Adding Research to Engineering

Students prepare to measure pollutants in drinking water.

July 21, 2025
School of Engineering & Applied Science

The 2025 SEAS Summer Immersion Program (SSIP) for high school students added a new aspect of engineering and computer science work to this year's activities: research. 

 

Interim Dean Jennifer Shepherd, primary organizer of the 2025 SSIP, encourages the high school students participating in a wheelchair shock absorber project.
At Gonzaga, faculty-led research contributes to new knowledge through immersive hands-on projects. Students practice critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills as they see the impact of their work.

The SSIP participants explored this summer's four projects in the Gonzaga Research Opportunities in Math, Engineering & Computer Science (GRO-MECS) program. In groups of four, SSIP students rotated through a new research lab each day and had the opportunity to work closely with our GRO-MECS faculty and students.
High school students consider a visual mathematical puzzle in mosaic knot theory..
tribology lab
A SSIP research group sets up a friction experiment.

Students demonstrated what they learned at a special research symposium at the end of the SSIP week. Parents were invited to attend the presentations.

presentation

pointing to a screen display
pointing to a screen display
Learn more about the SEAS Summer Immersion Program