iSpark 2021 Program

iSpark 2021 is a two-part program comprised of a makerseries and a design workshop. Starting in June, students will learn makerskills over the course of 1-2 months, which will be applied their projects in the 2-week design workshop happening in mid-August.

iSpark is working to find solutions to existing and emerging public health issues in India. Public health is about interventions that prevent disease from occurring, so the benefits tend to be less obvious. Prevention of disease both prolongs life and improves the quality of life. iSpark aims to bring public health research back to MIT and find solutions to India’s current healthcare challenges.

Why join iSpark?

  • For MIT students:

India is home to the world’s fastest growing population and socio-economic development. iSpark is an opportunity for MIT students to contribute to the solutions to the nation’s existing and emerging needs. By engaging with their peers in India, MIT students will have an opportunity to learn first-hand, and explore the realities of implementing design-led solutions in a dynamic and diverse environment. 

  • For Indian students:

Through fostering the MIT culture of hands-on learning in India, Indian students will be exposed to elements of critical thinking and creativity to complement the traditional rote form learning prevalent in the Indian education system.  The workshop aims to ignite the spark that will keep the students continue their journeys, and foster collaborations amongst themselves.

Makerseries

  • A series of workshops focused on introducing students to different modalities that can be used to prototype a solution

Prior to the design workshop, students will be exposed to an array of maker skills over the course of one to two months. Participants will be sent a kit of materials to use and build with. By the end of the series, each student will be able to put together a simple product and have exposure to the different elements that go into rapid prototyping.

  • Workshops include:
  • Making low-fidelity prototypes using paper and other office supplies
  • Coding (web/app development)
  • Using arduinos
  • Drafting using CAD software
  • Design using Adobe Illustrator

Design Workshop

  • A two-week bootcamp where teams of students work together to design a solution to a public health innovation challenge

At the design workshop, teams of MIT and Indian students will work together on needfinding, ideation and rapid prototyping. Leading researchers, mentors and industry professionals from India and MIT will attend as keynote speakers and collaborate with student throughout the workshop.

The last day of the workshop culminates in an open-house event with thousands of students, colleges and industry professionals coming from across Bangalore to view the cutting edge solutions along with press and media to cover the event. We end with a networking session bringing top industry executives, academicians, MIT alumni, faculty and researchers.