Project Challenge
Project Challenge, a popular program for North Country high school students offered by Clarkson University during the winter months, will once again be held on our Potsdam, N.Y. campus starting in mid-January 2026.
The program provides local students in grades 9 through 12 with the opportunity to take part in classes not typically offered at their high schools, explore potential career and academic interests, and develop new skills in an engaging, hands-on learning environment.
Project Challenge
Five-week courses will be taught by Clarkson University faculty and administrators on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning in mid-January. The program is administered by The Clarkson School, Clarkson’s early entrance program for talented high school students who have typically completed their junior year and are ready to begin college-level studies.
Course Dates:
Classes will meet on January 17, 24, 31, and February 7 and 14, with a snow date of February 21. The first and last classes (January 17 and February 14) will be held in person on the Potsdam campus.
The three middle sessions (January 24, January 31, and February 7) will be held remotely via Zoom. Zoom links for each course will be sent separately to registered students.
A snow date of February 21 is reserved in case of cancellation due to inclement weather.
To register, please contact your high school guidance counselor to complete the registration process. Home-schooled or self-paying students may register online.
The registration deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026. Please note that classes fill quickly — most are limited to 20 students.
Please contact Brenda Kozsan, Director of The Clarkson School, at bkozsan@clarkson.edu or call 315-268-4330 with any questions.
NEW COURSES
"College Bound: Preparing for Your Future" - Instructor: Brenda Kozsan
Applying to college can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to! In this hands-on course, students will learn how to research majors, colleges, organize applications, write strong and authentic essays, and prepare for admission and scholarship interviews. Through guided activities, feedback, and real-world examples, participants will gain the confidence and skills needed to stand out in the college admissions process. (Limited to 15 students; Class Location - Bertrand H. Snell Hall 213)
“Decoding Society: The Hidden Patterns of Everyday Life” - Instructor: JoAnn Rogers
This five-week sociology course invites high school students to look beneath the surface of everyday life and examine how culture, media, technology, and social systems shape how we think, behave, and connect. Through games, discussions, and creative mini-projects, students will learn to “think sociologically” — discovering how individual experiences are linked to larger social forces. Each week explores a different theme, from identity and belonging to media influence and social change, encouraging students to question assumptions, share insights, and imagine new possibilities for the future. Bring your curiosity and an open mind — and get ready to see the world in a whole new way. (Limited to 12 students; Class location - Bertrand H. Snell Hall 175)
“DNA Detectives: Exploring the Code of Life” - Instructors: Susan Bailey, Chimaroke Onyeaghala and Oluwabusola Asenuga
Curious about the hidden code that makes you—and every living thing—unique? DNA is the molecule of life—it connects all living things and holds clues to evolution, diversity, and even your own biology. In this hands-on course, you’ll discover what DNA is, how it shapes the incredible variety of life on Earth, and what it can tell us about how species are related. You’ll get to extract DNA yourself, see how scientists sequence and read the genetic code, and use computer tools to analyze real DNA data. Along the way, we’ll look at fascinating case studies on microbes that affect human health—like bacteria and viruses—to see how DNA helps us track diseases, understand antibiotic resistance, and study the hidden world of the human microbiome. Become a DNA detective and uncover the secrets written in our genes—and the genes of all living things! (Limited to 15 students; Class location - Science Center 170D)
“Investigating Microplastics in Our Water” - Instructor: Abul Basar Baki
Tiny pieces of plastic are showing up everywhere—from rivers to drinking water—and this hands-on class will show you how scientists find and study them. You’ll learn how to collect water samples, filter and analyze them in the lab, and identify microplastics under the microscope. We’ll also look at how plastic pollution affects Upstate New York’s waterways and what it means for environmental health and clean drinking water. By the end of the course, you’ll have real experience using lab techniques to track and study microplastics—and explore ways to help reduce this growing problem. (Limited to 15 students; Class location - Rowley Lab 176)
“Build Your Own Smart Tech!” – Instructor: Masudul Imtiaz
Ever wondered how your smartwatch counts your steps or how your phone connects to wireless gadgets? In this hands-on course, you’ll dive into the world of smart devices and Bluetooth tech to create your own connected inventions! Using cool tools like the EFR32xG24 Development Kit and Arduino, you’ll design, build, and program your very own smart sensors that can track things like temperature, motion, or light — and send that info straight to your phone or computer. You don’t need any coding experience — just curiosity, creativity, and a love for building cool stuff. By the end, you’ll have a working gadget you made yourself and a new understanding of how the Internet of Things (IoT) powers the smart world around you. (Limited to 15 students; Class location - CAMP 176)
RETURNING FAVORITES
“Neuroscience of Brain Injuries” – Instructors: Lenn Johns, Tushar Sirsat, Brittany DiSalvo, David DiSalvo, and Heather Shattuck
We will explore how injury to each of the 5 major regions of the brain result in a wide range of clinical signs and symptoms, different levels of severity, and different timeframes of recovery. Exploration will include anatomical dissections (sheep brains), primary functions, and dysfunctions of the five major regions of the brain. We will then work with clinical experts in the field to understand how scientific understanding aids in forming diagnostic, treatment, and return to play/learn protocols. (Limited to 20; Class location - Clarkson Hall Library, 1st floor)
“Magical World of Chemistry"
Where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the world becomes a wonderland! - Instructor: Taniya Jayaweera
Ready to dive into the fascinating realms of chemistry! We’ll explore captivating topics such as Glow-in-the-Dark Chemistry, Color-Changing Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, and “Fun” Chemistry. This course embraces a hands-on, discovery-based approach, combining individual experimentation with group collaboration. You’ll not only perform exciting experiments but also engage in discussions that deepen your understanding of core scientific concepts. Through curiosity, creativity, and teamwork, you’ll uncover how chemistry unlocks the hidden secrets of the world around us. (Limited to 16 students; Class location - Science Center 136)
“War and Pieces: Understanding World War II through Tabletop Games” – Instructor: Alastair Kocho-Williams
This course will make use of tabletop games as a means of understanding World War II as a conflict, at differing scales, and in different contexts. From games that cover the whole war, different campaigns or battles, the war on land, at sea, and in the air, or the lives and fates of the men and women who fought the war, you will gain an understanding of the war from a number of different angles. We will investigate the challenges of fighting and winning World War II, what might have been different, the resistance movements, and how games can be used as a means of understanding the war and its many aspects. Drawing on an extensive game library you will play and analyze games as a means of understanding World War II, and work to design a game of your own. (Limited to 12 students; Class location - Snell 169)