Tau Beta Pi.As an initiated member of Tau Beta Pi Honor Society, I have been recognized in the top eighth of engineering students at Auburn University. As a member, we are encouraged to serve others through our passions for the field of engineering. This includes serving at Engineering Day (a day for prospective students of Auburn University to learn about all that Auburn Engineering has to offer), tutoring, as well as encouraging high school and middle school students to pursue their interests in engineering. Tau Beta Pi also provides me with opportunities to prepare myself for the future. By administering Fundamentals of Engineering mock exams, interview workshops, graduate school visits, and other opportunities, I have been able to prepare myself for whatever path I may pursue in my future. Tau Beta Pi has allowed me to communicate with engineers outside my field as well as provide and receive support to and from my peers.
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Hydraulic Transport in Biological Systems.Throughout my Hydraulic Transport in Biological Systems course, I was required to perform various labs before writing a full, professional lab report on the lab performed. In particular, I enjoyed the lab on the hydrostatic pressure on both partially and fully submerged surfaces. In this lab, water was added to a pressure system tank to balance an arm swinging into the tank after weight had been applied to one end of the arm. Thus, the hydrostatic pressure and its force were required to balance the weights applied so that the arm would become level. I liked how I could actually see the reaction the water’s force had on the arm, as I saw it rise to balance the weights. Additionally, I enjoyed how the need for calibration was also taken into consideration for this lab. In all engineering problems solved in a career, the accuracy of data collected must be taken into consideration. Since a large part of data accuracy is measurement, calibration is key to solving any engineering problem requiring measurements.
The hydrostatic pressure lab challenged me to utilize my mechanics and physics knowledge to apply to this particular engineering application. By completing this lab, I learned the effect of height on hydrostatic pressure as well as the center of pressure. Thus, in developing a fluid system, I was able to visually see the impact an increase in fluid height will have on the system. For instance, if I were to work with hurricane prevention systems and build a protection levee, I would need to account for the pressure flood waters would have on the levee. This lab also allowed me to see that if the floodwaters were to rise above my levee, I would need to account for the effect the floodwaters would then have on the levee when it is fully submerged so that the levee does not breach. Thus, the concepts and principals found and utilized in this lab could easily be applied to my future career as an engineer. Additionally, this lab demonstrated a method to calibration assessment. As previously stated, calibration of measurement systems is key to accurate test results and conclusions. Thus, I am positive that I will be able to use these methods to test for calibration in my career. Beyond this particular lab, I was able to learn how to effectively communicate my results and conclusions to those who may or may not have any background in engineering through my lab report. Since it is not guaranteed that my employer or audience may have an engineering background, this is an extremely useful skill to have. Additionally, this lab was practice for me in identifying, formulating, and solving engineering problems through experimental means. As a result, this lab allowed me to apply math and engineering to solve problems, to learn to design a system or process, to communicate effectively, and to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems: Biosystems Engineering program outcomes. |
Introduction to Spatial Technologies. As an intern for HDR, Inc., I utilized several databases developed using a variety of spatial technologies, in particular geographic information systems. As a result, I was excited to take the Introduction to Spatial Technologies for Biosystems course. I immediately recognized how applicable its usage was to my future career. Whether it be for environmental site assessments pre-screening, mapping for site design, or watershed modeling, GIS and GPS can prove extremely useful. Through my Introduction to Spatial Technologies course, I have gained a general knowledge of both GPS and GIS. Within GPS, I have learned how to gather, load, correct, and analyze data gathered. This includes common sources of error and various methods to reduce these errors, a selection of options utilized to collect data, and the mechanics and processes behind how a GPS functions. Within GIS, I have learned how to digitize maps and utilize a variety of tools within ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcToolbox. I believe this course will not only help me with my future career but also with allowing me to be a more educated citizen on the dynamic of GIS and GPS in the long-term.
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Waste Management and Utilization Engineering.While my chemistry, Introduction to Environmental Engineering, Hydraulic Transport, Environmental Quality, and Ecological Engineering courses all provided me with valuable information necessary for my future career, the Waste Management and Utilization course has provided me with the opportunity to connect these concepts into applications utilized to solve some of the world’s largest crisis. Waste surrounds us. It is an inevitable aspect to agricultural production, municipal water utilization, and even industry production. Waste is an aspect to engineering that will not fade. As long as there are human beings, animals, and plants residing on this planet, there will be waste. To me, this course opened my eyes to an exciting realm of engineering applications. It is fascinating to me that waste can be utilized as a valuable resource. As I begin my future career, I have already recognized the value in the education provided by this course. My Waste Management and Utilization course has already allowed me to demonstrate my knowledge on the subject: a clear asset in the water industry. In other words, Waste Management and Utilization has provided me with the opportunity to combine concepts learned in several of my courses and apply them to engineering solutions pertinent to my future career and career goals.
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