List Of Summer Programs That I Have Attended Related To Robotics, Engineering, Science, New Technologies And Societal Challenges (Internship)
Considering my enthusiasm towards robotics and engineering projects, over the years I have been awarded merit Summer program scholarships from Harvard University (Digital Media Academy), Harvard University Summer Academy, MIT/NuVu Innovation School (partnership with MIT), Tufts University Center for Engineering, and the Boston Science Museum. My Mom has also made the effort to enroll me in some of the Summer programs listed below:
Considering my enthusiasm towards robotics and engineering projects, over the years I have been awarded merit Summer program scholarships from Harvard University (Digital Media Academy), Harvard University Summer Academy, MIT/NuVu Innovation School (partnership with MIT), Tufts University Center for Engineering, and the Boston Science Museum. My Mom has also made the effort to enroll me in some of the Summer programs listed below:
- Innovative Health Wearable Technologies / Nuvu Innovation School (partnership with MIT.)
I designed the prototype of an "Exocast" that helps people to rehabilitate their arms/move them using and Arduino motorized mechanism./ (2021). Link: https://cambridge.nuvustudio.com/studios/11071-health-wearable-technology-registration-closed/projects/64826-exo-cast-and-auxi-arm
https://juanlenger.weebly.com/exo-cast.html - Arduino workshop / Tufts University Center for Engineering (2021)
I designed a motorized mechanism that could pull the strings installed within a soft robotics glove prototype that I previously designed.
- Soft Robotics studio/ NuVu Innovation School (partnership with MIT)/ 2020
I designed a prototype of a soft robotics glove that could help people with hand motor deficiencies to firmly grab things (improve their life quality.) After I submitted this project to the Massachusetts Invention Convention (organized by the Lemelson-MIT Center), I was selected as a finalist. I was asked to represent Massachusetts at the National Invention Convention that took place this past June 24th. This is a related note posted by The Arlington Advocate:
Link: https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/arlington-advocate/2021/05/23/arlington-student-named-invention-convention-finalist/5212989001/YouTube video requested by the Massachusetts Invention Convention/ Lemelson MIT Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWZCmrH_n5g
- "Biotech in Action"/ Neurodegenerative diseases/ Lemelson MIT Center and Biogen (2020)
Summer Program dedicated to neurodegenerative diseases, organized by Biogen and the Lemelson-MIT Center. I had the opportunity to learn from top specialists and Labster simulations. I made a presentation about Parkinson's Disease. I also presented my soft robotics prototype that could help Parkinson's disease patients, people who have suffered strokes and those who suffered advanced cases of arthritis, among others.. (Note: My father suffers from an advanced stage of Parkinson's disease.)
- Augmented Reality studio/ NuVu Innovation School partnership with Architecture (2019)
I designed an Augmented Reality Project called "Harm-burger" and presented it at the MIT Architecture lab building in front of professor, parents, and fellow students
Link: Related link: https://cambridge.nuvustudio.com/studios/2348-future-augmented-reality-2019/projects/39500-h-ar-mburger
- Anti-racism augmented reality project/ Cambridge Public Library Technology Department and Innovator for Purpose Foundation (2020)
I was selected to participate in this Summer Internship organized by Cambridge Library Technology Department and Innovators for Purpose (a nonprofit organization). Only 15 teens were selected. I was the only teen from Arlington.
This internship was dedicated to strengthening leadership skills, addressing societal challenges, and learning about new technologies. We had discussions related to key issues such as the Covid19 Pandemic and Racial tensions. Afterwards, we learned new skills in order to design some modern stations, using (for example) augmented reality and 2D animations, among others.
Description: I designed a 2D animation related to "Systemic Racism" that has been part of an augmented reality exhibition installed in the Cambridge Library lawn. I worked on this project as an intern for three weeks.
Link: https://juanlenger.weebly.com/this-should-not-be.html
Related article by Harvard Crimson: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2020/11/16/cambridge-public-library-augmented-reality-exhibit/
Mr. Michael Dawson, founder of Innovator for Purpose and leader/coordinator of the internship co-sponsored by Cambridge Library Technology Department wrote within a letter related to my performance as an intern (please see attached copy):
"This Summer I had the pleasure of meeting Juan Rafael Lenger-Caballero, AHS rising 11th grader... Juan worked as an intern in our flagship program called IFP studios. He is an extremely bright and motivated young man....Juan Rafael was asked to develop a 2D animated model explaining systemic racism. The model is built using professional tools in the Adobe Creative suite. Additionally, he wrote thoughtful essays on various topics and contributed to discussions. Juan Rafael's 2D animation was included within the augmented reality exhibition installed by Cambridge Library and Innovators for Purpose at the Library's front lawn. The exhibition was open to the public for about 6 months. Juan Rafael dedicated a total of about 67 hours to work on this internship/project."
