For Rice engineering students, innovation doesn’t just happen in the lab. It happens in communities around the world. Since 2017, Rice University’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) has extended that learning through the International Summer Engineering Experience (iSEED), immersing students in real-world design challenges across cultures and continents.

Led by Amy Dern, OEDK’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and International Programs, iSEED connects classroom theory with practical problem-solving, where constraints are real, resources vary, and collaboration is essential.

In summer 2025, 44 Rice students worked alongside partners in Mexico, Kenya, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Japan, developing solutions shaped by local needs—from a device that automates urinalysis strip readings to an assistive tool that helps people with limited hand mobility open jars and containers. At the same time, Houston hosted visiting students from Costa Rica, creating a two-way exchange of ideas inside the OEDK. While participants gained experience with tools like 3D printers, laser cutters and electronics labs, the most meaningful learning happened beyond the workbench.

“Engineering isn’t just about the right answer. It’s about understanding people and context,” reflected Dern. Across projects and cultures, students learn to navigate ambiguity, collaborate across differences and adapt their designs in real time.

Now approaching 190 alumni, iSEED is preparing engineers to think globally and design responsibly. The program reinforces a simple idea: innovation is driven not just by tools, but by perspective.

Learn more about the students’ experiences: https://iseed.blogs.rice.edu/