[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/heart_dissection.jpg” caption=”Students dissect a cow’s heart as part of a project to design a heart-lung machine. Photo courtesy of Carm Vespi.”]From building a heart-lung machine to developing a water filtration system for a small African village, high school students who participated in McMaster's Learning Enrichment Advancement Program (LEAP) will have some interesting stories about how they spent their summer vacation.

Earlier this month, seven students graduated from Engineering 1P03, a one-month prep course offered by LEAP that gives them a head start in first-year engineering. By taking the course through LEAP, students don't need to take it in first year, which lightens their course load.

“The course opened my eyes to engineering,” said Henry Fung, who will be starting his first year of engineering at McMaster in September. “It's not just design, it's a total view of life. Many lives are dependent on you.”

Students taking Engineering 1P03 were presented with real-world problems and made presentations on their solutions at the graduation ceremony on Aug. 3.

One group of students was given the task of improving water quality in Nalerigu, a small village in northern Ghana, while another group had to design a transportation system for the village.

“It gives them a better understanding of what engineering is like,” said Susan Masten, professor of civil engineering. “It also helps lighten their course load.”

In addition, the program gives students the opportunity to interact with instructors in small class settings.

“There's a lot of one-on-one interaction,” said Stephen Veldhuis, director (academic) of LEAP and associate professor of mechanical engineering. “We're trying to help them get prepared for engineering at McMaster.”

LEAP introduces high school students to engineering through lectures, hands-on activities, labs, industry tours and projects. This summer, forty students registered in the program, which started in 2005.

LEAP offers five course options, including Robotics and Mechatronics, Sustainable Mechanical and Civil Design, Biomedical Engineering, From Nano Materials To High Performance Components and Gaming in a Virtual World.