SchoolNova at Stony Brook University will offer free math and physics clubs for students from elementary through high school this fall. The initiative aims to enhance problem-solving abilities and expose participants to advanced topics outside the standard classroom environment.
Established in 2004, SchoolNova operates as a weekend enrichment program, serving nearly 500 students annually. It provides both in-person and online instruction in subjects including mathematics, science, languages, and art. Faculty members include professors and educators from Stony Brook University who hold advanced degrees.
The math and physics clubs are intended to challenge students academically while preparing them for national competitions. These clubs also foster a community among students with shared 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 may participate without charge in both an Advanced Math Problem-Solving Club—meeting in person—and an Advanced Physics Club held online. The math club focuses on Olympiad-style questions designed for contests such as AMC 8, AMC 10/12, and AIME; some SchoolNova participants advance beyond AIME each year. The Advanced Physics Club is led by Stony Brook faculty and graduate students who guide participants through Olympiad-level challenges.
Each club session lasts 90 minutes over a series of 25 meetings throughout the academic year. Students are not required to enroll in other SchoolNova courses but must commit to regular attendance.
Middle schoolers enrolled at SchoolNova can join a middle school physics club (in person) or math clubs (online), all free of charge. Elementary-level math clubs are available online with small group formats that allow for more individualized attention.
These offerings supplement Sunday classes that cover multiple levels of STEM subjects as well as foreign languages and art. SchoolNova also organizes competitions such as Math Kangaroo, PhysicsBowl, and American Mathematics Competition.
Registration is open for SchoolNova’s upcoming academic year beginning September 14; further details are available at https://schoolnova.org/.