The Young Innovators Quest (YiQ) program provides opportunities for students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and medicine to conduct research and explore ways to enhance their creativity in a motivating, hands-on environment.
Participants experience the immersive process of formulating and developing innovation research projects of great interest to them.
- During the first week the young innovators brainstorm and work on proposing a problem to solve, they undergo a selection process to define the projects to work on and respective teams.
- During the second week, participants conduct research and data collection to support the innovative solution to the selected problem.
- During the third week students prepare their presentations and polish their communication skills.
- Each team has the opportunity to present their innovative solutions to a public audience during the YiQ Ceremony.
Throughout the program participants enjoy a variety of STEM and skills development workshops, visit various industry partners, and meet with mentors who guide them through the process of solving a problem.
After students graduate from the summer program, they become DNOVA Alumni and are invited to future events. YiQ graduates may also opt to continue working on their projects within the YiQ Scholars program; which provides guidance, support, and mentorship.
2025 Program Details
Applications Open: January, 2025
Who is Eligible?
High school students
Program Fees
Registration Fee: $50 per student!
Tuition: $1,450 per student
Out of State Tuition: $2,900 per student
Financial Assistance to cover up to the full tuition is available based on financial need.
Program Hours
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Participants will be informed in advance of any special extended hours or weekend events.
2025 Program Dates: June 2-21, 2025
Key Program Events
2025 final dates and events are in the works! Last year we did the following:
- Eli Lilly Industry Visit
- Purdue Engineering Lab Tour
- Corteva Industry Visit
- IU School of Medicine Tour + Lab Tour
- IU Kinesiology Lab
- Elanco Industry Visit
- Cummins Industry Visit
- Indianapolis Airport Tour”
Pay YiQ Program Fees:
Young Innovators Quest (YiQ) Program Objectives
- Motivate and train students to become innovators in fields of science and technology.
- Create an environment of research and creativity among participants.
- Promote the importance of networking and teamwork.
- Generate new concepts, ideas, and technologies for the development of new products and services.
Example of Subjects Covered During the Summer (varies each year)
The YiQ summer program offers over 135 hours of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education enrichment activities for participants. The following list is representative of topics covered in the past. Topics and activities are tailored to the interests of the participants and will depend on each years pool of applicants.
- Genetics
- Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Patent Law
- Physics
- Scientific Communication
- Science Research
- Forensics
- Nanotechnology
- College Life
- STEM Skills
Tuition
The tuition amount represents about 40% to 50% of the total cost per student, the other 50% of the cost is covered by grants and donations. From these grants and donations we have created a fund to offset the cost of the program for families that request financial assistance. The level of financial assistance will depend on available funding and level of need. Each in-state student may request up to $1,500 in financial assistance to offset or cover the cost of the program. Out-of-state students do not qualify for financial assistance, but all students are encouraged to seek sponsorship from other foundations, schools, businesses, and organizations.
To qualify for financial assistance a family will have to demonstrate economic hardship by providing evidence (e.g. student’s participation in free and reduced meals at school, federal income tax returns, any document showing recurring expenses like mortgage, rent, student debt, etc.). We will consider financial assistance for families with a gross income at or below 300% of Federal Poverty Levels and/or students who are currently participating in Free and Reduced Meals programs.
Program tuition includes workshops, industry visits, use of laboratory equipment, materials, some meals, and transportation. The program tuition is collected only when the student is accepted into the program. Program fees are non-refundable after the program starts.
Check out some of our students’ projects YiQ Projects
Interested
For more information please contact us at
contact@dnova.org
Further application instructions can be
found in the online application.
