Learning how to be a scientist isn’t just taking science classes and memorizing material. In the summer of 2023, high school teachers and students from across the U.S. will also be invited to spend a week at a Molecule Maker Camp at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in a partnership between MMLI and WYSE. During this immersive experience, participants will learn how to think like a scientist when solving a problem. The week will also be packed with a wide range of fun and exciting molecule making-related educational activities that focus on inspiring and preparing the next generation of scientists. Students will learn to use human-centered design to identify societal problems, propose solutions to these problems, and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. Students will learn how to ask questions like a scientist, draw ideas from inspirational lessons, work with MMLI researchers and topic-experts to strengthen their proposals, and of course – make some molecules!
We will also have many fun group activities designed to foster a molecular innovation ecosystem and encourage teachers to return to their local communities as “Ambassadors to the Molecular World” (armed with the website for how their classrooms can access MMLI in a Box kits!).
The Siebel Center for Design, one of our educational partners, has a great history of summer camps for high school students. Previous topics include Design Thinking, Engineering & Design, and Youth Leadership Development.
These camps, typically about a week long, see students get a feel for the college experience by staying in the dorms, eating at the dining halls, and interacting with University of Illinois faculty. These are great experiences that help students orient themselves and learn more about how bright their future can be.
The material at our summer camps is taught by our excellent teachers, scientists, designers, engineers, from The University of Illinois and our educational partners.