Project-MOONSHOT ACADEMY

Entering the world of elderly

Disciplines/Subjects: sociology, design thinkings Key Themes: elderly, teenager, empathy The Incubator Track in MSA is a year-long, interdisciplinary program that empowers students to develop and launch social impact projects. Students will first define and understand a social problem, and then initiate an action to promote changes around that problem. Along with a variety of social science research and problem-solving methods, learners will also enhance their project management, leadership, and communication skills. The rapidly developing technology is convenient for citizens’ lives, but trouble has been brought to the elderly at the same time. Due to their dissatisfaction with social and emotional needs, the elderly suffer from loneliness and a series of severe consequences brought by loneliness. Loneliness may cause a variety of dangers that can threaten the health of the elderly. We discovered that providing support for the elderly to express and communicate with others reduces their sense of loneliness. We decided to aim at reducing the loneliness of the elderly by building a connection between them.

Adolescent Intervention

Disciplines/Subjects: Pyschology Key Themes: Adolescent, Well-being, peer support Welcome to the revitalization of our school's counseling center, a project spearheaded by a team of learners aimed at transforming an underutilized space into a vibrant hub for student well-being. The project goal is to create an inviting environment that encourages more frequent use by understanding and addressing the needs of our high school peers. Through a comprehensive process that includes needs assessment, design, implementation, promotion, and evaluation, the team will introduce interactive projects, educational posters, relevant books, and stress-relief equipment to make the counseling center a place where learners feel comfortable seeking support and spending time. This initiative not only promises to enhance the physical space but also to foster a sense of community and belonging among our learners, ultimately contributing to their overall mental health and academic success. Learner Task: A product design implemented and feedback gathered from the direct audience. You can choose the format of the final product. However, written or recorded rationale needs to be provided to showcase your thinking process.

The Science behind Well-Being

Disciplines/Subjects: AP Psychology Key Themes: Adolescent development, subjective well-being, family relationship, social-emotional learning Being embedded in the chapter of Developmental Psychology in the AP Psychology class, this project focuses on promoting both learners’ understanding of well-being and their research skills. Currently, in the most formative phase of their lives, learners often find themselves confused by changes in both their bodies and the environment around them. By connecting their subject well-being to one other variable of their own choice, learners are expected to deepen their understanding of their well-being in the context of adolescent social-emotional development through scientific lenses as well as certain psychological research methods.

The Power of Pandemics

Disciplines/Subjects: History, Political Sciences Key Themes: Pandemics, History, Virus, Bacteria Speaking of the aftermath of COVID-19, Melinda Gates believed that “this pandemic [had] magnified every existing inequality in our society — like systemic racism, gender inequality, and poverty.” Gates had made a critical point that diseases and societal tensions are rarely separated. Indeed, there is a reason that we call perpetual social issues, social ills. Where is this global pandemic leading us? What effect - social, political, and cultural - will it create? How do we, as a collective, prevent the next pandemic? We are still amid the torrent to produce a clear vision of the future, so let's pause, and look back in history. For this project, you are expected to create two history magazines (May edition, 2024) catering to students in Grades 5 and Grades 7-8, respectively. Your goal is to introduce and delineate the causes and effects of five pandemics — plague, smallpox, Malaria, Influenza, and HIV/AIDS — to your audience. Keep in mind that you need to demonstrate: the biological and social causes of pandemics the social, political, and cultural effects of pandemics more crucially, the awareness of your audience's ability to read and understand your message Individually, you will also submit a 1200-word essay discussing the causes and effects of your chosen pandemic.

The Roar of the Mortar: An Invincible Siege Weapon

Disciplines/Subjects: Physics, Engineering, Computer Science Key Themes: Experiment Design, Scientific Calculation and Derivation, Engineering Manufacturing and Processing What is the experience of designing and making a "weapon"? Let's feel together with the students from Introduction to Physics, experience the hardships of the process and the beauty of the results, the agony of failure and the joy of success. Welcome to our Physics Project Exhibition. In this project, students have designed and simulated an important historical task from a war scenario—accurately hitting an enemy command center with simulated artillery shells. In this challenge, students not only apply fundamental principles of physics but also require innovative thinking, practical experimental design, and the application of their knowledge to solve real-world problems. The core task of the project is to use an existing tennis ball launcher or various "weapons" designed and built by students to simulate the firing of artillery shells. By adjusting parameters such as launch angle and initial velocity, students aim to hit distant targets with precision. The challenge was completed in three different ways: Experimental Method: Students designed and implemented multiple experiments to explore how launch angle and initial speed affect the trajectory of the balls. Through data analysis, they determined the optimal launch parameters. Theoretical Method: Using the physics of projectile motion, students performed precise mathematical calculations to predict the landing point of the artillery shells, determining the exact launch angle and velocity needed to hit the target. Engineering Design Method: Some students took on the challenge of designing and building their launchers. Through experimental testing, they continually refined their devices, striving to improve shooting accuracy through precise engineering. This project not only involves fundamental physics knowledge but also cultivates students' creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Through this exhibition, you will see how students have turned theoretical knowledge into practical solutions, demonstrating their learning journey from theory to application.

Principal Components Analysis: Theory and Application

Disciplines/Subjects: Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Statistics, Machine Learning Key Themes: Matrix Decomposition, Dimensionality Reduction, Statistical Modeling, Real-World Applications This project explores the application of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) as a statistical tool for dimensionality reduction in real-world datasets. Starting with the foundational theory, learners learn the relationship between Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and PCA, and how PCA can address common statistical dilemmas such as high dimensionality in data. Using Python, learners apply PCA to the "Prostate Cancer" dataset, exploring how the method extracts the most important components for predicting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels from various clinical measurements. Through this process, learners identify and analyze the principal components, evaluate the results, and compare the PCA-derived model with traditional linear regression models. The project emphasizes both the mathematical theory behind PCA and its practical application in data science. In addition, learners write their own PCA code from scratch using SVD, reflecting on the underlying algorithm and comparing their implementation to established Python instructions.

Exploring Pre-Calculus Concepts Through Real-World Applications

Disciplines/Subjects: Mathematics, Pre-Calculus, Applied Mathematics Key Themes: Mathematical Modeling, Real-World Applications, Exploration of Pre-Calculus Topics This project allows learners to choose a topic from the Pre-Calculus curriculum and explore its application in a real-world context. Topics may include polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, or trigonometric and polar functions. Learners will conduct research, develop mathematical models, solve example problems, and discuss real-world applications. For instance, the sample work explores how trigonometric functions model sound waves, demonstrating the mechanics of music and sound. The project encourages creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of how mathematical concepts relate to practical scenarios.

Applying Calculus to Real-World Problem Solving

Disciplines/Subjects: Mathematics, Calculus, Applied Mathematics Key Themes: Mathematical Modeling, Optimization, Differentiation, Integration In this project, learners will apply their knowledge of calculus to analyze and solve a real-world problem. The project may involve mathematical modeling, optimization techniques, and the use of differentiation and integration to understand and optimize systems such as transportation, economics, engineering, or environmental processes. Learners will create a comprehensive report that includes mathematical models, calculations, and graphs, and will present their findings in a 5-10 minute oral presentation. This project encourages creativity and critical thinking in applying calculus concepts to practical situations.

Project

Real-world projects creating positive impacts for self, others, communities, and the planet.