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Build and test organ models in this three-week biomedical engineering program for elementary and middle school students on Cornell University’s campus.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 for course experience by students surveyed across the broader program in 2026.
Instructor:
Course Description
Build a model heart valve that lets blood move one way, then test how well it works.
In this course your child will connect the workings of the human body with designs that could help it. Students map organs on a life-sized body diagram, build a prosthetic limb prototype, and compare animal eyes through guided dissection. Each activity connects a body part’s job with an engineering problem.
The investigations include stem cells, artificial organs, and the possibilities of 3D printing. Students build lung models, consider treatment choices, and discuss the costs and ethical questions behind medical technology. For their capstone, they develop a model or proposal for a new use of regenerative medicine, which aims to repair or replace damaged cells and tissues. They present the idea and explain its possible benefits and consequences.
This three-week course for elementary and middle school students is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Cornell University’s campus in Ithaca, New York. Beyond class, students connect hands-on learning with campus life, new friendships, growing confidence, and curiosity they can keep exploring.
What You Will Do
• Build a life-sized map of body organs
• Design a prosthetic limb prototype with teammates
• Compare animal eyes through guided dissection
• Test an artificial heart-valve model
• Construct a model showing how lungs work
• Present a new regenerative-medicine model or proposal
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain how an organ’s function shapes a medical design
• Use model tests to explain design choices and improvements
• Compare the possible benefits, costs, and ethical questions of medical innovations
You’ll leave with your regenerative-medicine proposal and a certificate of completion.
Is This Course Right for You?
For students who have completed 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. If your child likes building things and wondering how the body works, this course brings those interests together. Hands-on models, animal-eye dissection, research, and discussion are part of the experience.
View the eligibility requirements for the Institute for the Gifted on our FAQ page.
Your Summer at Cornell
Cornell’s Ithaca setting gives elementary and middle school students an adventurous first experience of campus life, surrounded by Finger Lakes gorges, waterfalls, and a landscape shaped by research, agriculture, and invention. The setting makes learning feel different from an ordinary school day and gives students plenty to notice and explore.
The program combines active academics with friendships, campus activities, clear routines, and support as students become more comfortable in a new environment. Students can try challenging ideas, share interests with peers, and enjoy the fun of living and learning on a university campus. For families, Cornell offers a structured elementary and middle school experience that balances learning and discovery with community, support, and growing independence.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification of completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive