Program details

The six-month MIT Online Science, Technology, and Engineering Community (MOSTEC) program serves rising high school seniors from across the country – many of whom come from underrepresented or underserved communities. Students selected to participate in MOSTEC demonstrate in their applications a strong academic record and interest in science and engineering.

The 2018 MOSTEC program will be held from June 27, 2018 to December 22, 2018, and the MOSTEC Conference will be held on August 6 through 10. Upon acceptance in mid-April, students should email summerapp@mit.edu if they have concerns about program dates conflicting with school obligations.

During the Academic Phase (June through August), students complete online coursework and projects in science, engineering, and science writing. At the end of the Academic Phase, students attend the 5-day MOSTEC Conference on campus of MIT. When the summer ends, students enter the Enrichment Phase (August through December). They then continue to: learn more about science and engineering; interact with faculty, researchers, and professionals via webinars and Q&A sessions; and receive online mentorship from undergraduates, graduate students, and industry professionals. Students also have the opportunity to ask admissions and financial aid-related questions in the Admissions Corner, which is run by MIT Admissions counselors.

Eligible students can apply online at summerapp.mit.edu during the fall semester of their junior year in high school. The Summer 2019 application will be available on the summer application site in late Fall.

It’s free!

All educational, food and boarding costs are generously covered by our funders. Students only pay for transportation to and from MIT.

Online courses

Students take one intensive project-based course and a science writing course. The course offerings for 2018 include:

Astrophysics

Students learn core concepts in astronomy and apply them in exercises using real astronomical software and data. Topics include angular scale, proper motion, properties of light and color, production of light, spectral imaging, mathematical models, blackbody radiation, light curves, the Doppler effect, and more. Instruction involves guided hands-on demonstrations, readings, instructional videos, written problems, and computer image processing and analysis. Much of the work is conducted with DS9, a free astronomy package that real astronomers use every day. After three weeks of guided instruction, students choose between three larger projects to conduct an analysis of either supernovae remnants, variable X-ray sources, or galaxy clusters. Students present their research and experiments at the MOSTEC Conference.

Combinatorics

Mathematics is more diverse than just calculus and algebra! In the Combinatorics project course, students learn how to apply discrete probability, sequences, permutations, and graph theory to solve interesting problems, ranging from fun weekly brainteasers to casino games. Students learn that “luck” is more than just chance. The subject of combinatorics has become increasingly important due to the rise of computer science and the use algorithmic methods to solve real-world problems. In this course, we explored several of these real-world problems and some fun mathematical puzzles. This project is designed for students who like mathematics and are interested in learning more about the art of counting.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) is all around us and that is what the MOSTEC Electrical Engineering Course examines. Students investigate the concepts of programming, data collection/analysis, circuits, probability, systems, control theory, and power/energy economics, while carrying out projects using online simulators, server-based circuit analysis, social media experiments, and other projects. Students also read themed articles from the popular and academic press in order to see how EECS influences present, past, and future society. A spirit of adventure is necessary. Programming experience is not a prerequisite, but writing bits of code are a significant part of the course, so students are required to learn some Python as the course progresses.

Mobile App Development

Whether students have never programmed before or have some programming experience, they can create an Android mobile application using the MIT App Inventor and publish their app to the Google Play store. In this course, students learn programming concepts that develop skills needed to learn other languages, or reinforce concepts they already know. They learn the architecture of an app including its components, properties, behaviors, function calls, and parameters, while covering programming concepts that include event-handling, conditionals, procedures, variables, and lists. Students become the creators of entertaining and socially useful apps that can be shared with friends and family. Even if students are already familiar with other programming languages, they find this course useful and fun. Students take this course to become better problem solvers and programmers while exploring the field of computer science from the perspective of mobile computing, an increasingly important part of our daily lives.

