AIRES JUNIOR · FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
Start with Wonder.Build on Research.Create with AI.
AIRES Junior guides middle school students as they turn curiosity into research-informed projects with purpose. Through summer campus programs and year-round 1:1 mentorship, students investigate real-world needs, connect ideas across subjects, and learn to use AI thoughtfully with support from expert mentors.
Yale & UC BerkeleySummer 2027Mentor-guided · Research-informed
2027 Theme of the Year
Responsible AI
in Everyday Life
Investigate everyday needs, draw on background research, and build and test ideas with mentor guidance.
What could you notice, question, or improve?
Summer 2027 Programs
Summer 2027 at Yale
and UC Berkeley.
Two-week programs for Grades 6–8. Investigate a real need and build with social impact in mind.
Priority deadline: April 30, 2027Rolling admissions after April 30, subject to availability.
Our philosophy
Research first.
Original thinking throughout.
Research real needs, test ideas and make your own decisions. AI supports your thinking; it does not replace it.
Start with people. Find the real question.
Design thinking begins with listening and noticing. Students look closely at everyday experiences, ask whom a problem affects, and turn a broad interest into a question they can investigate.
What takes shape
A focused question and a clear understanding of the people it concerns.
Curriculum highlights
What students learn
at AIRES Junior.
Investigate across subjects. Develop AI literacy, build in CoLab and consider your project’s impact.
01
Guided AI Literacy
Understand what AI tools can and cannot do. Practice asking useful questions, checking outputs against reliable sources, and recognizing when human judgment is essential.
Use AI thoughtfully—not automatically.
02
Inquiry Across Disciplines
Explore connections across engineering, healthcare, business, the arts, and environmental science. Guided reflection and Middle School Counseling help you recognize your interests and strengths, and choose a question to investigate.
See more than one way into a problem.
03
Design & Build in CoLab
Work with mentors and peers to develop a research-informed AI model, demo, or prototype. Test assumptions, improve your work through feedback, and practice explaining your choices in a final presentation.
Turn evidence into something you can show.
04
Ethical & Responsible Innovation
Consider fairness, privacy, accessibility, and impact at every stage. Ask who benefits, who might be left out, and what safeguards your idea needs.
Build responsibility into the design.
Student works
AI projects by Junior students.
See how students turned everyday questions into research-informed prototypes and project concepts.
Student project · 2026
Pet health & responsible AI
VetVision
- Problem explored
- How could pet owners better understand a concern when veterinary care is difficult to access?
- Student output
- A research-informed website prototype exploring photo-based AI guidance for pet health concerns. The team tested sample images and user scenarios, then refined responses that were initially too general.
S.S., Z.Q., C.T.UC Berkeley Junior · 2026
Explore project Student project · 2026
Sustainability & school communities
Foundo
- Problem explored
- How could a school return lost belongings and give unused items a second life?
- Student output
- A school lost-and-found and reuse website with item listings, search, and a donation flow. The project connects a familiar everyday problem with a more sustainable school community.
T.I., A.L., R.A.Yale Junior · 2026
Explore project Voices
What Junior students
and parents say
Reflections from the AIRES Junior community.
My mentor helped me understand financial concepts I initially didn't understand, which taught me more about running a business in the real world.
In the past, I didn’t really have a specific idea of how AI can contribute to the development of the world, or how AI can solve problems for people. But after studying at AIRES for about two weeks, I have a clearer idea. AI can actually solve many problems for people and make things easier.
From across AIRES
Watch students explain their projects.
Student stories from both AIRES and AIRES Junior, including our Yale Junior cohort.
Using AI to Optimize Power Grids | AIRES Student Story
Yale Junior 2026, Tomoka Shares Her First AI Learning Experience
Yale 2026, Mike Sharing His Project on AI + Bioscience
Yale 2026, Jesse Sharing His Research on AI + Youth Trust
Yale 2026, Ishaan Sharing His Project on AI + LegalTech
Yale 2026, Hannah Sharing Her Project on AI + Skincare
Continue your journey
AIRES Junior is just the beginning.
Discover future AIRES programs and alumni opportunities. Each has its own eligibility and admissions process.
You are here
AIRES Junior
Grades 6–8 · Now
Guided exploration and a first real project using AI responsibly with expert mentors.
AIRES
Grades 9–11
Independent research, entrepreneurship, and engineering — with deeper mentorship and higher expectations.
AIRES Extensions
Post-program
AIRES graduates can continue exploring research, publications, competitions, and community through our Year-Round 1:1 AI Engineering Mentorship.
Completing AIRES Junior does not guarantee admission to AIRES. Each program has its own admissions process.
AIRES Junior
Follow the work in progress.
Instagram
@aires.education
Student life, behind-the-scenes work, and campus moments.
LinkedIn
airesacademics
Mentors, outcomes, alumni progress, and program news.
YouTube
@airesacademics
Project demonstrations, showcases, and mentor talks.