In an extraordinary departure from the typical high school summer break, Emily Paton and Niklas Chaney, two high school students, embarked on an educational adventure that revolved around collaboration with the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things and the Roux Institute. This partnership underscores the work conducted at the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things, with vital support from the esteemed Roux Institute.

Paton and Chaney, both rising high school seniors, were chosen to be part of the inaugural cohort of the Young Scholars Program. This distinctive initiative granted them the opportunity to work closely with esteemed researchers and faculty members at the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things.

The opening to complete these projects comes from a Northeastern-led program that places rising high school seniors in science and engineering labs to explore STEM opportunities not typically available through high schools. Northeastern University’s Executive Director for The Center for STEM, Claire Duggan, designed the program in 1989 with funding from the National Science Foundation and still oversees it today. Northeastern has seen over 600 participants in the program, with 75% of those reporting to have pursued or completed an undergraduate program in STEM.

Paton and Chaney were placed under the tutelage of Francesco Restuccia, Assistant Professor of Computer and Electrical Engineering at Northeastern and a prominent researcher in wireless communications, artificial intelligence, embedded systems, and wireless security. His lab is part of the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things.

Paton, a student at Portland High School, shared her experiences from the program, where she had the privilege of working alongside the institute’s faculty, researchers, and graduate students. Her project was nothing short of groundbreaking: a smart oxygen mask designed to detect a person’s breathing patterns. This innovative venture exposed her to the fascinating world of neural networks, a sophisticated machine-learning paradigm inspired by the information-processing capabilities of the human brain.

Meanwhile, Chaney, a senior at Waynflete’s Upper School in Portland, embarked on an equally ambitious project. He set out to build a calculator from scratch, aiming to gain a comprehensive understanding of embedded system design and development. This work involved not only creating his own printed circuit board (PCB) but also crafting the software required to operate the calculator.

The Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things, with its dedicated focus on wireless communication technologies, has provided these young scholars with a platform to explore and engage in research.

Paton and Chaney’s accomplishments testify to the potential of young minds when given access to world-class resources and mentorship. Their achievements underscore the pivotal role that institutions play in shaping the future of technology and nurturing the next generation of innovators.