Introduction to Research and Innovative Design in Engineering

iRIDE Academy

The iRIDE summer program is a hands-on program designed to introduce middle school students in 6th-7th grade (current 2024-2025 school year) to the challenging and diverse field of engineering. The program immerses students in engineering objectives, processes, and challenges. The Academy's culmination is completing a capstone project that addresses real-world problems directly affecting them and/or their community. As the program guides students through the challenges and applications of engineering design, it works to influence students’ educational path toward a STEM endorsement in high school and to increase their awareness of and interest in engineering careers.

Through iRIDE, students become familiar with the engineering design accomplishments and learn how engineering impacts our daily lives. Rotating topics highlight diverse engineering fields as the program features projects and guest presenters. For example, the "Get to the Chopper Challenge" taught students how helicopters perform high-water rescues during severe flooding. That day, a representative from the Harris County Flood Control District discussed the important work that organization does. iRIDE also welcomed engineers from the other Houston area institutions including NASA and TxDOT. iRIDE will continue engaging with engineers from a variety of fields to discuss with students the methods for inventing 21st Century technology and solving 21st Century problems.

The Summer iRIDE Academy starts with an orientation tour of the campus and an introduction to engineering as a profession. Students engage with challenging engineering projects, hear from engineers and college students about their work and their educational pathway, take tours of engineering research laboratories, and work as a team on various projects.

Registration opened at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 24th, 2025.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

SCHOLARSHIPS:

• Scholarships are available to a limited number of participants.
• To apply for a scholarship please click the links below to download the application.
• Do NOT register for this program if you are applying for a scholarship.
• Once scholarships have been awarded registration links will be sent to scholarship recipients.

The deadline to apply is April 18, 2025.

Scholarship Application

What to Know Before You Register Online

We're excited for you to join us this summer at Rice University, but before you complete your registration, please take a minute to read the following information and reach out to stem@rice.edu if you have questions.

Limited spaces are available. R-STEM Summer Student Programs. If the session you are interested in is sold out, you have the option to join the waitlist. You will be automatically placed on the waitlist when you finish the registration process if a session you selected is currently full. Placement on a waitlist does not guarantee a spot in the program.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION ONLINE:

• Safari, Firefox, and Google Chrome are the recommended web browsers for the system.
• The child's birth date and age will be when the session you register for begins.
• Child's t-shirt size.
• Physician's name and phone number.
• The child's known medical conditions, required medications, or allergies.
• All necessary credit card information for payment. Rice Employee ID (Faculty & Staff ONLY). Required for discount code.
• Student ID (Rice Students ONLY). Required for discount code.
• Military service members or Veterans. Required for discount code.
• Graduation year and college (Rice Alumnus ONLY). Required for discount code.
• If you are eligible to receive one of the discount codes above, please contact stem@rice.edu to obtain your discount code before registering.
• NOTE: Refunds will not be issued post-registration for discount codes not applied upon the account user's registration.

ACCOUNT SETUP AND PAYMENT:

• Please click here to create an account with the ACTIVE Network or access your current ACTIVE Account.
• Please note: Completing the registration form does NOT guarantee placement in the program. Participation in the program is contingent upon receipt of the registration fee and completion of all applicable minor participant agreements and release forms. Registrants must submit signed participant agreements and release forms for minors with their registration for each child, which is part of the registration process.
• All future registrants for filled weeks or registrants who have not yet paid or completed the required release forms will be placed on a waiting list.
• If you are a school district wishing to pay with a PO for a group of participants, contact Matthew Cushing at mpc3@rice.edu.

SCHOLARSHIPS:

• Scholarships are available to a limited number of participants.
• To apply for a scholarship please click the links below to download the application.
• Do NOT register for the Academy if you are applying for a scholarship.
• Once scholarships have been awarded registration links will be sent to scholarship recipients.

The deadline to apply is April 18, 2025.

Scholarship Application

iRIDE Registration

The Summer 2025 iRIDE Academy is open to all current (2024-2025 school year) 6th and 7th grade students.The Academy starts with an orientation tour of the campus and an introduction to engineering as a profession. Students engage with challenging engineering projects, hear from engineers and college students about their work and their educational pathway, take tours of engineering research laboratories, and work as a team on various projects.

June 9 - 13, 2025
Monday- Friday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
$499/week*

INCLUDES DAILY LUNCH (M-F)*

This program requires the payment of a registration fee of $499 per week. Payment is made during the registration process.

*This program includes a daily lunch (M-F) as part of the registration fee. Participants will dine at the Rice cafeteria. Discounts will not be provided for students who choose to bring their own lunch.

*A $3.00 registration fee will be added to your total registration cost upon checkout.

*Due to administrative costs, a $50 fee will be charged for each change made to your registration. This includes session transfers (upon availability).

*Discounts are not applicable to add-on items (such as a water bottle) or add-on sessions. Discounts are only applicable to program tuition fees.

Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 24th, 2025

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

Completing the registration form does NOT guarantee placement in the program. Participation in the iRIDE program is contingent upon receipt of the registration fee and completion of the required participant agreement and release forms for minors. Registrants will be required to submit signed participant agreement and release forms for minors with their registration for each child which is part of the registration process.

Space is limited, and the iRIDE Academy will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please complete an individual registration for each child you are registering.

Cancellation, Refunds, and Transfers Policy

Please read and agree to the Rice Office of STEM Engagement's cancellation policy.

