Penn GEMS provides middle schoolers with a unique opportunity to engage directly with university-level engineering concepts and research through hands-on projects and mentorship from Penn faculty and students.
Penn GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) is a one-week, hands-on day camp at the University of Pennsylvania designed for middle school students (rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders) to explore various fields of engineering, math, and science. The program aims to introduce students to different engineering disciplines through experiential learning and hands-on projects. Participants engage in activities such as building and launching catapults, designing balsa wood bridges, programming robots, and exploring concepts in bioengineering, nanotechnology, computer science, and materials science. The camp emphasizes collaboration, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills, providing mentorship from Penn students, researchers, and faculty. Students gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of how engineering is applied to solve real-world problems, fostering their interest and confidence in STEM fields.
A typical day involves hands-on labs and workshops where students work in teams on engineering challenges, such as building catapults or earthquake-resistant towers, and exploring scientific concepts through experiments.
The camp is ideal for middle school students curious about how the world works and interested in exploring various engineering, math, and science disciplines through hands-on activities.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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