3 . Ways to Create Connection and Drive Away Loneliness

Around the globe, about 1 in 4 adults says they feel socially disconnected. Here are some tips that may help create an inviting atmosphere to get connected with others.

    1    

It’s easier to connect with people if you have shared interests or experiences.     2    . It may lead you to activities or creative outlets that connect you to people who share your interests. In short, knowing yourself is the first step to bond with others.

Make something

When we say “make something”, people immediately say, “Well, I’m not Picasso. I don’t know how to do a fancy painting.” Of course, you’re not!     3    . Try to dance or plant a herb garden. Anything that shows to others who you are will do.

Take a risk by having conversations

Try to share something about yourself and see where it goes. It doesn’t have to be the biggest or darkest secret of your life, but just something you think other people might find interesting will do. Sure, putting yourself out there may be a little bit risky.     4    .

If you can open up and share your thoughts and feelings in proper ways, other people will do the same in return. It’s like an electric circuit.     5    .

6 . “It’s a natural question,”Dr. Holt-Lunstad said the “ideal”number of friends. “Just like we have guidelines and recommendations for the amount of sleep we get and how physically active we are, this is health relevant.” While she and other friendship researchers admit there aren’t many studies that have specifically tackled the question of how many friends people should aim for, those that have been done offer a range.

Dr. Degges-white recently conducted a survey of 297 adults, which has not been published or subject to peer review but found that 55 percent of participants believed two to three close friends was ideal, while 31 percent thought four to six was was the goal. But friendship and intimacy are subjective, and there isn’t a widely used scale researchers share to define those concepts across studies. It’s also unclear how social media factors into all of this, as research suggests the size of a person’s online network may not have any meaningful impact on their perceived well-being.

While friendship research offers some standards, it may be more useful for most of us to consider if you need more friends. Dr. Marisa Franco recommends starting with a fairly obvious but powerful question: Do I feel lonely? “Also, different people bring out different parts of us. So when you have a larger friend group, you’re able to experience this side of yourself that loves golf, and this side that loves cars,” she added. “If you feel like your identity has sort of shrunk, or you’re not feeling quite like yourself, that might indicate you need different types of friends.”

Of course, making friends in adulthood isn’t always easy. Research shows people struggle with it because they find it difficult to trust new people. For those reasons, it is often easier to start by reawakening old relationships. The amount of time you actually spend with your friends matters, too. Franco suggests that on average, very close friendships tend to take around 200 hours to develop. But spending time with friends you feel ambivalent (情绪复杂的) about — because they’re unreliable, critical, competitive or any of the many reasons people get under our skin — can be bad for your health.

8 . Astronauts have traditionally been serious, sensible types with the “right stuff” who can     1    (trust) to fly equipment. But any mission to Mars will need a “joker” or “class clown” figure to be     2     (success), according to NASA research. A sense of humor will be vital for any team to keep morale (士气) high on a two-year trip to Mars     3    may happen in the 2030s.

According to researchers, groups work best when they have a “joker” who has the ability to pull everyone together, bridge gaps when tensions appear     4    really boost morale. When astronauts are in a confined space on a mission to Mars, tensions are likely     5     (occur). It’s vital that there should be one who can help everyone get along, so they can do their jobs and get there and back     6     (safe).

Researchers have studied isolated groups of people in extreme environments including Russian, Chinese, Indian and Polish     7     (explorer) based in Antarctica. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen succeeded while Captain Scott     8    (fail) to reach the South Pole because the Norwegians had a “clown” figure on their team. He laughed and was very happy,     9     (keep) up people’s spirits.

But researchers added: “Being funny won't be enough to land somebody the job. He also needs to be     10    excellent scientist and engineer and be able to pass a strict training program.”

9 . Science and Technology Camp

•Full-day camp for students aged 12-14

•Four-week program July 5-30 | Monday-Friday, 9 am to 4 pm

Week 1 | July 5-9

Week 2 | July 12-16

Week 3 | July 19-23

Week 4 | July 26-30

•Registration begins June 1, 2023 — register for minimum two weeks.

•Fees: $75 registration fee. $795 per week. Full payment must be made at time of registration.

•The deadline for the cancellation to receive a full refund is June 15, 2023.

Camp Structure

Camp days are comprised of eight sessions with two sessions per day while the final day of the week is reserved for overviews and reflection. The morning sessions begin at 9 am to 12 pm followed by one hour for lunch. (Campers should bring their lunches.) Afternoon sessions are scheduled from 1 pm to 4 pm with 15-minute breaks midway through each session. Snacks are provided at break time. (Food allergies should be reported at the time of registration.)

Camp Content

Science and Technology camp above all emphasizes entertainment while teaching students about how websites are designed using various coding languages, rocket design, practical applications of math and physics, and how to build your own hydraulics system.

Camp Personnel

The camp is headed by the husband-and-wife team of Doctors James and Sophie Clark who are experts in the fields of computer science and mechanical engineering. Our mission is to make sure everyone feels fully supported and excited to be here.