Cancellation and Refunds Policy

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing (by e-mail) to the Rice University Office of STEM Engagement (R-STEM) at stem@rice.edu.

• 75% refund will be issued if the request is made in writing at least 30 calendar days prior to the start day of the program.
  
• A 50% refund will be issued if the request is made in writing at least 10 calendar days prior to the start day of the program.
  
• No refunds will be issued for cancellation requests made less than 10 calendar days prior to the first start day of the program.
  
• Tuition will not be prorated or refunded in any amount for any missed days by the program participant for any reason.
  

• If you are eligible to receive one of the discount codes above, please contact stem@rice.edu to obtain your discount code before registering.
  
• NOTE: Refunds will not be issued post-registration for discount codes not applied upon the account user's registration.

ACCOUNT SETUP AND PAYMENT:

Refund Procedures

• All refund requests or cancellations must be submitted to R-STEM in writing (by e-mail) to stem@rice.edu with the participant’s first and last name in the subject line.
  
• Please allow up to 10 business days for your refund to be processed. Refunds are typically issued in the same form of payment as the original payment.
  
• Refunds are NOT available for vacations, special events, or other personal commitments that prevent attendance.

We reserve the right to revoke the registration of any child who consistently disrupts normal activities and does not abide by the Rice Code of Conduct. While this is a rare occurrence, it is important to note that consistent disruptions diminish the experience of the other participants. No refund will be made if a child is dismissed from the program due to disrupting program activities.

In the event of cancellation due to Force majeure, an Act of God, or cancellation by the Rice University campus location, R-STEM will provide a 100% camp credit of monies paid. This credit may be used for any child in the affected camper's immediate family and the credit expires the following program year.

It is each participant's family’s responsibility to check their email account regularly and to update contact email addresses with the correct contact information. R-STEM is not responsible for notices not received because of such problems.

Transfers
We understand that sometimes schedules change and that your child may be unable to attend camp during the session in which he/she is enrolled. We do allow registration transfers to occur but with some caveats. Registration is not transferable to anyone outside your immediate family, and split sessions are unavailable. Decisions related to transfer requests will be based on space availability and will be made at the discretion of R-STEM staff. These transfer requests must be made by sending an email to stem@rice.edu (phone requests for transfers will not be accepted).Session transfers will only be allowed at least five working days before the start of the session.

Due to administrative costs, a $50 fee will be charged for each change made to your registration. This includes session transfers and late care transfers and cancellations.

Questions about registration or R-STEM programs?

Don't hesitate to ask us!
Email stem@rice.edu or call our main office at 713-348-8211.

What is Engineering?

Engineering is the creative process of applying math and science to solve both large and small problems and designing products or solutions that improve our quality of life. Everything around you, from complicated products like smart phones to simple things like the chair you’re sitting in, one way or another resulted from engineering.

There are many different areas of engineering. Each addresses a special industry or area of our society. Each has a special purpose and education requirements. The Rice School of Engineering offers over 12 areas of study. Their requirements and focuses can be found at https://engineering.rice.edu/academics/departments

Undergraduate and graduate students conduct research in Medicine, Nanotechnology, Energy and the Environment, Artificial Intelligence and Cities of the Future thanks to the resources available at Rice University such as the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen.

What is Rice University?

First opening its doors in 1912, Rice University is a small, private, four-year institution of higher education located in Houston, Texas. Rice University conducts groundbreaking research, offers unsurpassed teaching, and fosters a collaborative culture that encourages investigators to work across disciplinary boundaries to produce leaders across the spectrum of human endeavor. At the same time Rice’s faculty members dedicate themselves to scholarship and research, they also demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching and outreach. Rice’s small size—with just over 4,000 undergraduate and nearly 3,500 graduate students—allows its students to participate in innovative research alongside world-class faculty and become actively engaged in the creation of new knowledge and technology with 71% of undergraduates participating in research.

Rice University boasts strong humanities and social science programs in addition to a variety of men and women’s sports. Collaborative efforts across interdisciplinary departments result in the numerous programs and activities for K-12 students and teachers each year. Students engage with Rice faculty, staff, and other students while participating in hands-on projects, viewing demonstrations and learning about opportunities in science and engineering.

The iRIDE after school Club and summer Academy are two such programs, offering middle school students education and enrichment in the field of Engineering. Programs are directed by Rice staff and conducted at their schools or on the Rice campus.

For more about Rice visit: https://www.rice.edu/about

Higher Education Opportunities and Resources

In addition to working with engineering processes and challenges, iRIDE students receive important information about setting career goals and identifying opportunities for higher education. A small portion of the program advises students on academic and class requirements to become an engineer or engineering technician and explains education opportunities after high school, including community college and four-year universities such as Rice.

Why Engineering? Why STEM?

A competitive economy and a vibrant society require proficiency in technical fields including math, science and engineering. iRIDE is more than just an after-school club or summer program for students. It is actively working to fulfill a growing need within the Houston STEM workforce and beyond. For more on the critical need for programs like iRIDE click here.

Click here for information on how you can support iRiDE and its mission.

Program Flyer

To view and download the iRIDE program flyer click here.

Video

Click here to hear from iRIDE participants themselves about the program.

iRIDE Administration

If you have any questions about iRIDE, please contact the program instructor.

Roger Ramirez
Associate Director for Mathematics and Engineering Education
713-348-3267 | rr44@rice.edu