A World of Opportunity

The week began with an MIT campus tour and an escape room-style activity to explore different buildings. This was a great way for students to familiarise themselves with the campus. Students solved puzzles using morse code, jigsaws, and paper structures, then enjoyed lunch at Maseeh Hall. They attended a lecture on plasma research and had their first lab activity, where they printed images using a press. The day ended with guided lab tours and a visit to the MIT Coop for souvenirs.

Students were welcomed back on Tuesday morning and moved into a lecture hall where they attended a talk by a postdoc studying Antarctic penguins. The students were particularly interested in this lecture and asked loads of enthusiastic questions about her research. Students then had a group lab activity, tasked with designing their very own 3D printed compasses. This was then followed up with another activity, Plasma Science and fusion centre. Students were shown some plasma demonstrations and discussed how this is significant particularly in the use of Fusion reactors. Students found this very intriguing and asked many questions. The day ended with a fun trip to Boda Borg for escape room challenges.

Wednesday morning started out with a Q&A session with MIT undergrads studying various degrees. They spent 2-3 hours answering all the questions students had about what MIT is like, how to apply, how to get accepted, and more. This provided students with valuable insights into MIT life and admissions. "I’ve always dreamed of going to MIT, but after visiting the campus and experiencing MIT life first-hand, I feel more motivated and inspired than ever to work hard toward my goal" Mara, Year 12.After this the students had a lecture from a postdoc on climate action, focusing on solar panel projects in Africa, followed by a workshop creating 3D structures from 2D materials, preparing students for their group project. The evening “Night at the Museum” was a fun and educational evening where there was a DJ, liquid nitrogen ice-cream, and loads of MIT students talking about their projects including rocket science, plasma, and AI!

This was the big day where students had the entire day allocated to designing, programming, building and testing their insulated cameras to capture footage of the aurora borealis, applying skills from earlier workshops. Students saw their projects get set up on the balcony for overnight temperature tests. "I really enjoyed some of the activities, especially designing a 3D camera for an MIT project aimed at capturing the Northern Lights", Michael Year 10.

This was the day students had their EXPO. Students reviewed their camera data and shared results with staff and peers. They explained the successes and flaws in their designs and how this gave the results shown from that night. Afterwards, students had a relaxing walk along the river to the museum of science which was where they boarded the Duckboat tour boat. Students had a deep dive into the vast history of Boston and its various attractions. After the students got a quick go driving the boat, everyone had dinner at the cheesecake factory. 

The trip wrapped up with a brief tour around Harvard university with the opportunity to ask some current students questions. Students then had a couple of hours to do some shopping and exploring before returning to the hotel to prepare for the return journey. "A fantastic and inspiring experience! I learned far more than expected, with workshops diving deep into subjects like nuclear fusion in the Fusion Lab—absolutely fascinating. Talking to graduates and professors who are true experts in their fields was a highlight, especially seeing the passion of those working in nuclear fusion. It was also eye-opening to meet MIT students and get an authentic look at their lives on campus. This trip has really motivated me to explore subjects like engineering and physics and aim high. Although the week was packed and exhausting, I wished I could’ve stayed longer!", Tank, Year 12.