The TryEngineering Summer Institute is officially underway at the University of San Diego, with our other campus locations launching over the next few weeks. With so much still to come, the excitement is just getting started!
Seats are still available at a few of our sessions, so it’s not too late for your teen to be part of this remarkable summer. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the incredible experiences that will make the IEEE TryEngineering Summer Institute 2025 unforgettable.
Real Hands-On Engineering
This summer, students will take part in a variety of hands-on engineering challenges and activities designed to build skills, spark creativity, and encourage collaboration.
Here are just a few:
In Toxic Popcorn, students will work together to apply the engineering design process to build and test a solution for safely removing “toxic” popcorn and saving the city!
- The Circuitry &Breadboard Skill Build introduces students to the fundamentals of electrical engineering through guided experimentation with real components.
- During the Bridge Challenge, students will design and construct model bridges, then test their strength and efficiency under simulated stress.
- The Hydraulic Arm activity gives students the chance to assemble and control robotic arms to explore hydraulics and teamwork, as they simulate a production line.
- In the Glider Design challenge, students will experiment with aerodynamics to create gliders that soar farther and more efficiently with each iteration.
Field Trips That Inspire
Each TryEngineering Summer Institute location offers a unique opportunity to explore engineering in the real world through exciting off-campus experiences:
Students at Rice University will tour NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where they’ll g
et a firsthand look at space exploration and cutting-edge research.- At the University of San Diego, students will visit Qualcomm, a global leader in wireless technology and innovation.
- Students at the University of Pennsylvania will spend a day at the Franklin Institute, one of the nation’s premier science museums.
- At Columbia University, students will visit Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst for an exclusive firsthand look at real-world engineering applications within a military context.
Sparking Solutions Challenge
Throughout the week, students will participate in the Sparking Solutions Challenge, a capstone experience that brings everything together. Participants are divided into small teams and work on their projects every day, with each student taking the lead on a specific section. Their mission? To develop an innovative technology that addresses a real-world problem.
On the final day of the program, teams will present their projects to a panel of IEEE judges, either in person or virtually. More than just a competition, this challenge helps students expand their confidence, convey their thoughts, and pitch an idea that they truly believe in.
It’s not too late for your teen to be part of this unforgettable summer. Register for the TryEngineering Summer Institute today!