Neuroscience and Connectomics

The goal of the MOSTEC Neuroscience & Connectomics is to provide a basic understanding of the sub-fields within the field of neuroscience. Students analyzed real data via an interactive online interface and contributed to real neuroscience research. Topics covered included neurobiology, systems neuroscience, and connectomics. Neurobiology focuses largely on cellular and molecular neuroscience to understand the brain at its most fundamental level by examining the basic elements of the nervous system. Systems Neuroscience deals with information flow and processing within the central nervous system, and aims to develop an understanding of sensory systems and motor control. Connectomics researchers are currently working to map the connections of the brain, neuron by neuron, synapse by synapse. By the end of the course, students are able to understand and appreciate the big questions that people across the field are trying to answer.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is the science of designing computers so that they can perform actions without being explicitly programmed. In the past decade, machine learning has given us self-driving cars, speech recognition, and improvements in understanding the human genome. In this course, students learn about the most effective machine learning techniques, and practice implementing them. Students not only learn the theoretical foundation of learning, but also gain [ractical insight into how they can quickly and powerfully apply the techniques that they learn to new problems.

Optics & Photonics

Humans have been fascinated by light for centuries. From early humanoids discovering fire and exploring all of its capabilities for food and technology, to modern day optical techniques used in the LIGO experiments to confirm gravitational waves. Humans have always had a fascination with light and the way it interacts with matter. The Optics & Photonics course served as an introduction to the properties of light and its uses in modern day science and technology. Students learned mathematical techniques that describe the physical nature of how light interacts with different objects and tested this theory by doing at home experiments each week. By the end of the course, students had a stronger understanding of the basics of Optics & Photonics and built some intuition for its use in modern technology.

Science Writing

The Science Writing project is a look at science from the other side. If you're here, you're already interested in science, technology, and math. But you probably know some people who don't share this interest, or who struggle to grasp challenging topics like climate change or particle physics. Science is important to everyone, not just to scientists and the scientifically literate, but communicating scientific ideas to the public poses a unique and fascinating challenge. Students read and discuss examples of science writing across a broad spectrum, from news articles, blog posts, and essays to video shorts and radio stories. They practice interpreting technical concepts for a lay audience while tackling big questions about what science and technology mean to society as a whole, and what responsibility scientists and science writers have to create a better and more enlightened world. Finally, they complete a short article or essay on a science-based topic of their choice.

Conference workshops

During the MOSTEC Conference at MIT, students take two hands-on science/ engineering workshops for three hours each. Past workshop offerings have included:

Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

We often take airplanes for granted, but if you stop and think, these massive machines lift hundreds of people and carry them around the planet every day! How can they lift so much stuff? In this class students learn about airplanes and how they fly. They focus on the shape of a wing and how it produces lift to keep heavy airplanes in the sky. We’ll do some in-class demonstrations giving students the chance to make their own gliders. Students finish the class with an amazing tour of MIT’s hangar where we see a jet engine and a small wind tunnel in operation.

Astrophysics

Exoplanets are planets that orbit a star outside of our own solar system. Thanks to the recent satellite Kepler, astronomers, including several at MIT, are rapidly discovering more exoplanets. Students learn the transit method of exoplanet detection, then use analysis software to determine characteristics of a real observation. They find the size of the exoplanet, its orbital period, its orbital radius, the temperature of the host star, and finally decide if the planet is in the habitable zone and could potentially support liquid water and life similar to what we have here on Earth.

Electronics Engineering

This workshop looks at the concept of feedback and its role in both control and amplification especially with relation to electrical engineering, computer science, and human/biological engineering. Students get to see feedback demos created by current MIT students and faculty, as well as construct some simple circuits and write some simple programs using Python and the Raspberry Pi single-board computer environment. No previous programming experience required!

Fluid Mechanics

This workshop introduces students to the exciting world of fluid mechanics. Fluid mechanics is used in almost every form of mechanical engineering and has many applications in chemical engineering, civil engineering, and applied physics. Its applications range from submarine acoustics and drag reduction for vehicles to wind turbines and super- computer cooling systems. In this workshop, students learn the basic concepts of fluid mechanics, studying both fluids and rest and in motion. They learn about many non-intuitive aspects of fluids through interactive hands-on demonstrations. The course ends with a tour of the amazing MIT Tow Tank where many, many experiments have taken place over the years, from testing robotic tuna fish and turtles, to examining the fluid mechanics of seal whiskers.

