Some of the most impactful courses throughout my time at Olin.
Materials, Creation, Consumption and Impact
In this course, I learned the basics of materials science and dove into projects that covered plastics and polymers, metals, and the impact that our use of materials has on human health and the environment. I learned about the cultural impacts of everyday products as well as the manufactering process and methods of testing. In my projects surrounding facial masks, pennies, and vinyl records, I learned how to test and analyze with FTIR, SEM and EDS, DSC, and XRF.
Quantitative Engineering Analysis
This series of courses covers linear algebra, multivariable calculus, and differential equations. I completed a variety of projects with modern applications, such as facial recognition, gradient descent, and echo cancellation. By applying theses mathematical skills to real-life uses, I was able to cement my knowledge of these mathematical processes and their real-world meaning.
Principles of Integrated Engineering
The most important takeaways from this course were self-driven learning and learning to work with people with different specializations. For each of the mini-projects, including a bike-light, a 3D scanner, and a line-following robot, there were mechanical, electrical, and software components that needed to be integrated. With each project, I became better at communication between specialties and more skilled with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, preparing me for the final project. In the final project, I worked on a team of four people to build a soil analyzing robotic snake.
Thermal Fluids
In this course, I learned about fluid flow, closed systems, and open systems through conservation of mass, momentum, and control volume analysis. My learning was heavily driven by themed projects of common agricultural applications of thermal fluids, inspired by my work as a field supervisor on a farm. My most notable projects include predicting the steady state temperature of water in a hose, and predicting the temperature over time inside of a greenhouse.
Sustainability Initiatives Research Collaboration
In this course, I worked on a team with an external entity to maximize the efficiency of a composting system. Though this course was focused around the efficiency of waste systems and research about healthy compost, I also learned a lot about working and communicating with external parties and creating professional reports and recommendations.