Building a Science Institute from Scratch
There’s no denying the appeal of the ivory tower of academia, but how many people can truly say they’ve been within one? As you see it from the outside, you might wonder what happens behind the walls and closed doors of an institute dedicated to scientific research and education. In our case, we started with just such an institute from scratch, so in this article we’ll walk you through the steps we took to build one.
Drafted curriculum and taugh hot weekly classes in their lab space
We started by drafting a curriculum and teaching weekly classes in our lab space. The classes were interactive and hands-on, and we covered topics like the scientific method, basic physics, and chemistry. We also had a lot of fun with experiments! As the weeks went on, we attracted more and more students. Our main objective was to make science accessible to everyone, so we created engaging content that was appropriate for all levels.
In order to measure how well this worked, we took a survey at the end of every class: 95% of people said they felt less intimidated by science after taking one or more of our classes.
One other interesting result is that 20% of participants rated themselves as very interested in continuing their education in STEM fields after taking one or more of our classes.
We were thrilled with these results, and even though there are always new challenges that arise as you work on something for an extended period of time (like when it came time to teach AP Chemistry), we knew that together with Drs. Labouvie and Heliovaara, we could accomplish anything. And boy did we ever! When I look back on everything we accomplished during my three years here, I'm really proud of what we did for the kids who are now thriving in STEM careers because of us. It's been rewarding to see them come into the institute as high schoolers and leave as graduate students - giving them access to higher education opportunities that might not have been available otherwise. I think the future looks bright for these young scientists, which is why I'm looking forward to moving onto my next project. Whether that's building another institute or working on something else, I know I'll be able to take all the lessons learned over the past few years and apply them wherever life takes me. I don't regret any decision I've made; if anything, going through each experience has helped shape me into the person I am today. It would be hard to name just one thing that I love most about the job, but there are definitely some standout moments: Being in charge of events and fundraisers was great, seeing parents getting excited about their child's upcoming class, hosting tours of the facility. Seeing people get so passionate about science? That doesn't happen often. But I wouldn't trade any of those things for my favorite moment--the day before I left this summer to start grad school, when a family showed up unexpectedly with a present for me. They told me that they didn't want to forget to thank me for the classes I taught and the enthusiasm I brought to the classroom. This was a sign of how deeply we're touching lives, and it will stay with me forever.
I loved everything about this position, and honestly can't say enough good things about our co-workers, teachers, students, volunteers...everyone. Everyone played a role in making this place what it is today. There's no way I could mention everyone individually without forgetting someone crucial, but suffice to say that without the help of everybody here and without such awesome mentors in front of and behind the scenes, we never would have been able to do as much as we did. Thank you for everything! I'll miss you all. It's been a whirlwind the last six months, with all the twists and turns. I'll miss you all.
Don't worry, though, I'll be around! You can find me on Twitter @NewPersonality_ or Instagram @Taco_and_Lobster for updates about my post-adventure life. I'll also be blogging about my time in grad school and what I learn. Plus, we still have a whole bunch of events coming up this year! So don't worry, you'll still be hearing from me on occasion. It's been a whirlwind the last six months, with all the twists and turns. I'll miss you all.
Don't worry, though, I'll be around!
Here are some links to my favorites: My class syllabus for Biochemistry is available here! The syllabus for my Capstone Class is here! For more info on the Technology Camp we host in the spring and fall visit here!
Helping students develop skills needed to make their own discoveries
In order to help students develop the skills needed to make their own discoveries, we decided to build a science institute from scratch. The first step was finding a location. We looked for a place that would be easily accessible to students and staff, with plenty of space for classrooms, laboratories, and green space. Once we found the perfect spot, we set to work designing the buildings and putting together the curriculum. Finally, we recruited the best teachers and scientists to join our team. Now, our institute is up and running, and we couldn't be more proud! Our classes cover topics like anatomy, astronomy, chemistry, ecology, physics - all in hands-on ways. Our goal is to give every student a chance to explore and find what they're most passionate about. And it's working: many of our students have gone on to study engineering or medicine at some of the top universities in the countrycountry! They are so excited about how much they've learned and how excited they are to continue discovering new things. We're so grateful to everyone who has helped us get this far, and we can't wait to see where this adventure takes us next! We’re so grateful to everyone who has helped us get this far, and we can’t wait to see where this adventure takes us next! The Science Institute will hold its grand opening ceremony on March 15th. There will be tours of the school, presentations by professors, demonstrations by current students studying scientific disciplines, and food! Be sure to save the date if you want to learn more about our school's mission. The Science Institute will hold its grand opening ceremony on March 15th. There will be tours of the school, presentations by professors, demonstrations by current students studying scientific disciplines, and food! Be sure to save the date if you want to learn more about our school's mission. Before now, there were no schools here for children to attend--except for traditional schools. But now there are options available, which provides opportunity for education to students that never had any before. A major benefit of having a science institution here is the opportunity to provide affordable education outside of those who have financial means available. I am looking forward to the changes this will bring! The rates of success in higher education and professional careers will surely increase. Students that come from less fortunate backgrounds might not only succeed academically but also become doctors, engineers, and other professionals. Another major change will be an influx of jobs in the area. The number of people employed will rise, increasing tax revenue for the city government. Jobs related to construction, administration, research/teaching positions (at both the science institute as well as at other institutions), etc., should soon be plentiful. Ultimately, a science institute brings opportunities to children living in poverty as well as providing employment opportunities to locals.
