This summer, the Junior Academy at Mass Academy welcomed rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students in the Worcester area for two weeks of hands-on academic enrichment and STEM exploration. Designed to strengthen the STEM pipeline by providing students with an enriching experience that helps them to be more confident, curious, and engaged in their learning and realize that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are not only accessible to them, but they are fun, rewarding, and open doors for their future.
Students dove into hands-on projects and labs while building confidence and curiosity for learning. Ninth graders explored the impacts and implications of social media and AI with Professor Richard Lopez, conducted Chemistry experiments to design the loudest “boom” with Professor Raul Orduna-Picon, and discovered Ohm’s Law and circuits in Physics with Shari Weaver to make light up lanterns. Robotics sessions with Dee Wilhelm from the Robotics Resource Center challenged students to design and test their own robots, applying engineering concepts in a fun, team environment.
Designing the loudest “boom” in a hands-on chemistry experiment. |
Exploring Ohm’s Law and short circuits during physics class. |
Building and testing robots for competition at the Robotics Resource Center (RRC). |
Eighth graders explored biology by dissecting chicken wings to learn about bones, tendons, and muscles and studied plant cells.
Dissecting chicken wings. |
Studying plant cells |
Seventh graders combined creativity and engineering in math class as they brainstormed, designed, built, and tested roller coasters and automatons, learning physics concepts while bringing their designs to life. They also explored forensic science, using critical thinking to analyze evidence and solve mysteries.
Brainstorming and testing roller coasters to explore physics through hands-on math. |
Students bringing automaton designs to life while combining creativity and engineering. |
Analyzing evidence and solving mysteries in an interactive forensic science lab. |
Throughout the two weeks, students visited WPI labs and met researchers, seeing firsthand how STEM connects to real-world careers. The Junior Academy reflects Mass Academy’s mission to inspire students to be confident, curious learners, and to see STEM as a pathway to a bright and rewarding future.
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