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Programs

Designers for Humanity

Science Exploration and Community Service Summer Youth Program

This summer HOF ::  Fab Lab launches a new program for Middle School and High School students called Designers For Humanity.

Designers for Humanity gives young people the opportunity to solve real problems in our community using the same tools as Engineers, Architects, Programmers and Medical Scientists.   Over the six-week program, participants will be engaged in exploratory science and community service projects for 12 hours each week.

Here’s what the students will get to do:

  • Design and test new inventions
  • Experience working like an Electrical Engineer
  • Learn how GPS works
  • Build interactive maps on the Web with videos and photos  produced by the group
  • Learn how to run computer controlled milling machines
  • Work in life science labs at UCSD
  • Create an exhibition that will travel throughout San Diego
  • Earn a stipend

Go to application for Millenial Tech/Designers for Humanity

HADR Youth Team

Youth HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief)

While we cannot prevent or even predict every disaster, we can prepare and respond.  In every devastating instance, the response of ordinary people, particularly young people, has been inspiring.  Currently, however, young people are widely lacking options for engagement in preparatory programs related to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

As the youth of today become the responders of tomorrow, it is critical to the safety of our communities that we engage this powerful part of our population in becoming educated, empowered and prepared members of the community,  creating an empowered subpopulation that can serve as a resource for the development of skilled next generation responders.

As an educational component to this movement to prepare and empower this next generation, the development of the skills associated with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects will be a core focus of the preparation of youth in becoming engaged in actively learning, planning and designing systems for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

When the observations regarding the untapped resource that youth present in terms of HADR preparation are paired with information regarding the under-performance of American youth in the STEM subjects, and the under-representation of Americans in STEM professions within the global community, the necessity of engaging youth in becoming prepared these fields becomes clear.

HOF :: Fab Lab will create a bridge between youth involvement in disaster preparation and humanitarian assistance with community awareness and academic progress.  By integrating the high school students from the Fab Lab  with the resources and  the professionals of the SDSU VizLab, the knowledge and experience necessary to prepare the future generations for effective response to post-disaster and humanitarian aid situations can be effectively developed and transferred to willing and capable youth.