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Open Days
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Over the last few weeks, students from DAIS-E participated in the first two MIT Challenges of the year. Through the Nord Anglia–MIT collaboration, MIT scientists and professors release a series of three challenges each year to students all over the world in the Nord Anglia network, inviting them to design creative solutions to real-world problems currently being explored in MIT labs.
Our 4th graders took on the first challenge: Teamworks! Building a Cure.
This challenge was led by Institute Professor Paula Hammond, a chemical engineer who works with clinicians, biologists, and fellow engineers to develop drug-delivery systems that target specific cancer cells. As a member of MIT's Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, she creates layered nanoparticles designed to bind to tumors and help treat cancer. Professor Hammond challenged students to design a solution that is either "incredibly small" or "creatively layered" — mirroring the cancer-fighting nanoparticles she builds.
Inspired by her work, 4th graders at DAIS-E enthusiastically researched how nanoparticles function and then applied their learning to design and 3D-print their own nanobot prototypes.
Our 5th grade students took on the second challenge: Teamworks! Building for the Extreme… Space and Beyond.
For this challenge, Associate Professor Skylar Tibbits, a designer and computer scientist in MIT's Department of Architecture, invited students to design a structure or system capable of adapting to an extreme environment, whether in space, on the Moon or Mars, underwater, or in harsh regions here on Earth such as deserts or polar areas.
Professor Tibbits is the founder and co-director of MIT's Self-Assembly Lab, where his research focuses on self-assembly and programmable materials within the built environment.
Inspired by his work, our 5th graders eagerly embraced the challenge, designing surface habitats for the exoplanets of their choice, using research, creativity, and engineering thinking to guide their decisions.
The Nord Anglia–MIT collaboration is a unique opportunity offered exclusively to students in NAS schools (Nord Anglia Schools). In an ever-evolving world, students must be prepared for anything, and at DAIS-E, we believe the best way to equip them is by fostering creativity and innovative problem-solving skills from an early age.
Participating in these challenges gives students a glimpse into real laboratories and the cuttingedge problems scientists are tackling today. The DAIS Elementary STEM Lab is distinctive on the international stage, as many schools wait until middle school to introduce STEM to learners.
Mrs. Tafoya firmly believes that even our youngest students are capable of extraordinary achievements when given the opportunity. She is committed to researching and integrating new tools and technologies into the classroom and curriculum, ensuring that students develop the skills and experiences they need to become lifelong innovators.
Any student can participate in the MIT Challenges! Students can access the challenges and submit their ideas from anywhere, even from home! They can use their Global Campus logins or even ASK MIT, making this a truly accessible and global learning experience.
Next up, our DAIS-E 2nd graders will take on the final MIT Challenge of the year: Teamworks! Building Community.
This challenge is led by Professor Kait Becker, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. She invites students to work as a team to select an unconventional material and use it to build something extraordinary. Our 2nd graders are excited to explore creative materials and collaborative design as they rise to the challenge!