Project Mentor: Professor Michael Spear, Computer Science and Engineering
2027 Impact Fellows:
Project Description:
Nestled in a remote corner of southern India, the Agastya International Foundation’s 172-acre Creativity Campus in Kuppam, India, is a sanctuary where cutting-edge STEM learning is rooted in the natural world. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, students and educators literally touch the soil as they explore outdoor labs, native flora, and open-air discovery centers. It is a place where science exits the traditional classroom and comes alive in the surrounding environment.
Agastya’s mission is to prepare young learners for the future through hands-on and digital STEM education, transforming curious children into fearless experimenters and creative problem-solvers. At the heart of this approach is Agastya’s "Aah! Aha! Ha-Ha!" philosophy, where learning begins with a moment of unexpected surprise (Aah!), deepens through active experimentation (Aha!), and culminates in the joy of discovery (Ha-Ha!). By blending physical exploration with digital tools, Agastya creates accessible learning experiences that empower students to engage deeply with STEM.
To extend this experience to millions of students across India, this project will repurpose the “Leveling Up to Lehigh Life” 2D game platform into an interactive digital simulation of the Kuppam campus, tentatively titled “Agastya Quest”. The project team will expand the base engine and infuse it with STEM-specific interactive learning modules, virtual laboratories, quest-based puzzles, and AI-driven characters. We are recruiting a multidisciplinary team, including students with subject knowledge in STEM fields, programmers, artists, and composers, as well as those interested in social science research, education research, and AI.