Science & Tech Summer Camps in Philadelphia PA

Engineering Summer Academy at Penn:
The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) welcomes highly motivated and talented students to explore Engineering at the college level. The Academy’s intensive, three-week programs combine sophisticated theory with hands-on practical experience in cutting edge technologies. Work with leading faculty while earning college credit, live on Penn’s historic campus, and connect with new friends from around the world.

Summer Courses

Biotechnology:  In this course, students will learn some of the fundamentals of molecular biology and have the chance to do hands-on genetic engineering.  Students apply what they learn in the classroom by performing cloning experiments in the laboratory.  A group research project and journal club discussions round out this enriching course.  Eligible students should have at least 1 year's coursework in Biology and Chemistry.

Computer Graphics:  Students will be introduced to the character pipeline for video games and animation.  It will include design, anatomy, modeling, texturing, rigging, programming, and animation.  Beginning with clay modeling and sketches, students will quickly progressto utilizing some of the most advanced software in the industry (such as Alias, Maya, and Photoshop) to create their own animated character.  Although it may be useful, prior experience with modeling tools (i.e. Photoshop, Maya. etc) is not a prerequisite for the course.

Computer Science:   This course will introduce both the practical work of programming and the important foundations of computer science.  Using a variety of programming languages, students will learn about abstraction, modularity, objects, loops, arrays, classes, and OOP.  This course is for beginners with little to no experience with programming, but students who have already taken an AP-level computer science course can benefit from the intense rigorous college-level curriculum.

Complex Networks:  During this course, students will learn some of the basic tolls, methods, and algorithms for analysis of networked systems, as well as practical applications of this new science.  These include social networks (Facebook, Twitter), infrastructure (internet), or energy networks (electric grid).  Students should have coursework in Physics and advanced Math.  Some computer programming knowledge is recommended but not a prerequisite.

Nanotechnology:  Through lecture, lab, and group projects, the course will cover topics in nanomaterials, nanofabrication techniques, imaging nanostructures, real-life application of nanotechnology, nanoscience ethics, and other concepts necessary to understanding why very small systems exhibit unique behavior.  Eligible students should have coursework in Chemistry and Physics.

Robotics:  Students will be introduced to the state of the art in robotics, design, manufacturing, and automation.  The course ties together engaging classroom discussions on a variety of topics including sensing, actuation, control, and embedded programming with a rigorous series of laboratory exercises and projects.  The course will culminate in a group project in which students will design, fabricate, assemble, and program teams of small mobile robots to perform a a series of tasks using a combination of autonomous actions and teleoperator control.  Eligible students should have prior coursework in Physics, Math, and C Programming or Autocad.