The Village School, in collaboration with ExxonMobil, Houston Methodist and NASA, recently finalized and outlined the details for the second Pumps and Pipes Summer STEAM Academy. The academy is a four-week summer academy level program designed for high school students (rising 9th through 12th graders) who are interested in pursuing further study in an interdisciplinary approach to science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). This is a selective program that requires that students have a working knowledge of at least Algebra 1 and a basic to advanced knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology.
The four-week program is designed to provide students with both problem-based learning experiences, where they will be asked to solve for real-world challenges, and place-based learning experiences through working visits to NASA, ExxonMobil and Houston Methodist, where they will work in collaboration with aerospace, energy and medical professionals.
The academy will culminate in Week 4 with the students working in groups on a capstone project that will solve for a problem or develop a product that involves at least two of the three disciplines that they have explored. For this year’s summer academy, students will work with the engineers and technicians at TXRX Labs to complete prototypes of their ideas and products throughout the 4th week of the summer academy. TXRX is the largest prototyping and light manufacturing maker lab in Houston.
At the end of Week 4 of the summer academy, a panel of experts from NASA, ExxonMobil and Houston Methodist, as well as their Pumps and Pipes Academy professors, will evaluate these projects and provide feedback, awards and diplomas in front of an audience of parents and family members.
Students from all schools are welcome to apply, if interested in attending please follow the necessary steps in the application document below. The due date for application submission is Thursday, February 15th.
