The Alpha research program for gifted and talented high school students

The Future Scientists Center (FSC) was established to provide gifted and talented students with significant opportunities to reach their unique potential through participation in high quality programs at the forefront of various fields, while in high school. One of the leading programs within the FSC is the Alpha program.

Alpha is an innovative program for gifted high school students (9th grade graduates), which allows its participants to join the world of contemporary scientific research. The program was designed to serve the specialized needs of gifted students, by enriching their scientific knowledge, exposing them to high-level scientific research, providing them with the skills required to formulate their own independent scientific research, and executing the research at a level consistent with academic standards.

The program offers gifted students a meaningful intellectual experience alongside social activities. Students learn to cope with intriguing intellectual challenges and engage in social activities with their gifted peers from all over the country.

The program culminates into a research paper that can replace a matriculation examination in one of the intensive science subjects (five study units), or be counted independently as a five-unit subject on the matriculation certificate.

The Alpha program is a joint initiative of the Future Scientists Center and the Department for Gifted and Talented Students of the Ministry of Education.