Designed and created courses based on those needs
We built a science institute from scratch. We designed and created courses based on those needs. We gathered the most talented minds in the field. We recruited the best students. And we created an environment that was conducive to learning. We set up laboratories with the latest equipment, ensuring cutting-edge research at all times. We appointed top-notch professors who cared about their subjects as much as they cared about their students.
We put our buildings near green spaces, making it easy for people to enjoy nature while also thinking about what they learned.
We stocked every library with thousands of books, journals, maps, charts and other resources for scholars’ research needs—whatever time period or topic or specialty they might be studying at any given moment.
And we created dorms that encouraged healthy living habits like sleeping early and getting enough exercise each day. In short, we did everything we could to make this place feel like home. That included new beginnings, too: For some graduates, the end of their studies meant moving away. For others, graduation marked just one step in a lifelong journey of exploration.
We had no idea where our graduates would go next. But we knew where they had been. They came here first, to prepare themselves for wherever life took them next. They grew here, both academically and emotionally. They found mentors and friends, teachers and collaborators. Graduates didn't have to leave behind what they learned at this place; many carried those lessons into whatever comes next. Here is a map of the site on which The Institutes are situated - well worth taking a look!
One thing you may notice about all of these pictures: Students aren’t looking at their phones. Our buildings were designed with large windows that allow students to soak in their surroundings—and enjoy beautiful scenery even while studying. No matter how inspiring their surroundings, though, everything begins with a thought—which requires concentrated effort if great discoveries are to follow. It takes sustained concentration to understand how things work. It takes attention and dedication to think critically. And it takes study after study after study until scientists finally see their long hours pay off. Here's a photo of our labs. Here's a view of one of our libraries. Here's a picture of our dining hall.
And here's the gymnasium.
Created an incubator to help fund projects from students
In order to help fund projects from students, we created an incubator. The incubator is a space where students can work on their projects and receive funding from the institute. We also provide mentorship and resources to help them grow their project. The goal of the incubator is to create an environment where students can thrive and create innovative projects. One such project is Power Design Studio: Our senior industrial design major was creating prototypes for motorcycle parts. He struggled with manufacturing and then came up with an idea for a bike lock that doubles as a bike stand! It looks like it will be in production by this fall. Another successful project is our water bottle fill station. When you refill your water bottle at the station, you are not only helping keep plastic out of landfills but you're also helping to fund school programs. For every bottle refilled, 5 cents goes back into the academy's program funds. To date, over $2,000 has been raised for these programs! This has allowed us to host more events, workshops, competitions and even scholarships.
The schools offers several degree paths including Architecture, Industrial Design, Sustainable Manufacturing or Fine Arts.
Students choose what degree path they want to pursue and then go through five years of college-level courses including 2 years for each chosen degree.
However once a student graduates from one degree path they can switch to another without needing any other degrees or prerequisite classes.
In addition, there are three minors available: entrepreneurship; computer science; bioengineering/bioinformatics (a first of its kind) so students can pick a minor based on their interest. Along with internships, research opportunities and capstone projects, the facility provides hands-on experience which better prepares students for success after graduation. With a large 3D printer lab, equipment for various manufacturing processes and expert staff, the institute is able to offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. After graduating, students are ready to enter a variety of fields including engineering, architecture, product design and sustainable business.
One alumnus recently started his own sustainable furniture company and he credits his time spent here for providing him with all the skills he needed to make his dreams come true.
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