As a lab for the future of education, the Institutes at Wildwood, consisting of the Wildwood Institute for STEM Research and Development (WISRD), the Wildwood Institute for Social Leadership (WISL), and the Wildwood Institute for Entrepreneurship (WIE), provide a parallel path for learning that resonates with 21st century learning skills and expectations. Throughout the year, this parallel pathway takes shape through ambitious, student-led work—spanning scientific discovery, social leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking.
From robots that paint to bioactive habitats, cosmic ray detection to subsonic wind tunnels, the Wildwood Institute for STEM Research and Development (WISRD) continues to live up to its mission to define problems and conduct scientific research to better find solutions and add knowledge to the community.
This month, WISRD hosted its annual Fall Poster Session and Community Lecture. Students shared their latest research in engineering, physics, biology, and more—followed by an inspiring community lecture from chemist and UCLA Ph.D candidate AJ Addae, founder of SULA Labs, who spoke on using chemistry to advance inclusion and analytical precision in cosmetic science.
In coordination with Wildwood’s other two Institutes, WISRD also continued the beloved Wildwood tradition of Dark Matter Day earlier this fall, sharing student-led research, innovations, and prototypes in a kid-friendly fair that made science fun and accessible for our entire K-12 community.
Meanwhile, the Wildwood Institute for Social Leadership (WISL), now in its seventh year, continues to make an impact both at Wildwood and the community beyond. As part of its educational equity initiative, WISL is in its third year of transitional kindergarten (TK) collaboration at Braddock Drive Elementary School, a local Title 1 LAUSD school. The weekly site-based program is filled with activities to help build the TK children's social and emotional learning skills to better prepare them for kindergarten.
Other WISL initiatives include a focus on animal welfare, partnering with local rescue organizations such as Wags & Walks. WISL recently coordinated a “De-Stress with Rescue Dogs” event, bringing adoptable pups to campus to help raise awareness of the issue of pet adoption, while also providing students, faculty, and staff with a bit of stress relief! Current projects also include piloting a peer-to-peer digital wellness program—designed for use both at Wildwood and in other schools—to support students’ digital and social health; the Junior WISL’ers pilot program, which connects middle school students with Los Angeles nonprofit organizations and the Wildwood Institute Model; and consulting work with Sages & Seekers to expand participation in its intergenerational program, which also happens to partner with Wildwood’s 6th grade Community Involvement curriculum.
Our third Institute, the Wildwood Institute for Entrepreneurship (WIE), is a dynamic, student-driven incubator designed to empower young entrepreneurs as they embark on their journeys to explore their passions and create innovative products. Situated within a collaborative studio environment, WIE fosters creativity and independence by allowing students to work both independently and in teams to ideate, prototype, and refine their projects.
This fall, the Institute kicked off the WIE Speaker Series, bringing in successful entrepreneurs and innovators every other month to hopefully inspire aspiring creators. The series launched with a visit from Sheila Darcey, artist and founder of SketchPoetic, who spoke about her journey as an entrepreneur and artist.
Together, the three Institutes at Wildwood provide students with unique opportunities to explore their passions, develop specialized skills, and make a meaningful impact—both within the school community and beyond. Whether they are advancing scientific research, tackling pressing social issues, or launching innovative ventures, students in WISRD, WISL, and WIE are actively shaping the world around them.
- Winter 2026
