Each year, the My Streetscape Summer Research Institute brings together a select cohort of rising high-school seniors from across Palm Beach County, Florida and immerses them in the intersection of engineering, urban technology, and social science. These students spend six intensive weeks with faculty and graduate student mentors from Florida Atlantic University, moving between hands-on engineering labs, fieldwork in West Palm Beach, Florida, and conversations with researchers who are currently working on the real-world applications of smart-city technology.
The 2023–2024 cohort distinguished itself with curiosity, resilience, and a remarkable grasp of the ethical and community-focused dimensions of smart-city research. Through projects in computer vision, IoT systems, transportation engineering, and qualitative research methods, these students began shaping academic identities that continue to evolve as they enter college and professional life.
One such student is Abdul-Aziz Khanfar, who completed the program in 2024 and has since continued to build upon the foundational research skills he developed at CS3. Now a student at Columbia College, Class of 2029, Abdul-Aziz is pursuing a double major in Economics and Statistics—fields that allow him to blend quantitative analysis with the social questions that first drew him to the Institute.
Abdul-Aziz reflects often on how the My Streetscape Summer Research Institute shaped his early academic trajectory. One of the most enduring lessons, he explains, emerged from the experience of conducting field interviews as part of his sociology project in West Palm Beach. Today, as a Student Fellow with The Trust Collaboratory working on the Citizen AI project, he continues conducting in-person interviews—this time on the streets of Harlem. The alignment between the two experiences, he notes, has made the transition into college-level research both natural and rewarding.
He also credits the Institute with preparing him for the demands of higher education. The opportunity to complete an independent research project alongside two peers offered him a level of academic responsibility and intellectual ownership that he continues to draw upon. “I’ve been applying many of the things I learned in the Summer Research Institute in the research I am currently doing now,” he reflects, emphasizing that the program gave him both practical tools and confidence as a researcher.
As for what comes next, Abdul-Aziz is still exploring the many paths available to him. Graduate school and academia remain appealing possibilities, but he is also considering entering the workforce directly after college—likely in the finance sector. Regardless of the direction he ultimately chooses, the foundation built during his time with CS3 continues to inform his academic and professional decision-making.
Applications to the 2026 My Streetscape Summer Research Institute are now open! If you are interested in applying, please visit the My Streetscape Summer Research Institute Page.