Giant Leap Summer Science Workshop Equips Future STEM Leaders

Giant L.E.A.P. at Seton Hall University is a summer science program for inquisitive and ambitious high school students looking to nourish their natural curiosity and stand out from their peers. Led by university faculty and graduate researchers, the program is structured as a focused deep dive into the natural sciences offering an immersive hands-on experience in cutting-edge technological facilities preparing students for their future STEM careers and fostering the next generation of scientists.

This year’s summer program, which took place in early July, featured an exciting range of topics, including robotics, electronics, mechanics, and climate and sustainability. Through reinforcement of foundational knowledge with advanced hands-on practical experience, students can gain deeper insight and appreciation into multidisciplinary applied science by developing their comprehension from that of a purely academic proficiency, to a real-world mastery and apprehension. "Providing these young minds with real-world scientific experience is crucial," said Professor Daniel Guerrero, lead faculty at the workshop. "It's inspiring to see their curiosity and innovation come to life in the projects they undertake."

A key element of the Giant L.E.A.P.'s core mission is to broaden access to STEM education. By emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility, the program strives to make STEM opportunities available to a broader range of students through increased efforts to reach socioeconomically minorities groups otherwise underrepresented. Director of the Office of Grants and Research, Jose Lopez, Ph.D., highlighted the importance of this approach: "By making STEM education accessible, we’re not only nurturing future scientists and engineers but also ensuring diverse perspectives in these critical fields. This inclusivity drives innovation and progress."

As the demand for STEM professionals continues to grow, it becomes increasingly critical to captivate and inspire young minds early on. Seton Hall University stands ready to meet this challenge and is well positioned to provide high impact STEM programming with outstanding faculty and a wealth of degree programs across STEM fields such as biochemistry, physics and engineering, environmental science, biotechnology and data science. This strong emphasis in STEM education ensures that students will not only receive a world-class education but also are exposed to a wealth of opportunities to continue their studies and research at advanced levels taking them beyond the academic stage. It is the university’s belief that by engaging students in this type of hands-on learning with real-world problem-solving experience, the program will also positively impact our future pipeline of talented individuals ready to tackle challenges in our nation and around the world.

Through these enriching experiences, the Giant L.E.A.P. Summer Science Workshop continues to pave the way for the next generation of STEM leaders, fostering a passion for science and technology while equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to excel.

For information about Pre-College offerings at Seton Hall, please contact ceps@shu.edu.  

Categories: Science and Technology