The mission of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is to “empower the next generation of leaders…” We work towards this not only in Rice classrooms and laboratories, but also through outreach and engagement in the community. We seek to provide K-12 students and teachers from diverse backgrounds access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities at Rice through school visits, summer camps, professional development, and other activities tailored to their interests.
K-12 Outreach
The School of Engineering and the Rice Office of STEM Engagement (R-STEM) offer numerous activities for K-12 students and teachers each year. Through these activities students engage with Rice faculty, staff, and students while participating in hands-on activities, viewing demonstrations and learning about opportunities in STEM at Rice and beyond. We also offer professional development opportunities for teachers that provide resources and strategies for bolstering student engagement through STEM classroom activities.
Admission Application Tips
Your high school transcript is crucial to our selection process. Rice seeks students who demonstrate intellectual vitality through their course selection and their grades. Most applicants take at least 20 college preparatory courses in high school, but minimally you will be expected to have taken at least 16 year-units of college preparatory subjects, including:
- 4 years of English
- 2 years of one foreign language
- 3 years of college preparatory math
- 2 years of laboratory science
- 2 years of social science
- 3 courses in any of the above subjects
Apply to Rice
Applicants to the natural sciences and engineering divisions must have taken trigonometry or precalculus, chemistry, and physics. If you do not take physics, you may substitute a second year of chemistry or biology. More information is available on the Rice Undergraduate Admission website.
For K-12 Teachers
Campus Visits for Groups
Our staff can work with you to arrange for your classes or student groups to visit Rice for laboratory tours and for engagement in hands-on STEM activities. To request a visit, please complete our Rice STEM Visit Request Form at least one month before your desired visit date. Tour groups are limited to 40 students.
Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be honored based upon the availability of Rice personnel and facilities. Forms with incomplete information may not be considered.
Professional Development
The Rice Office of STEM Engagement supports K-12 teachers through long-term, inquiry-based professional development with student-centered curriculum and school-based mentoring.
The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies offers workshops, degrees, and certificate programs for educators at all levels.
Resources
Are you looking for campus maps for your visit? Do you need ideas for funding sources to support field trips? Would you like to be notified when we are hosting on-campus activities? The links below will connect you to the resources you need.
Funding for field trips
- Submit a grant application:
- Ask your team chair, assistant principal, and campus principal
- Ask parents to pay a small fee per student
- Set up a fundraiser in the community
Community College Outreach
Campus Visits for Groups
Our staff can work with you to arrange for your classes or student groups to visit Rice for laboratory tours and for engagement in hands-on STEM activities. To request a visit, please complete our Rice STEM Visit Request Form at least one month before your desired visit date. Tour groups are limited to 40 students.
Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be honored based upon the availability of Rice personnel and facilities. Forms with incomplete information may not be considered.
Outreach Events
Rice Soccer STEM Night
In October 2019, Rice Engineering and R-STEM teamed up with Rice Athletics and NASA to host Rice Soccer STEM Night. Nearly 100 7th- through 9th-grade students from several Houston-area school districts attended and engaged in hands-on STEM activities, each of which had a unique connection to soccer. Afterward, the students attended the Women’s Soccer match. They had the very cool experience of forming a fan tunnel for our team at half-time as they re-entered the field to deliver a 2-1 victory over Marshall.
Engineers Invent Amazing
We wrapped up Engineers Week 2019 with 80 7th- through 9th-grade students joining us for hands-on activities focused on engineering and computing. Rice undergraduates served as panelists to answer student questions about their pathways and experiences and Rice faculty and staff shared information about STEM opportunities. Activities included creating circuits, coding, and building rockets, which students launched by stomping soft drink bottles as they competed for school trophies (and bragging rights).