The Qualcomm® Thinkabit Lab™ at the University of Michigan is a multi-year collaboration between Qualcomm and Michigan Engineering providing youth in the Detroit and Southeast Michigan area with a unique, hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) raising awareness of careers they may not know exist.
The Thinkabit Lab inspires year-round, hosting classes from local schools during the academic year and camp programs during the summer.
| Eligibility | Price | Program Dates |
| Current Rising 7th, 8th and 9th Grade Michigan Residents | Free | Tuesday through Thursdays *Subject to change for each academic year |
Contact us
Contact Thinkabit Lab Coordinator Jessica Ely ([email protected]) for more details.
Typical Day
- Students arrive at the Detroit Center in the morning and receive their personalized badge
- Students begin the Career Exploration at Qualcomm activities to discover their own talents and are introduced to concepts in growing STEM fields, such as:
- Invention
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- 5G
- Creative robotics
- Data science and communications
- Lunch is provided
- Students then build on what they learned in the Career Exploration at Qualcomm by engaging in fun and inventive, hands-on engineering projects, guided by trained, experienced Thinkabit Lab instructors. They learn:
- Basic electrical engineering and computer programming
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Critical thinking
- Application of STEM concepts to their own inventions
Facts and Figures
- Lab serves up to 30 students per day, three days/week, 3,000 students in a year!
- The MEZ Detroit location is one of three cornerstone Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab sites across the nation, putting it at the forefront of this STEM engagement program.
Benefits of Thinkabit Lab
- Students get exposure to STEM concepts and careers essential to tomorrow’s workforce, not only at Qualcomm, but also in every aspect of building the wireless, IoT and 5G ecosystems.
- The experience opens students’ eyes to careers they may not know exist.
- Unique hands-on engineering activities encourage students to be inventive.
- The lab provides a free and accessible STEM experience for underserved youth in the Detroit and Southeast Michigan area.
Contact
For more information, please email us at [email protected].
MEZ Background
The MEZ has joined the Office of Culture, Community and Equity (OCCE) in its pursuit of providing greater educational opportunities for individuals from educational, cultural, geographic, or socioeconomic backgrounds considered to be underrepresented in engineering.
Located in the heart of Midtown Detroit, the MEZ is a place for middle and high school students of Southeast Michigan to learn, grow and lead. As part of Michigan Engineering, the MEZ strives to provide world-class STEM resources, instruction and counseling to students who very well may be the next generation of Victors. The MEZ offers three multi-year programs in partnership with Michigan Engineering, providing students with the opportunity to engage in experiential learning. These programs are designed to be flexible, allowing students to participate on a year-by-year basis as they pursue their engineering interests.