The campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York is the backdrop for this summer leadership experience that brings young women to the crossroads of engineering design and marketing. By touching on several disciplines, attendees will understand the nature of engineering, where it fits into our society, and what is involved in creating a marketable product. Participants will leave this two-week experience with a better understanding of how creativity and technical knowledge can be merged, and that often the most successful ideas in engineering come from a mixture of careful computation and imaginative brainstorming.

Registration Information

2009 Envision Product Innovation Academy Registration Form (60KB PDF file)

Cost: $3,200 per student. Cost includes residential room and board meals. By the end of EVISION, students will have a final prototype of their product, a series of posters documenting their work, a mini-project made using manufacturing equipment, team t-shirts and a CD of documents and pictures.

Registration Deadline: Early registrations are encouraged. Space is limited. A non-refundable deposit of $640.00 must accompany the registration. Final payment and the below accepted student forms are due by June 22, 2009. If you have any questions, please contact Kari Bennett at (518) 276-6431.

Program Details

Working in groups, and motivated by the marketing of existing products, participants will (a) develop designs that would improve products with which they are familiar; (b) develop prototypes of these designs; and (c) develop strategies to bring these designs to market. There will be formal instruction mixed with hands-on experimentation. Field trips to engineering companies involved in product design will complement studio time and reinforce concepts. Participants will also make several formal presentations of their ideas to a panel of field professionals.

From this twelve day experience, students will not only learn to understand concepts of design, but they will also learn to perceive and question their surroundings in relation to why and how objects were created.

Sample Schedule:
8:00- 9:00 Breakfast
9:00- 11:00 Studio Work
11:00- 11:30 Break
11:30- 1:00 Studio Work
1:00- 2:00 Lunch
2:00- 4:30 Studio Work
4:30- 10:00 Dinner, Free Time, Evening Activities

Activity List
Gain understanding about the what and whys of design, product evolution and more.
Receive sketching instruction so that ideas can be demonstrated effectively and then brought to the next level
Create a team name, logo and brand
Take on the challenge of redesigning a familiar everyday object
Get hands-on experience with on campus manufacturing equipment
Use graphic design software to create advertisements and illustrative posters for your new design
Observe users of the product and mock up new ideas using standard quickdraft materials
Learn Computer Aided Design (CAD) Software in order to model potential product in 3-D
Discover more about entrepreneurship through one-on-one time with successful professionals
Visit local companies to see what they do, how they do it and why they are so successful
Use rapid prototyping methods to turn CAD designs into physical models
Practice formal presentation skills by presenting your new products and ideas.

Accepted Student Forms

Check list for completing Medical History Form - Residential (53KB PDF file)
Medical History Form - Residential (75KB PDF file)
Medication Sheet Form (54KB PDF file)
Self Medication Waiver (52KB PDF file)
Authorization to Visit - Residential (162KB PDF file)
Meningitis Fact Sheet (52KB PDF file)
Meningitis Summer Response Form (58KB PDF file)

Note for Summer program participants Medication Sheet Form and Self Medication Waiver: For children who do not have any prescriptions the parent and doctor should sign the Medication sheet for the three over the counter medications listed so they can be administered by the Health Services Office. If your son/daughter does not have any medications to self administer then the Self Medication Form is not applicable.

Location: This program will be held on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Transportation: The Albany International Airport and Amtrak Train Station are each location 20 minutes from campus. Car rentals are available from both the airport and train station. All students must furnish their own transportation to and from campus.

Program Inquiries/Questions: For further information about the program, Request Information, or contact, Mike Gunther, Program Manager for Recruitment, (518) 276-8351, gunthm@rpi.edu.

MAIL OR FAX MATERIALS TO:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Attn: Outreach Programs Office
110 8th Street – Low Center Suite 4011
Troy, NY 12180-3590
(518) 276-6431 (Voice)
(518) 276-8738 (Fax)
An email will be sent to confirm receipt of materials.

Special Needs: If you have any special needs please contact Kari Bennett at (518) 276-6431.

Registration Questions & Answers: If you have any application/registration questions, please contact Kari Bennett at (518) 276-6431.