Even in Europe, the researchers we met all "spoke" the universal language of curiosity. As I go on in pursuit of an engineering degree, I will remember that passion for science and research can be contagious if curiosity is nurtured,” said Kuhl.
In 2024, the program will run from Sunday, June 16 through Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Final itinerary is subject to change.) Interested students can now apply here. The application deadline is Friday, January 19, 2024.
Since 2009, more than 100 students have participated in the Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program. The program is offered through a collaboration between Sanford Underground Research Facility and Black Hills State University. Significant financial and in-kind support are provided by South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, Black Hills State University, First PREMIER Bank, and South Dakota Space Grant Consortium.
