ISASA/MIT Workshop

In November 2022, grade 11s studying physics and math had the opportunity to apply for a MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) course in Joburg, with 100 places available for students in South Africa and Zambia. From our school, Kieran, Noah and I were selected. 

Arriving on the 3rd of January, we were introduced to our dorms at St John’s College.

The Anglican school was founded in 1898, expressing its history in architecture, plaques and busts of old headmasters. The campus incorporated numerous fountains and statues while also containing expansive fields, courts, and an amphitheater. The dorms were comfortable, and the common room gave us access to coffee, tea, basic kitchen appliances, a TV and fat sacs. Additionally, the coffee shop and restaurant on campus provided fantastic meals throughout our stay. 

We covered a variety of topics such as machine learning, computer vision, AI, the ethics of AI, robotics, programming, and NLP (Natural Language Processing), which is concerned with interactions between computers and human language. There were also chances to engage with practical topics such as university applications, diversity in STEM, building portfolios and networking. 

The instructors, who were all students at MIT, were engaging and incredible at answering questions. They were a diverse group who were happy to share their experiences in America and their various Majors. 

On the 6th of January, our final day there, groups of students presented the projects we’d worked on throughout the week. It was an opportunity to apply the knowledge we gained after choosing one of three topics about what we’d covered. Kieran and Noah’s fantastic, environmentally friendly, rubbish-sorting product, ‘AuSo’ (Auto-Sorter), won best presentation!

My highlight was meeting students from all over the country. After lectures were over, the borders had access to most of the school so we were able to explore or chat or play football in empty hallways and fields as we got to know each other.

Overall, it was an incredible experience and really valued my time in Joburg!

– By Hannah