Emerging Innovators Research Program - Progression/Steps for High School Students

Prerequisite-Phase 1: Analytical Thinking and Blog Writing Course

• Format: Online – Asynchronous
• Time Required: 15 to 20 hours
• Course Access: 1 month
• Graded: Yes      Cost: $200
• Description: This course helps develop your analytical thinking skills and guides you through the process to conduct an investigation on any topic of your interest and the writing process to help you effectively communicate your findings and analysis through a meticulously crafted blog post. This on-demand asynchronous course is divided into six units, and each unit focuses on building specific thinking skills, followed by practice assignments for each unit. The assignments will be manually graded by an instructor and feedback will be given to the student.
• More Details & Registration Link: https://childrensinnovationcenter.org/analytical-thinking-blog-writing/

Phase 2: Emerging Innovators Research Coursework

• Format: Online – Asynchronous
• Time Required: 60 hours
• Course Access: 3 months
• Graded: Yes      Cost: $499
• Description: The Emerging Innovators Research Coursework is a unique interdisciplinary course that aims to educate and foster innovation in students. As Deba Dutta, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity at Purdue University, stated, "Innovation cannot be taught like math, writing, or even entrepreneurship. But it can be inculcated with the right skills, experiences, and environments." The program is designed to teach students new methodologies to make new scientific discoveries and convert those discoveries into applied science. Students also learn industry best practices for designing a product/solution to a real-world problem, exposing them to many different industry verticals and the opportunities. The program also offers activities that encourage disruptive thinking and develops critical skills in an interdisciplinary setting.
• More Details & Registration Link: https://childrensinnovationcenter.org/research-coursework/

PHASE-3: Students are challenged to apply the new methodologies they have learned in the prior phase, make new discoveries, and generate new ideas. They will then abstract scientific and design strategies from their discoveries and use that knowledge to design a product or solution to a real-world problem. The program encourages disruptive thinking, giving students the opportunity to have their own "Eureka" moment.

Students can choose either the Independent Research Track or  the Capstone Project Track.

The full transformative experience happens only when you apply the new concepts to solve real-world problems. Though it is an intense brain exercise, it is the most fulfilling and empowering experience.

Phase 3: Independent Research Track

• Format: LIVE online 1:1 mentoring and self-learning 
• Time Required: about 20 hours per week for 10 to 12 weeks
• Course Access: 4 months     Cost: $4000
• Description: Students are challenged to apply the new methodologies they have learned in the prior phase, make new discoveries, and generate new ideas. They will then abstract scientific and design strategies from their discoveries and use that knowledge to design a product or solution to a real-world problem. The program encourages disruptive thinking, giving students the opportunity to have their own "Eureka" moment. Students are guided at every step of the way to ensure their research and scientific writing is of college-level quality. The research article is prepared for submission and review for publication following all necessary requirements.
• More Details & Registration Link: https://childrensinnovationcenter.org/mentoring-research-program/

Phase 3: Capstone Project Track

• Format: LIVE online 1:1 or Group (4 to 6) mentoring and self-learning 
• Time Required: about 10 hours per week for 10 to 12 weeks
• Course Access: 4 months 
• Description: Students are challenged to apply the new innovation methodologies they have learned in the prior phase to design a sustainable solution to a real-world problem (preferably from their local community). The program encourages disruptive thinking, giving students the opportunity to be the change-maker. Students are guided at every step of the way to ensure their project is of college-level quality. 
• More Details & Registration Link:  https://childrensinnovationcenter.org/capstone-project/

Research Article / Capstone Project Publication:

Students are guided at every step of the way to ensure their research and scientific writing is of college-level quality and meets all publication guidelines. All submissions go through a strict review process for scientific accuracy, quality, originality, and must address a real-world problem. There are two categories of publications by the Emerging Innovators Online Science Journal. 

1. Individual author research articles with novel ideas (Full Research Paper)
2. Group/Individual capstone projects that demonstrate innovative sustainable solutions (presentation video with a 2 to 4-page narrative).

Journal: Emerging Innovators – Online Science Journal  Journal Link: https://emerginginnovators.org/

It is noteworthy that only novel insights/solutions are published in this journal. Getting published in this journal clearly demonstrates that the research is unique and follows the scientific process for proposing novel insights. This will provide students with a valuable research/project publication to include in their resumes and in their college applications.