Course Offerings for DEEP Summer Academy
Please note:
- DEEP Summer Academy is an application-based program so students will need to apply and be accepted in order to register for courses.
Grade 9/10 Course Offerings (2026)
Explore the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning through interactive programming, engaging discussions, and hands-on activities.
You will examine core concepts within the framework of Python programming, image processing, neural networks, deep learning, and ethical considerations in AI. This course balances conceptual understanding with structured implementation using key programs such as, NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, TensorFlow as well as real image and text datasets. Through experimentation, model building, and iterative improvement, you will experience how engineers design and evaluate intelligent systems.
By the end of the course, you will have developed your own machine learning model and gained insight into how AI research is applied to solve real-world problems.
Related disciplines: Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Offered:
Session A
July 6-10, 2026
What if we could build a new heart instead of waiting for a transplant? Explore exciting applications of biomedical engineering through the field of regenerative medicine.
Learn how stem cells, biomaterials, and tissue engineering are being used to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. Through short lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities, discover how engineering principles can help solve real-world medical challenges such as aging, organ failure, and chronic disease.
By the end of the week, you will design your own regenerative medicine strategy and gain insight into how biomedical engineers turn scientific discoveries into life-changing therapies.
Related disciplines: Bioengineering, Engineering Science
Offered:
Session B
July 13-17, 2026
Ever wondered how smartwatches can tell that you’re exercising? How about how non-invasive sensors at the hospital can measure oxygen in your blood? These questions and others will be explored in this course, which provides an introduction to different sensing modalities and how we can design new devices for health monitoring.
Students will work through hands-on activities using a variety of sensors, in addition to gaining experience processing data, applying machine learning, and performing engineering design. Both the principles behind these concepts and their practical applications will be explored. Throughout, the course will emphasize principles of human-centered design and equity to further understand the impact of the technology we are using today.
After this course, you will have a toolkit of knowledge that will make you see medical devices in a whole new way!
Related disciplines: Bioengineering, Engineering Science, Robotics & Mechatronics
Offered:
Session C
July 20-24, 2026
How do we move through the air fast, efficiently, and with total control? Above the Horizon explores the fundamental "why" behind aerospace engineering.
Students will discover the physics behind rocketry and aircraft stability, then "nose-dive" into the electronics that power today's drones. Through a blend of theory and hands-on fabrication, they will create their own bottle-rockets, gliders, drone-controllers, and custom-built remote control aircraft.
This course is not just about building planes; it’s about unlocking the fundamentals of aerodynamics.
Related disciplines: Robotics & Mechatronics, Engineering Science, Advanced Manufacturing
Offered:
Session D
July 27-31, 2026
What do ancient Roman generals, modern hackers, and Bitcoin investors all have in common? They rely on cryptography!
In this course, you'll trace the history of secret codes from the Caesar cipher to the algorithms securing your messages and bank accounts today, getting hands-on experience cracking and creating ciphers along the way. You'll then dive into the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, exploring how technologies like Bitcoin have challenged modern finance norms, and build and mine your own blockchain. You'll also tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: protecting your data and staying private in a digital world where your personal data is constantly being collected and sold.
No prior experience required, just curiosity and a willingness to think like a codebreaker.
Related disciplines: Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Offered:
Session E
Aug 10-14, 2026
Grade 11/12 Course Offerings (2026)
Discover the impact that microbes have in their natural environment, and the diverse applications in biotechnology. You will learn about the roles of microbes in water treatment, agriculture, food production, medicine, air quality, and toxic waste remediation.
The course includes hands-on activities such as investigating and examining plant-microbe interactions, performing a lab grade DNA extraction, and will also explore the concepts behind cutting-edge technologies like CRISPR and synthetic biology.
By the end of the course, you will appreciate the essential role of microbial biochemistry in natural systems and its potential to address real-world challenges. Join us on this microscopic adventure and discover how mighty microbes can change the world!
Related disciplines: Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Science
Offered:
Session A
July 6-10, 2026
A crash course in robotics for the next generation of Doc Ocks and tech inventors. Students will explore the world of continuum and soft robots, which are differentiated from traditional robots by their flexible, conformable nature.
Through this interactive course, students will gain practical engineering experience in the design, modeling and control of continuum robots. Learn the basics of controlling these innovative machines using Python programming, applying mathematical concepts like trigonometry to model their flexible forms. Discover how these flexible machines can be applied to solve critical challenges in healthcare, aerospace, and beyond.
