Since 2005, when Notre Dame 7th grader Nolan Weimer was four-and-a-half years old and his brother, Marshall, a 9th grader, was six, the two boys have been spending a portion of their summers studying nanotechnology, biotechnology and robotics at a camp at Michigan State University. Called the K-Ph.D. Robotics and Nano/Bio-Technology program, it is an innovative ‘from kindergarten to Ph.D.’ education and research program that introduces children from kindergarten through 12th grade to cutting edge technology while allowing them to get a hands-on experience on topics ranging from programmable robots, mind-control technology and nanotechnology.
The camp was conceived and is taught by MSU professor of electrical and computer engineering Dean Aslam, Ph.D., who says he wants the kids to learn such things in nontraditional ways, including mixing the "campers" up age-wise, which provide a defacto mentoring experience for the younger ones.
Nolan and Marshall Weimer are pictured at their first MSU camp in 2005.
While Marshall still has a few years to decide what he will do in college, Melissa says the influence that Dr. Aslam and his MSU students have had on Marshall is significant. "Now, not only does Marshall continue to benefit from learning, he is now sharing what he has learned as a teacher.
"Marshall confidently tells people that he will be getting his PhD in biomedical engineering someday," she adds.
It sounds like he is well on his way. Marshall, now 14, was hired for his first paid job working for Aslam as a camp instructor this summer teaching the younger children what he learned himself. He also has been working with one of Aslam's doctoral students in the MSU engineering lab since last September exploring the development of prosthetic hands.
The program was recently featured in The State News, MSU's main newspaper. Click to read.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.