The Lawrence Hall of Science
The public science center of the University of California, Berkeley.
Open Daily 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Animal Discovery Zone 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
We’ll bring our science programs to you.
We partner with school districts to support science learning. We offer district-wide elementary, middle, and high school programs, either virtually or in-person.
We collaborate with a range of partners to innovate in science education. Together, we go further.
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Have you ever wondered what the future of energy looks like? In this program you will explore exciting real-world applications of solar energy while you design and build solar-powered gadgets, from sun-charged solar cars to creative water fountains. In team-based hands-on design challenges, you will investigate electrical circuitry, discuss real world energy challenges, and hear from STEM professionals about their work and how it’s shaping our future. You will become familiar with the iterative design process and deepen your knowledge and understanding of the sustainable power of solar energy. Teens end the week by identifying a real-world challenge and designing and building a solar solution.
Parents are invited at 4 p.m. on the last day for teens to share their projects.
Session 1: 06/23/2025 – 06/27/2025 Optional Residential Add-on runs Sunday, June 22, 5:00 p.m. to Friday, June 27, 5:00 p.m. Residential add-on includes additional programming, on-campus housing, breakfast, and dinner. Limited spots available! Residential Tuition: $1,255
Session 2: 07/07/2025 – 07/11/2025No Residential Option
Session 4: 07/21/2025 – 07/25/2025No Residential Option
Wake-up for residential teens! Residential teens enjoy breakfast & walk together to campus
All teens sign in with instructorsWelcome activities and icebreakersOpening Circle- group check-in and framing the dayExplore STEM concepts and hands-on investigations in your trackMid-morning break with teens from other tracksHands-on investigations and exploration cont.
Lunch break in campus cafeteria Social time with teens from other tracks
Continued investigations and explorations in your trackVarious lab tours and guest speakersAfternoon break with teens from other tracksClosing Circle- reflection prompts and preview of what’s ahead
College Pathways ProgrammingCampus or other tours Meet and talk to current college students Meet and talk to professionals from a range of STEM career fields
Commuter teens sign out with instructorsResidential teens walk together to dorms and enjoy some well deserved downtime
DinnerEvening program Free time
Lights Out!
Erik Takada
Erik Takada is an electrical engineer in the solar energy industry with a passion for solar and STEM outreach. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Yale University and acquired his M.Eng. in E.E.C.S. from U.C. Berkeley. Prior to entering the solar industry full-time, Erik worked and volunteered as a STEM camp instructor and spent many summers teaching at his local science museum.
Erik is from sunny Arizona and enjoys spending his free time playing tennis, watching movies, and skiing.
Maryum Syed
Maryum is a current undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying bioengineering. She loves all things related to biotechnology and in particular, learning about how we can apply engineering techniques to advancing the field of healthcare and medicine. In high school, she was a student researcher as part of the Waksman Student Scholars Program where she interpreted DNA sequences and analyzed gene expression in proteins. Previously, Maryum served as a research intern for a nanotechnology lab at Berkeley where she learned about the functionalization and structure of carbon nanotubes.
In her free time, she enjoys skiing, baking, playing tennis, traveling, watching true crime documentaries, and trying new foods with her friends!