Coastal Carolina University's College of Natural and Applied Sciences will host "Summer at the Coast" for Junior Scholars, a two- week program for 19 rising ninth and 10th graders from throughout South Carolina, from June 17 to 30. Participants will be housed in residence halls on the Coastal campus.

The program, in its 12th year, is designed to help high school students develop an appreciation and understanding of science-related issues currently facing society. Seminar and research topics include: coastal development, dolphins, environmental chemistry, marine science, ornithology, psychology, sharks, thermal adaptations and water quality.

In addition to classroom discussion, students will participate in numerous field surveys of estuarine, beach and coastal environments; collecting and studying open ocean samples aboard the Coastal II, the university's 43-foot research vessel; and taking chemical and biological laboratory analysis of samples collected in the field.

Students will conduct research at Waites Island, a pristine barrier island near Little River, S.C.

The program is designed for students who have been recognized as Junior Scholars by the South Carolina State Department of Education. Junior Scholars are chosen during their eighth-grade year based on their high scholastic achievement.

Coastal's Marine Science for Junior Scholars program participants are selected from the state's Junior Scholars based on a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers and two essays written by the students which describe their interest in the program and the importance of the coastal environment.

For more information, contact Val Dunham, dean of Coastal's College of Natural and Applied Sciences, at 349-2202.