Pre-university weeks for high school students
Physical sciences, electronics, robotics, materials science, programming and environmental analysis are all fields that high school students get the chance to explore during EPFL’s pre-university weeks, which have multiple benefits that have proven their worth.
Teaching is given in an interdisciplinary and refreshing setting that goes beyond the scope of traditional high school subjects. It offers students the opportunity to interact with peers who share the same interest in science and allows the development of transferable skills in terms of time management, working methods and language skills.
Such an immersion is a good preparation for university studies, as it gives students the possibility to further strengthen the fundamentals acquired in high school while encouraging creativity and applied dimension.
Spring schools
Science and sustainability
Degrowth, the circular economy and nuclear fusion: are they attainable ideals or just wishful thinking? And with the negative impact of climate change no longer in doubt, how can we bring together science, technology and sustainability to reinvent our way of life? These are the kinds of questions participants in this pre-university week will be invited to consider.
Decoding QR codes
Concert tickets, admission to museums, menus in restaurants: QR codes are everywhere. They give us access to various activities and information, but how are they designed? How reliable are they and what kind of data can they contain?
Past editions
Mathematical thinking: between rigor and creativity
Is nature governed by mathematical laws? What is the relationship between mathematics and philosophy? And between cryptography and logic? This is what participants in this pre-university week will discover as they develop their capacity for rigorous intellectual inquiry and tackle challenges as a team.
Edition: 21-25.10.2024
Médecine et intelligence artificielle: Data et IA au service de notre santé
Radiographies, informations génétiques ou encore résultats d’examens sanguins sont des mines d’informations précieuses pour le corps médical et les scientifiques. Comment la data science et l’intelligence artificielle (IA) peuvent-elles les aider à mieux comprendre l’évolution des maladies, à établir un diagnostic plus précoce et à prévenir des problèmes de santé ?
Edition: 14-17.10.2024
Nature, in code
During this pre-university week, participants will learn the basics of JavaScript programming and implement key biological concepts in code to analyze their impact on life. The findings are presented in a visual form that is easy to interpret.
Game theory and artificial intelligence
Whether it is chess, checkers or nine men’s morris, every player dreams of guaranteed victory. But is it really possible? Can you optimize your strategy to leave your opponent with no chance of winning? This is what participants in this pre-university week will try to determine as they code their own game prototypes.
Dive into the world of STEM!
Fancy building an optical heart rate monitor? Or discovering aquatic ecosystems in streams? How about creating an earthquake-resistant structure? Or following in the footsteps of astronauts by recreating the first walk on the moon?
Your own mobile robot
Learn how to connect electronic components, program a microcontroller and create 3D models. During this pre-university week, participants will dive into the theory and application of mobile robotics using the micro:bit board to conceptualize, design and build their own robot.
From atoms to computers
This pre-university week offers high school students the opportunity to discover scientific programming and modelling of materials during their immersion at EPFL.
Edition: 24-28.06.2024
General relativity
From Newton’s first law of motion to special relativity, and then from Newton’s second law of motion to general relativity, the high school students will follow the footsteps that led to discoveries at the basis of today’s work on the origin of the Universe, gravitational waves, and black holes.
Edition: 08-12.04.2024
The truth tables behind calculators
A calculator is a reassuring companion during math tests. But how does it work? And how can we be sure that it displays the correct result. During this pre-university week, the participants will answer such questions while designing a calculator.
Edition: 08-11.04.2024
Mobile robotics
During this pre-university week, participants will alternate theory sessions and practicals in order to explore the foundations of mobile robotics and dig into topics such as sensors, motion, control, local navigation, neural networks and machine learning.
Edition: 17-20.10.2022
Contact
These pre-university weeks are organized each year, in the spring, the summer and the autumn. Specific programs may also be proposed in collaboration with the high schools. If you are interested by this offer, do not hesitate to contact the Education outreach department:
EPFL AVP-SAO SPE
Centre Midi – CM2 348
Station 10
CH – 1015 Lausanne