In January, Penn Charter welcomed Marc Miskin, assistant professor of electrical and systems engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, who spoke with Upper School and some Middle School students about his cutting-edge work designing and fabricating microscopic robots. Miskin, whose research has earned a Sloan Research Fellowship, a Packard Fellowship, and recognition on MIT Technology Review’s 35 Under 35 list, made robotics more relatable by connecting it to something familiar: the human body.
“You are basically a big machine made out of little tiny machines,” he explained, linking advanced engineering concepts to biology and everyday experiences.
Miskin’s visit was facilitated by Upper School science teacher Jonathan Bacon, who collaborated with Miskin’s team at Penn last summer. Bacon also attended MIT’s 2025 Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (SEPT), an immersive weeklong experience that brought educators from around the world for campus tours, expert lectures and hands-on work in makerspaces. The program deepened his focus on design thinking and low-fidelity prototyping—skills that will directly inform Penn Charter’s new Engineering: Computer-Aided Design and Modeling course—and provided fresh insights into topics ranging from gravitational waves to AI in education.
Reflecting on the visit, Bacon emphasized the importance of exposing students to scientists actively working at the frontiers of discovery. "It is so important for students to hear how Marc and his team thrive on trial and error and continuous revelation in this emerging field. They build upon scientific knowledge and collaborate with colleagues," Bacon said. "All of this helps students see how classroom learning translates into real-world impact. Students should be encouraged that there are still discoveries to be made, questions to be answered, devices to be created, pockets of the universe to explore and exciting careers to pursue. Each person can use their talents to make the world a better place and work for the good of all people, and STEAM careers are a great way to pursue that goal."