Program Objectives
This program is for students entering grade 11 or 12 in 2024. At this stage, students are looking at what kind of fields to pursue, keeping their strengths and interests in mind and what kind of opportunities exist. Even if they are already keen on STEM, this is a very diverse area and they may not know what field would be best suited for them.
Click here to register: https://bit.ly/STEM_IITMZ_Registration
The program experience is carefully curated to help students-
– Discover strengths and interests
through immersions into science topics and hands-on engineering and design, they get a flavour for how science and engineering are closely interrelated but also different
– Make more informed career choices
through a number of sessions with experts from different disciplines and functions, they get a sense of the diverse nature of the world of work, even within STEM
– Develop socio-emotional and critical thinking skills
through academic enrichment challenges as well as outside classroom activities that spur socio-emotional learning
– Find a community of like-minded peers and world-class mentors
– Gain an understanding of what programs IITM- Zanzibar offers, life on campus and how best they can maximize their chances of selection if they are interested in the IITM-Z undergraduate programs
Students will also have an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Zanzibar on the break day.
Program Details
– Target Audience : Students entering Grades 11 and 12 in 2024
– Duration : 12-day program
– Dates : July 28- Aug 9, 2024 (students leave by noon on Aug 9)
– Courses : Intro to Astrophysics | Intro to Engineering Design
– Venue : IITM-Z
– Program Fee : US$ 1190 (means-based financial assistance available)
– Eligibility : 1) School Exam scores/ School Leaving Exam scores 2) Teacher recommendation may be requested in some cases 3) Direct Admission to students who have scored at or above the 85th percentile in the ASSET test (Grade 8/9/10 level) in the last 3 years
To register for the program, visit https://bit.ly/STEM_IITMZ_Registration and fill out the form. Payment details will be shared on acceptance into the program.
For more details, visit bit.ly/IITM-Z-SummerCamp and write to STEM.IITMZanzibar@giftedworld.org. You can also call Vishnu Agnihotri at +919342247734 on Whatsapp.
About IITM- Zanzibar and Gifted World
IITM Zanzibar (IITM-Z) is the offshore campus of India’s top-ranked Educational Institute, the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. Since its launch in 2023, the Zanzibar campus has not only attracted students from India and Africa but has also created a buzz among engineering aspirants across the globe. The Institute aims to make an impact in the educational landscape of the region and also bring young minds from different parts of the world together in their quest for skill-based education.
Gifted World is an online platform that aims to enable gifted students, their parents and educators to help students reach their potential. The founding members of Gifted World are the Center for Talent Development @Northwestern University (CTD), Educational Initiatives (Ei), and GenWise. CTD is a leader in identification and nurturing opportunities, Ei is a leader in e-learning, assessment and gifted identification, and GenWise is a pioneer in India/ Middle East in supporting gifted children via residential summer programs, asynchronous programs, as well as Teacher Mentoring programs.
Course Descriptions
Each course will run for 5 days (one after the other). There will be a break day between the 2 courses.
Introduction to Astrophysics
Astronomy is often referred to as the oldest science. Interestingly it is still one of the most
exciting fields of science and it captures the imagination of scientists as well as young students. In this course, we will explore topics that allow students to gather deep insight into the subject without extensive prior knowledge of advanced Physics and Mathematics.
Specifically, we will focus on the following:
1. Stars and Galaxies in our Universe :
– How do we know about them, their distances, the amount of light that they emit and so on?
– We will discuss in detail the life cycle of stars; how stars form, how stars die, and discuss the main sequence stars using tools such as the Hertzsprung–Russell (H-R) diagram.
– We will introduce the night sky, the major Constellations,and the most important stars using software.
2. Discuss some aspects of blackholes and recent experimental observations regarding blackholes. Given these are areas of active research and every aspect of the topic may not be accessible to high school students, we will only discuss those aspects of black holes that can be made accessible to the students.
3. Introduction to Cosmology :
– Did the universe have a beginning? Why Big Bang Theory? How may the universe end? Why do we talk about dark matter and dark energy?
4. We will also include in the workshop some fun estimates and wild open questions like- How many planets are out there with life forms? Is there more than one universe?
We intend to make this a fun-filled and yet scientifically mature introduction to Astronomy & Astrophysics for the young learners. Along the way, students will also learn about the nature of the scientific process and the kind of work scientists do.
Introduction to Engineering Design
Engineers make all kinds of cool things which make our lives better – from everyday objects like bicycles and smartphones, to racing cars, hyperloops, and spaceships! Using paper and other easily available materials, students will design and build prototypes, test and refine their designs, thereby getting an appreciation of various aspects of engineering and design involved in making great products. They will appreciate that different elements are involved- science, creativity, design and tinkering.
Students will engage in 3-4 projects like designing and building-
– An ‘egg-drop box’ that keeps eggs safe when dropped from a height
– Bridges of different types using materials like paper and popsicle sticks
– Mechanisms that replicate the demonstrated input and output behaviour whose details are hidden. See example
In this process, students will also explore concepts related to strength through questions such as ‘Why are some things stronger than the others ? What do we actually mean by strength? What gives an object its strength – the material or the structure ? What role does geometry play in structural strength?’
Outside the Classroom
Apart from the academic enrichment work, students will engage in a host of activities that broadens their horizons, enhances their socio-emotional development and allows them to make connections with their peers and mentors, and have fun (in a device-free environment).
