Seventy-eight high school students from across the greater Houston area gathered at Rice University last month for the annual Young Scholars Invent program, a hands-on learning experience that challenged participants to develop affordable digital health solutions while gaining exposure to entrepreneurship, engineering and innovation.
Hosted by the Rice Center for STEM Engagement (R-STEM), the two-day program culminated May 16 with a daylong workshop in which students worked in teams to prototype ideas, refine their concepts and present their projects to a panel of external judges. The event drew students from 15 school districts and highlighted the growing interest in STEM-focused opportunities among Houston-area youth.
This year’s program received 139 applications, reflecting continued growth and strong demand for the experience. Through collaborative design challenges, participants explored how technology can address real-world health care needs while developing critical skills in problem-solving, communication and teamwork.
“I am fortunate to work alongside faculty such as Ashutosh Sabharwal and Joseph Young, whose commitment to outreach matches my own and makes hosting these initiatives possible,” said Brittany Templeton, assistant director for computer science and mathematics for R-STEM. “At a recent Rice University event, I heard Alexander Okwonna, provost of San Jacinto College’s North Campus, say something that stayed with me: ‘Talent exists everywhere; it just needs opportunity.’ His words resonated deeply and continue to inspire my work to expand access and create meaningful opportunities for students.”
Students gained firsthand experience in the innovation process, from identifying challenges and developing solutions to pitching their ideas in a competitive presentation setting. The program encouraged participants to think creatively about the future of health care and the role technology can play in improving access and outcomes.
Young Scholars Invent is supported in part by the Rice Digital Health Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital. The program is led by Templeton and Joseph Young, assistant teaching professor of electrical and computer engineering, who work together to create meaningful STEM learning opportunities that inspire the next generation of innovators.
By connecting students with emerging fields such as digital health and entrepreneurship, the program provides an early introduction to the types of interdisciplinary problem-solving taking place at Rice and across the Texas Medical Center ecosystem.