Finally, you'll apply the iterative design process to tackle real-world challenges, developing teamwork and problem-solving skills while envisioning the future of robotics in diverse applications.
Related disciplines: Robotics & Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Offered:
Session B
July 13-17, 2026
What does it actually mean to be a structural engineer in the 21st century? Welcome to the world of modern sustainable mass timber construction, from conceptual design to digital fabrication.
You will explore the properties, benefits, and challenges of mass timber, learn the fundamentals of structural engineering, and gain hands-on experience with 3D modeling and parametric design tools like Rhino and Grasshopper. Over five days, you will apply what you learned to design and prototype simple timber structures, understand how engineers test and optimize these systems in research labs, and connect projects to real-world applications in high-rise timber construction. You will also be introduced to U of T structural engineering facilities, exposed to cutting-edge research through simplified yet engaging demonstrations, and experience the life of a structural engineer firsthand.
Related disciplines: Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering
Offered:
Session B
July 13-17, 2026
How does a Large Language Model put words together? Across engineering disciplines we use linear algebra for analyzing electrical circuits, statics and mechanics, as well as solving optimization problems.
This interactive course invites you to connect the different applications of linear algebra and explore the inner architecture of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). You’ll tackle engineering challenges in statics and mechanics using vectors, matrices and regression. You will use python to apply models to real world data and solve engineering problems in a collaborative setting.
This course is an intensive look at how simple arrays of numbers can solve the world’s most complex problems.
Related disciplines: Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Engineering Science
Offered:
Session C
July 20-24, 2026
Uncover the hidden potential of porous materials, from the microscale intricacies of aerogels to macro-scale applications in advanced engineering. This course explores the characterization, synthesis, modification, and handling of these fascinating materials, and why they are critical for sustainable energy, air and water pollution control, advanced filtration, and biomedical engineering.
Engage in hands-on laboratory experiments, including permeability measurements and thermal insulation design challenges, to develop a deeper understanding of the structure–property relationships that govern their performance. Discover how researchers drive numerous innovations that contribute to addressing real-world challenges, from thermal management and environmental remediation to drug delivery and protective materials.
By the end of the course, you will be asked to engineer a solution to an existing real-world problem by leveraging the unique attributes of porous materials. This is your opportunity to explore a cutting-edge area of materials science and engineering with far-reaching implications for the future.
Related disciplines: Advanced Manufacturing, Materials Engineering
Offered:
Session D
July 27-31, 2026
Ever wondered how your smartwatch talks to your phone? In this course, you’ll build that bridge yourself.
This is an applied 'maker' experience where hardware meets the palm of your hand. You will design and debug a full-scale pipeline, capturing real-world data with microcontrollers and visualizing it through a mobile interface you’ve built from scratch.
By the end of the program, you’ll have a working, end-to-end system that demonstrates your ability to connect the physical world to the digital one.
Related disciplines: Robotics & Mechatronics, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Offered:
Session E
August 10-14, 2026
This course will be held at University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), at 4925 Dufferin Street, North York.
Hands-on Aerodynamics introduces you to the science of how the movement of air and water helps birds and aircraft soar through the sky, or fish flash through the ocean.
You will explore aerodynamics through hands-on experiments, investigating how forces like lift, drag, and thrust are produced by the motion of birds, fish and aircraft. You will also discover how sound created by these motions moves through the air as pressure waves. Using beginner-friendly tools and experiments, you will model airflow over aerodynamic shapes, test design changes, and observe how shapes and surfaces influence both performance and sound.
Related disciplines: Robotics & Mechatronics, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering Science
Offered:
Session E
August 10-14, 2026
Course Dates
Session A: July 6 – 10, 2026
Session B: July 13 – 17, 2026
Session C: July 20 – 24, 2026
Session D: July 27 – 31, 2026
DEEP is not offered August 3–7, 2026
Session E: August 10 – 14, 2026
Schedule
Monday–Friday
9:30 AM–3:30 PM ET
Each course is one week long. Students accepted to the program are welcome to register for as many courses as they like, as long as the courses have space when they go to register.
Registering for Courses
Please note: Students accepted into the program during Round 1 will register for courses first, those accepted in Round 2 register second. We recommend applying early to increase chances of getting into the program and desired courses.
As courses fill, we will update the descriptions above.