Makers Program
The Ignite Makers Program is a free program that runs from September through April each year for high school students. This program challenges students to use Human-Centered and Engineering Design processes to research problems related to the UN Global Goals of Clean Energy (Light Team), Clean Water (Water Team), or Good Health (Health Team).
Students meet weekly with their Duke undergraduate mentors both via Zoom and at Duke to identify a problem, brainstorm a solution, prototype designs, and test solutions. Each year, Makers present their final projects at "Duke Day," a Science Fair-style Conference on Duke University's campus. Examples of previous Makers' prototypes can be found below.
Our application for our 2024-2025 cohort is closed. Applications for our 2025-2026 program will open in May 2025.
Makers in the News
With their projects, Makers have the opportunity to compete in and present at a variety of STEM competitions and design conferences.
We are so proud of one of our Makers teams who presented at the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair, and International STEM Summit. Josie & Mason, with their project "Greywater Recycling for Hydroponic Agriculture," have received recognition from the EPA, Jacobs, and USAID, and placed 4th in the world at the International Science & Engineering Fair.
