About

The Institute for Mathematics and Democracy (IMD) High School Summer Research Program is an online research experience (late June–early August) for advanced high school students interested in the intersection of mathematical science and democratic systems. Organized by the IMD, the program places a small, selective cohort of students in research groups to work on real analytical projects involving election results, census data, and measures of democratic fairness. Key topics include gerrymandering metrics—such as the efficiency gap, partisan bias, and the GEO metric—as well as apportionment models.

Group meetings with mentors occur twice weekly, supplemented by weekly sessions featuring guest lectures from prominent mathematicians and democracy reform experts. Applications for the 2026 cycle must be submitted via the online form by March 6, 2026. While formal acceptance rates are not published, the program is capacity-limited to ensure close mentorship, typically hosting fewer than 20 students per summer. Across the research term, students collaborate on the analysis, modeling, and interpretation of complex data sets, gaining experience with quantitative research methods such as Topological Data Analysis (TDA) and persistent homology to identify discrepancies in voting patterns. frame individual work within broader debates on mathematical approaches to voting systems and representation.

Unlike traditional lab-based STEM programs, IMD’s curriculum centers on mathematical modeling in civic contexts, blending theory, data science, and applied social inquiry. Because the experience is fully remote, it offers structured mentorship and substantive intellectual engagement regardless of geography. The program functions as a research apprenticeship, with students producing formal research papers and presenting findings to the professional math and democracy community. Recent student work has been published in academic repositories like arXiv, reflecting the high caliber of output expected from the cohort.