In June, 1957, two junior high school students began a summer of study at the research laboratories of the National Children's Cardiac Hospital to learn about research at first hand. Their work provided great promise for using this type of approach in the early training of specially gifted students who are interested or may be motivated to develop interest in science.
Many individuals and agencies were apprised of the program. The declared purposes were (1) to develop laboratory skills, (2) to develop new understandings about the research projects under way in the laboratory, and (3) to permit students to participate in special demonstrations of scientific research in progress.
The hope was to inculcate young, ambitious, capable students with the need for, value of, and interest in adequate scientific education; to serve as a medium for attempting to make available science scholarships for students who otherwise might be unable to obtain