- MIT HSSP Programs, and Splash programs (2018, 2019)
I have had the opportunity to attend classes taught by MIT student volunteers at the MIT campus. I have attended some classes about programming, neuroscience, Math and Science lectures and Social Sciences lectures, among others. During the MIT Summer programs the students organized panels about what is like to be an MIT student. Other panels with MIT students were dedicated to the process of applying to college. They invited parents to some of the panels.
- Summer Coding Academy/ The Academies at Harvard/ Certificate for "Recognition of Participation in the Summer Coding Academy/" (2019).
This was an intense program (8:30 am to 4:00 Pm) oriented to learn about Python Programming.
- Engineering for High School Students/ Tufts University Center for Engineering No. 2/ 2019
We worked on a variety of engineering projects. We learned about circuits and electricity. We jointly built structures.
- Cyborg Enhancement studio/ Nuvu at MIT architecture lab/ 2019
I worked on a project entitled "Laser Eyes"
Link: https://juanlenger.weebly.com/laser-eyes-project.html
Arduino Robotics/ Digital Media Academy (at Harvard University's Student Center) / Certificate of competency received on August 3, 2018
- Engineering for High School Students/ Tufts University Center for Engineering No. 1/ 2018
Alison Earnhart, instructor in charge of a "High School's Engineering" workshop wrote:
"He demonstrated impressive problem-solving skills in each of the activities he encountered, and generally displayed a great aptitude for "thinking like an engineer". Coupled with his obvious enthusiasm for the projects, I am inclined to believe that he could benefit greatly by continuing to be given opportunities to explore the world of engineering...One particular instance highlights his creativity when dealing with project roadblocks. On the day that we spent working with LEGO robotics kits, I had mistakenly shown the students some very high-level robot models and suggested that they build them without first realizing that we had different kits that did not contain the parts necessary to create these advanced bots. After I had corrected my error, Juan asked if he could still attempt to build a higher-level robot model and improvise what he could do using the kits we had. I was pleased with his enthusiasm and granted him the morning time to try to "MacGuyver" his basic kit to work with the advanced instructions. Not only did he finish with a bot that was almost identical to the advanced model (which should have been impossible to build with his simpler kit) , but he also accomplished some very clever parts usage to recreate some more advanced pieces he didn't have access to. I'm incredibly proud of Juan's work and impressed with his skill."
- Co-Ed Robotics workshop at Tufts University Center for Engineering and Outreach/ Certificate of completion received on August 17, 2017
- Build your own RC car/ Boston Science Museum Summer program. (2016)
We learned to build circuits and designed a car. We had a demonstrations of the different cars built, and we were able to take the cars we built home
- Programming & APP development for iPhone & Ipad / Digital Media Academy (at Harvard University's Student Center)/ Certificate of Completion, received on August 19, 2016.
Instructor's comments: "Juan has the best imagination in the class! He used good colors and fonts and designs with his app."
Considering my enthusiasm toward robotics, I was interviewed by a DMA journalist, and that interview is still posted within the DMA website:
https://techcamps.digitalmediaacademy.org/2016/03/19/dma-success-story-robot-builder-juan-rafael-lenger-caballero/
- Sound engineering and building musical instruments/ Tufts University Center for Engineering (2016)
- Adventures in Robotics & Programming with LEGO EV3 / Digital Media Academy at Harvard University's Certificate of completion received on July, 10, 2015
Instructor comments:
"Juan is a bright student with a lot of creative ideas. Keep up the good work, Juan!"
Lego Robotics/ Tufts University Center for Engineering (2015)
- Engineering challenges/ Boston Science Museum (2015)
- Adventure in Engineering & Rocket Science/ Digital Media Academy at Harvard University's Certificate of completion received on August 22, 2014.
Instructor comments: "Juan is one of my most enthusiastic students and has learned a lot about engineering in just a few days. He is creative and clever in his designs; I would encourage him to pursue engineering as his education advances."
- Adventures in Robotics with LEGO NXT/ Digital Media Academy at Harvard University/ Certificate received on August 1, 2014
Instructor comments: "Juan developed his skills in LEGO design and programming with Mindstorm throughout the week. His perseverance and passion for learning helped him complete the challenges of the course."