This course challenges students to think like engineers by exploring how physical systems work and how ideas move from imagination to real-world design. Through hands-on activities and creative experiments, students will learn to analyze problems, visualize solutions, and test their ideas just as engineers do in the field.
Students will explore how reasoning, intuition, and creativity are as essential to engineering as mathematical precision. They will investigate real-world examples, from rockets and robotics to architecture and automotive design, gaining insight into how professionals use mental simulation and experimentation to bring concepts to life.
By the end of the course, students will have strengthened their ability to reason through complex challenges, communicate technical ideas clearly, and understand how engineering connects science, innovation, and human creativity.
Program Calendar:
Peru: January 12 – 16, 2026
Brazil: January 19 – 23, 2026
(Monday to Friday)
Schedule:
From 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Location:
In-person in Brazil or Peru
Gary Antonick studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan and holds a graduate degree from Harvard University. He was a longtime instructor at Stanford University, where he taught courses on mechanical engineering, mathematics, and creative problem-solving.
For nine years, Gary wrote the Numberplay column for The New York Times, collaborating with world-class mathematicians to explore intuitive thinking and innovative reasoning. He has taught engineers at Google and students across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Today, Gary also works as an executive coach and serves as an AI expert for the Young Presidents’ Organization, helping leaders develop creative and analytical approaches to complex challenges.