ENGenuity Issue 7: Summer 2024
Dear EAS Community, Alumni, and Friends,
This year has already been an exceptional one for the Division, marked by significant achievements and notable strides in our commitment to collaboration and pioneering research. Our focus on artificial intelligence has reached new heights with the expansion of the Conference on AI+Science—a joint effort with the University of Chicago's Data Science Institute. This growth underscores our dedication to advancing AI research and its integration into various disciplines within EAS. Moreover, our strengthened partnership with Sweden's WASP AI research initiative exemplifies our global commitment to collaborative innovation, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in AI.
In the area of medical technology, EAS researchers continue to make impressive progress in developing wearable sensors. These innovations hold the potential to revolutionize medical practice, providing more accurate and real-time health monitoring, and transforming patient care.
Innovation also thrives among our current students, exemplified by the reinvigorated Caltech Racing team. Our feature story covers the team's dedication to building a space for students to exercise teamwork and apply theoretical knowledge to real-world applications. Their efforts not only enhance their education but also prepare them to tackle the complex challenges of the future.
I also want to take a moment to recognize some of our faculty's recent prestigious awards. Thomas Hou, the Charles Lee Powell Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, a testament to his outstanding contributions to the 3D Euler singularity problem. Additionally, Katherine Faber, the Simon Ramo Professor of Materials Science, has been honored with the 2024 W. David Kingery Award from the American Ceramic Society, celebrating her lifelong achievements in ceramic technology.
These accomplishments and updates reflect our Division's unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation. As we look to the future, I am confident that our community will continue to push the boundaries of technology—old and new—driving forward the frontiers of science and engineering.
Harry Atwater
Otis Booth Leadership Chair, Division of Engineering and Applied Science
Caltech Racing isn't just engineering an electric car; they're building a legacy. Originally founded in 2015 this student-run club competes in the annual Formula SAE Electric competition against universities worldwide. No longer sidelined by the pandemic, the team is ready to make a strong comeback in the next academic year and establish a solid organizational structure to fuel continued success.
Launch the story.
Paul Wegener (BS '71, engineering and applied science) is dedicated to transforming ideas into groundbreaking innovations. His career spans environmental engineering and pharmaceuticals, with ventures that range from pioneering an ocean wave energy conversion device to exploring green tea extract as a treatment for viral infections.
Read more.
Michelle Armond's (BS '00, electrical engineering and history) professional journey as an intellectual property litigator is marked by her unique ability to navigate both legal and technical complexities. After practicing law for two decades, Armond's career took a bold turn when she and a colleague started their own law firm in 2019, Armond Wilson LLP.
Read more.
Kevin Parkin (MS '00, PhD '06, Aeronautics) is a rocket scientist, inventor, and a visionary transforming sci-fi into reality. Currently the Lead Systems Engineer for the NASA Ames Mission Design Center, Parkin has returned to the place he helped establish in 2007, where he began his career after graduating from Caltech.
Read more.
