The IDEA Fellowship 

The IDEA (innovation, design, engineering, and art) Fellowship is innovative and collaborative, encouraging girls to connect math, engineering, science, and the arts with critical and design thinking. 

The Fellowship focuses on HB’s technology-based programs including Computer Science, Technical Theater, and the renovated IDEA Lab – an open-source, creative, and inspiring space for makers. The IDEA Lab is designated as an official MIT Fab Lab. The lab houses the latest in digital fabrication equipment and encourages creativity and ingenuity: 

• 3D Printers and 3D Scanners to create physical objects from 3D digital models or make a 3D digital copy of existing objects
   
• Epilog Lasers to engrave or cut wood, acrylics, plastics, stone or fabrics
   
• Vinyl Cutters to create and cut designs in vinyl, heat transfers, magnetic materials, card stock, etc. 
   
• Desktop Milling Machines, a “smart chisel” to design and fabricate 3D prototypes using wax, wood, aluminum, acrylics or other plastics
   
• CNC Router Machine to cut, drill, carver machine large-scale designs out of wood, plastic, aluminum, and other materials

The program also serves as the hub for HB’s First Robotics team, Team 2399, the Fighting Unicorns. Local engineers lead the student-run club in the design and build process each year during the competition season.

More About This Fellowship

Small-Group/Individual Projects

Students with an idea of something they’d like to create, invent, or patent may work on projects with as much guidance as needed during the IDEA Lab’s open lab times

IDEA Lab Leader Program

Students interested in learning more about digital fabrication tools and equipment and who want to dive into “making” can become designated IDEA Lab Leaders. Requirements include taking Intro to IDEAS Lab: Innovation, Design, Engineering, Art, and Safety to learn required safety standards and become proficient in operating the major equipment and tools; and by completing a self-directed project to demonstrate ability and skill set. 

Robotics

Students interested in working on the electrical, mechanical, or programming aspects of robotics may join the robotics team or work on independent creative projects involving the use of robots, embedded computer systems, or other projects yet to be realized. Recruitment for the team takes place in the fall, with the build season occurring in January and February.

Program Integration

Girls involved with other Fellowships, such as Business & Finance or Sustainability, may need to invent and prototype and design products, they may utilize the tools and resources available through the Technology and Invention program.