The institute has launched a new interdisciplinary program that will challenge high school students to apply STEM and social science principles to tackle real-world problems, throughout one school term. Students will apply to either a “Research Track” - for those seeking the deep exploration of big ideas and the creation of new knowledge on topics of interest, or an “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Track” - for those seeking to drive meaningful change through applied research or building new ventures, social programs, or non-profits.
The 10-week virtual program which will run from March to May in 2025, will require all admitted students to undertake a robust set of courses as part of a general curriculum, which has been specially designed to integrate principles from both the STEM and social sciences and applied to case studies covering a range of topics from across several fields. This approach will enable students to view complex challenges through multiple lenses, bringing perspectives and approaches from different fields, to arrive at possible solutions. Courses include: “Ethics, Technology, & Society,” “Foundations of Research Methods,” “Case Studies in Innovation and Society,” and “Bold Ideas, Entrepreneurship, and Societal Change.” In addition to the general curriculum, students will engage in a series of activities led by faculty and practitioners in academia, government, and the private sector and work on their projects under the advisorship of leaders from some of the world’s most successful companies like Johnson & Johnson and Louis Vuitton Moët & Hennessy (LVMH), among many others.
The program was developed after recognizing that a significant gap in traditional education exists, where students often fail to see the practical applications of their academic knowledge until much later in their studies. A disconnect that has led to a declining interest in learning and contributes to the shortage of young professionals entering STEM and policy fields such as health policy. Further, the program aims to leverage the natural tech-savviness of today’s youth, who are well-positioned to tackle modern challenges using digital tools and innovative thinking.
Recognizing the increasing competitiveness of college admissions, the program in Innovation & Society further aims to be positioned as a driver of students to leading academic institutions. The institute’s other academic programs like its “Health, Technology, and Society” summer program has seen enrolled students gain admissions to top graduate programs at some of the world’s most outstanding universities including Harvard, the University of Oxford, MIT, Duke, Columbia University, and the University of Cambridge. This year, the institute formally collaborated with a program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, which provided students with the opportunity to work on substantial public policy projects.
Innovation & Society requires students to undertake a substantial project that culminates with the production of either a case study, research paper, policy brief, development of a venture, social program focused on addressing a community need, non-profit organization, venture development plan, or prototype, or some other substantial body of work. This combination of coursework and final project will significantly enhance enrolled students’ college applications.
Visit the program's page to explore more.
A new research, innovation, and entrepreneurship program for high school students
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