The IEEE TryEngineering Summer Institute, one student participant says, “allowed me to gain new experiences and understand the different types of engineering disciplines, and make many great friends and memories that will remain with me.”
Administered by IEEE Educational Activities, the institute is a nine-day summer sleepaway camp for students ages 13 to 17. It provides a fun, immersive approach to learning. Students engage in hands-on activities, speak with engineers, and take field trips to learn about real-world problems and solutions.
Participating Universities Columbia, New York City Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Rice University, Houston University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia University of San Diego
Launched in 2018, the Summer Institute is held annually at a number of U.S. universities. The program this year was held on five campuses: the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia; Rice University, in Houston; the University of San Diego; the Georgia Institute of Technology, in Atlanta; and Columbia, the newest location, organized in partnership with the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC).
In its inaugural year, more than 80 students participated. This year 311 attended.
Students explored trending technologies including artificial intelligence and microcontrollers. They also took a deep dive into ethical issues facing engineers, what to expect when pursuing higher education, and what STEM careers look like.
Here is an overview of the events that took place at each location.
University of Pennsylvania
The Penn campus provided students with several historical and cultural experiences. Participants visited the Franklin Institute, where an IEEE volunteer explained some of the technologies on display at the science center.
A speaker from the Philadelphia International Airport shared what engineers are doing to keep one of the busiest U.S. airports running smoothly.
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