⎯ Written by Debbie Heath
Rice news special feature
(Photo provided by Alexia Perez)
Early Saturday morning, 22 high school students arrived at Rice University’s facilities, engineering and planning space ready to innovate and change the future of healthcare.
Entrepreneurial-minded students who are part of a select summer group recognized for outstanding projects and ideas developed in the Digital Health Young Scholars Program will be honored to participate in a special Innovator Spotlight Workshop this fall. I was invited back to campus. The Digital Health Young Scholars program is a three-week summer experience hosted by Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement (R-STEM) that introduces 10th and 11th grade students to digital circuits, computer science, physics, and engineering research.
“I am constantly amazed by the work and progress these students have made in the Digital Health Young Scholars Program, especially with so little summer time,” said Brittany Templeton, assistant director of computer science and mathematics at R-STEM. ”. “Their only complaint is that they wish they had more time and money to complete the project.”
Two years ago, R-STEM, the university’s STEM education champion, heard from students in its Digital Health Young Scholars program who wanted to find ways to continue their entrepreneurial projects long after the summer ended. We have received an inquiry. The overwhelming interest from students inspired Templeton to spearhead R-STEM’s Innovator Spotlight. This is a one-day post-summer workshop that provides students with the guidance and materials they need to take their projects to the next level. The workshop gives students the support and additional resources they need to focus on innovation and execution, which Templeton says “makes a big difference.”
Over the years, Templeton has worked alongside Joseph Young, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice University, and Christopher Franklin, Fort Bend ISD basic computer science teacher. Together they have taught the Digital Health Young Scholars program. We are taking our investment in STEM education one step further by mentoring and developing the next generation of transformational innovators with Innovator Spotlight.
Young said he became involved in R-STEM’s summer program because he wanted to show high school students the potential of electrical and computer engineering and its potential impact on the world, especially when it comes to important health issues. Masu. He never expected the students to be so involved in his work.
“Even though this program and workshop is not aimed at grade levels, I was amazed to see how engaged and self-motivated the students were,” Young said. “It’s great to see them fall in love with the program and move forward with genuine interest.”
Through Innovator Spotlight, Young and Franklin volunteered to mentor their own apprentices with the help of other instructors. They harnessed the students’ passion to create a digital health device that aims to make a difference in real-world applications. Some students designed a device to locate Alzheimer’s patients if they become disoriented or lost, and others developed a prototype to detect safe drinking water conditions. did. All projects differed in design, scope, and purpose, but shared a common goal. It’s about creating low-cost solutions that have the potential to positively impact people who are underrepresented in the digital healthcare space.
“After witnessing the transformative impact of our first summer group as students grew and achieved things we previously thought were impossible, we knew we had something special.” The success of both the summer program and its sequel, the “Spotlight” workshop, allows students to exceed their own expectations, said Franklin. “It is amazing to see how far students can reach when given the right support and challenge.”
Young said the most impactful part of the program is the revelations students experience and how they can learn about everything in the world and apply it to issues they care about. . “You can learn the basics of Python in just one day and start analyzing electrocardiogram recordings right away, for example. We believe this program will open students’ eyes to this new and bold reality.” Mr. Young said.
The Digital Health Young Scholars program and Innovator Spotlight workshop are co-sponsored by Expeditions in Computing and the Precision Advanced Technologies and Health Systems Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Underserved Populations, both of which Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). While the goal of all NSF-ERC-funded programs is to integrate engineering research and education with technological innovation to transform the nation’s prosperity, health, and safety, the Digital Health Young Scholars Program and Rice University Innovators Spotlight workshops provide an opportunity for young students to participate. Participate in the mission of NSF-led programs from an early age while providing college-ready skills.
Templeton was amazed to see the teens pour their passion into projects that truly aim to improve the world. “This is not what I was doing when I was 14,” she said. “The students’ commitment to making positive change, even at such a young age, was inspiring and gave me renewed hope for the future.”
Applications to Rice University’s Digital Health Young Scholars program will open in early February 2025, followed by invitations to Innovator Spotlight. High school students interested in developing digital healthcare solutions for underrepresented populations should submit an online application for consideration.
For more information about the R-STEM student program, visit rstem.rice.edu.
