Interdisciplinary Competency
I was glad to join the Grand Challenges scholars program at the school of Mines because of the things it would push me to do. That effect came into play here, with courses that I would not have otherwise thought of taking. I gained a better perspective on the social and qualitative side, which will help me in every job and project I have in the future. Additionally, my collaboration with class mates and current grand challenge workers fed me priceless knowledge.
Engineering for Socially and Environmentally Responsibility: EDNS 315
​This course taught me to value the effect engineering work has on the public and everyone affected, not just the work's client. We discussed the harms of targeted inhumane design like spiked public benches. There were discussions on the greater effects of space exploration and its real effect on common people. The capitol building attack even had its own conversation, talking about how the civil engineering of the structure and security played into the event. Further, for a specific assignment, I talked to a water quality research student in Cananda and later a Red Cross worker in Saudi Arabia to learn about their efforts to help people.
The cumulation of the course was a semester research project; I was inspired by my research advisor and fluid mechanics professor who led me to some of his previous work. He had worked with a team of engineers, scientists, and medical professional to attempt to solve the outbreak of chronic kidney disease in his home country of Sri Lanka. While much progress had been made, my professor hoped that I might be able to further the work already done and try to help the suffering people of Sri Lanka. I created a video to present my findings and propositions.
Sustainable Design: CEEN 477
​CEEN477 gave me important tools to actually implement sustainable practices into my future work. Though I've known how much a role civil engineers can play in making the world more sustainable, I didn't have as complete of a through project understanding on sustainability as I needed. But now after completing this course, I feel confident in my ability to design and carry through an environmentally sound project in the future, hopefully working up to large scale builds/improvements.
My course team and I were assigned the task of designing an irrigation system for the campus greenhouse, which has already begun supplying food to the school cafeteria. Through research and design iteration, we were able to successfully propose a system. It is expected that the school puts in similar infrastructure to provide water to the crops soon.