Mobile App Development

Mobile phones have become an important part of our day to day lives. No longer is it just enough to be a consumer of the technologies placed in our hands, but we should all learn to be the creators of technology that can make positive contributions in our communities. This workshop exposes students to MIT's App Inventor, a visual language that enables novice and more advanced programmers to create powerful mobile applications for Android mobile devices that interact with the web and with other phones. Students learn the architecture of app including its components, properties, behaviors, function calls, and parameters, while covering basic programming concepts that include, event-handling, variables, and procedures. Students complete tutorials that set them on their way to becoming the creators of entertaining and socially useful apps that can be shared with friends and family.

Molecular Genetics

C. elegans is a model organism widely used for the study of basic biological processes and signaling pathways with direct relevance to human diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. Through forward genetics screen, scientists identify new mutants with interesting phenotypes in the hopes of learning more about the biological processes related to those phenotypes. Once a new mutant is isolated, it is important to identify the actual gene mutated. SNP mapping analysis is commonly used to identify the genomic location of mutations isolated from forward genetics mutant screens and makes use of natural variations that exist between different C. elegans strains. Those variations are called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs.

Underwater Robotics

Underwater robotics is a complex interdisciplinary field full of interesting challenges due to the harsh nature of the ocean environment. Underwater systems are surrounded by corrosive seawater, subjected to enormous pressure, battered by currents, and subjected to extreme temperatures. Radio communication is nearly impossible because electromagnetic radiation is absorbed over short distances. Over the last few decades, engineers have developed submersible technologies capable of meeting the many challenges that the deep sea imposes upon explorers.In this workshop, students learn about creating technology for the underwater environment. Students are introduced to Sea Perch ROV, a small simple remote operated vehicle. Then then have the chance to explore modifying their ROV with different frame shapes and motor configurations to see how these affect the stability, buoyancy, and speed of their vehicle.

Product Design: MechE

This workshop introduces students to the Engineering Design Process and Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA). Product development entails identifying market needs, designing products based on the voice of the customer, and manufacturing products to meet the market demand. In this workshop, students learn an early stage of product development and a simple manufacturing process. A product development process is taught and practiced. There is also a discussion on design for manufacturability and assembly. The course results in an understanding of the fundamentals of product development and DFMA.

Product Design: Software

From Google to email to Twitter, most of us have programs and products that we use regularly. 80% of users check their smartphones within 15 minutes of waking up and view them over 100 times during the course of the day. As creators, we want to develop products that harness this behavior to make an impact. Whether we want to teach or improve or entertain, an engaging experience allows for better outcomes. Students explore the latest in human psychology to figure out the principles and practices for crafting products that generate emotionally charged experiences. Perception, Gestalt principles and quirks of the vision system all have major impacts on the look and feel of your creations. Students use these ideas to help us design apps that hook users and keep them coming back for more. No prior coding experience is necessary.

Synthetic Biology

Vitamin A is important for growth and maintaining good eyesight, however approximately 250 million preschool children worldwide are vitamin A deficient and at risk for visual impairment and severe illness. Synthetic biologists engineered bakers yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to produce vitamin A. These yeast can be baked into bread and may provide a viable solution to the vitamin A deficiency problem. In this workshop, students are given a short overview of how the yeast were engineered to produce vitamin A and discuss the stability of genetic information in yeast. The students are able to compare the color of the engineered yeast colonies to un-modified yeast in order to crudely assess whether or not they are producing the correct product (vitamin A). Students are also given cultures of vitamin A producing yeast and test them for vitamin A production with thin layer chromatography. Finally, students are shown bread baked with the engineered yeast and asked to discuss their thoughts on synthetic biology and solutions to world hunger problems like vitamin A deficiency.

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Online courses

Conference workshops