Berkeley Summer Academy of Sustainability
Program Overview
Berkeley Summer Academy of Sustainability is an intensive 2-week hybrid high school program designed to give a limited number of students a STEM field college experience. This project-based program combines lectures and laboratory sessions to give students practical experience in science and engineering. Students will learn scientific foundations of engineering, develop and transform their ideas into executable designs, and eventually build their own prototypes, which they will showcase during the Completion Ceremony.
The 2-week program is divided into two parts — class lectures and hands-on experimental lab opportunities. The course curriculum will focus on the following topics:
- Quantum: Superconductivity levitation in liquid nitrogen temperature
- Solar: Solar cells – make a very basic Schottky-junction cell
- Metamaterials: 3D printing of mechanically functional structures
- Water: Membrane for water purification
- AI/ML: Data science for materials – the materials project
- Failure: Structural materials failure test and analysis with microscopes
In addition to academic classes, students will experience college life, eating at Berkeley cafeterias, and interacting with UC Berkeley undergrad and graduate students. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit places such as Berkeley student labs and Silicon Valley companies.
This program allows students to meet new friends from around the world and build important life skills that can make their future college experience a success — all while strengthening their college application.
The program is limited to 40 students.
Program Dates
2026 Dates: July 20 – July 31 (subject to change)
Class schedule example
The two-week in-person program will be held at UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering lecture halls and lab facilities. Each day will consist of a different academic focus and classes will be divided into two parts: morning lecture + afternoon lab.
The daily schedule will look something like:
| 9am-12pm | Lecture |
| 12-1pm | Lunch break |
| 1-4pm | Lab |
| 4pm | End of daily programming |
Program Price
Regular price: $5,000
The program price covers the cost of faculty, lab space, equipment/supplies, industry visits, administrative fees, and daily lunches.
Scholarships may be available to select individuals. Separate application required.
2026 Applications Coming soon
Check back in January 2026
Faculty Spotlight
About the Instructors (subject to change)
Dr. Junqiao Wu
Dr. Junqiao Wu
Currently teaching: Properties of Electronic Materials, Individual Study or Research
Professor Junqiao Wu received a B.S. from Fudan University and a M.S. from Peking University, China, both in physics. He obtained a Ph.D. degree in Applied Science and Technology from the University of California, Berkeley for work on semiconductors. He did postdoctoral research in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University on nanomaterials. He is currently on the Chair line of the Division of Materials Physics of the American Physical Society (APS) and is the Chair of the UC Berkeley Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Dr. Rayne Zheng
Dr. Rayne Zheng
Currently Teaching: Additive Fabrication Processes and Systems for Advanced Materials
Xiaoyu (Rayne) Zheng received his Ph.D., in Mechanical Engineering, at Boston University and B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics (dual degree) at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Today he is an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His research focuses on developing additive manufacturing/3D printing techniques for materials and structures with controlled topologies and encoded properties. His current interests are in developing new additive fabrication techniques, multi-material synthesis, structure-property relationships, and leveraging novel artificial intelligence to create intelligent materials and systems for structural, robotics, electronics, energy, and healthcare.
Dr. Jie Yao
Dr. Jie Yao
Currently Teaching: Optical Materials and Devices
Prof. Jie Yao obtained his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in 2010 and conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University. He joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UC Berkeley as an assistant professor in 2013. His research interests are focused on optical materials for nanophotonic applications, including optical sensors, communication devices, etc. Recently he is also developing new material platforms for low-power optoelectronic devices that are essential to future sustainable infrastructures and biomedical applications.
Dr. Zakaria Al Balushi
Dr. Zakaria Al Balushi
Currently Teaching: Electronic Materials Characterization
Zakaria received his PhD in materials science and engineering (2017), his MS (2012), and his Bachelor’s (2011) in engineering science all from The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Zakaria Al Balushi now is a lecturer at UC Berkeley and his research focuses on electronic materials synthesis of compound semiconductor thin films and nanostructures using chemical vapor deposition.
Dr. Baoxia Mi
Dr. Baoxia Mi
Currently Teaching: Individual Research
Baoxia Mi earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2006. She is a Wood-Calvert Chair in Engineering and an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley. Mi’s research focuses on studying physicochemical processes with an emphasis on advanced membrane processes and nanotechnology to address some of the most challenging issues in sustainable water supply (desalination, drinking water purification, wastewater reuse), renewable energy production, and public health protection.
Info Session
Interested in learning more about this program? Please see below for a recording and slide deck from our 2025 Info Session.
FAQ
What is the program objective?
This project-based program combines lectures and laboratory sessions to give students practical experience in engineering design processes. Students will learn to transform their ideas into executable designs.
Course curriculum may include topics such as:
- Energy: Investigate a rechargeable battery with optical and electron microscopes
- Environment: Lifecycle of materials and recycling plastics
- Quantum: Superconductivity levitation in liquid nitrogen temperature
- Solar: Solar cells – make a very basic Schottky-junction cell
- Metamaterials: 3D printing of mechanically functional structures
- Water: Membrane for water purification
- Failure: Structural materials failure test and analysis with microscopes
- Smart materials: Shape memory alloys – demo and microstructures
Who is eligible to apply?
High School students (ages 15+ by start of the program) with a basic understanding of STEM and an interest in exploring prototypes and design.
Ideally, students should have taken calculus and physics, but we welcome students who have taken algebra and one science class to apply.
How many seats are available?
This program is limited to 36 students.
When should I apply?
Check back in January 2026 for updates on BSAS applications.
Is there an info session?
We hosted an info session for BSAS 2025 on December 3. Please see here to listen to the recording.
Details for BSAS 2026 Info Session are forthcoming.
Is housing provided?
No, housing is NOT provided.
Students should live in the area and commute to campus for the program. If needed, program staff can connect you with our trusted partner for lodging options.
Program price
The total cost for BSAS 2026 program is $5,000. We offer scholarships to select students (separate application required).
The program fee cover the cost of tuition, course materials, lunch, field trips, administrative fees, and lab space. Additional personal expenses are not covered.
Refunds & Cancellation Policy
If, after being admitted to the program, a student needs to cancel and withdraws from the program more than 2 months from the official start date, $2,000 will be refunded. Withdrawal requests received less than 2 months from the program start are nonrefundable.
Contact us
We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have. Send us an email if you have any questions!
Email: globesummer@berkeley.edu