Building the Next Generation of Engineering Innovators

(Above) Middle School participants of Ignite's Learner Program. (Below) High School students, part of Ignite's Makers Program, present on their designs. 

As part of the Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies (GWHT)‘s broader vision to train the next generation of innovators, the Duke Ignite program introduces middle and high school students to engineering design, human-centered problem solving, and real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Developed and led by Assistant Director of Education Megan Madonna, Ignite reflects GWHT’s commitment to building a robust, community-engaged pipeline of students prepared to translate ideas into impactful solutions.

Ignite is a community-based engineering outreach program that brings together middle and high school students, Duke undergraduates, and community partners in a shared learning environment. At its core, the program helps students see how science and engineering can be used to solve real problems in their own communities.

Ignite operates as a multi-tiered learning ecosystem that supports students as they grow.

Learners

Middle school students build foundational skills in engineering design and teamwork through guided, hands-on challenges that introduce them to how engineers think and solve problems.

Makers

High school students build on this foundation through open-ended, year-long projects where they identify challenges in their own communities and design solutions.

Entrepreneurs

High school Entrepreneurs further extend their work, developing advanced prototype and testing skills while expanding their thinking around intellectual property, business, and marketing.

Trainers

Duke undergraduates serve as near-peer mentors, guiding students through the design process while also building their own leadership and communication skills. Together, this structure creates a clear pathway from early exposure to advanced problem solving and mentorship. 

In 2025–2026, Ignite engaged 72 middle school students, 41 high school students, and 28 undergraduate Trainers across its programs. Students explored challenges rooted in Durham’s local context through curricula focused on Health, Water, and Light, designing projects such as pulse oximeters, renewable energy flashlights, and water filtration systems. These hands-on experiences help students connect what they learn in the classroom to meaningful, real-world impact.

A distinguishing feature of Ignite is its integration with Duke’s Bass Connections program, which supports a dedicated team of 12 undergraduate and graduate student researchers working alongside faculty and community partners. This interdisciplinary team studies how and why the program works, using surveys, interviews, and observations to understand student growth. They examine outcomes such as confidence in STEM, persistence through challenges, and students’ sense of connection to their communities. Their work ensures that Ignite continues to improve while contributing to broader research on how to make STEM education more effective and inclusive.

Duke Day: A Culminating Showcae of Ignite

On Sunday, March 22, Ignite hosted its 5th annual Duke Day, welcoming over 300 attendees to campus for a culminating showcase of student work. This event brought together students, undergraduate mentors, families, and community partners to celebrate a year of creativity and learning. Students presented their projects through posters, prototypes, and live demonstrations, sharing both what they built and why it matters to their communities. For many families, Duke Day provided a first opportunity to see their students engaging with engineering in a university setting, helping to build a sense of belonging and possibility.

Beyond a showcase, Duke Day serves as a moment of connection across the entire Ignite community. It highlights the full learning journey, from early curiosity to advanced design and mentorship, and emphasizes the importance of community support in student success. By bringing together participants at every level, the event reflects GWHT’s broader mission to create accessible pathways into STEM and to prepare students to address real-world challenges in healthcare and beyond.

Programs like Ignite form a critical entry point into GWHT’s broader workforce development ecosystem, creating a pipeline that begins with early exposure to engineering design and extends to real-world application through programs such as the Translational Fellows Program. Together, these programs create a pipeline that begins with early exposure and extends to real-world application.

Congratulations to Ignite’s Learners, Makers, Entrepreneurs, Trainers, and Bass Connections Researchers for their work this year, and to Assistant Director of Education Megan Madonna and Translational Fellow, Ella Brissett, who will attend medical school following her time at GWHT, for another successful Duke Day and year with Ignite.