STRATEGIC VISION
Global engagement and informed contributions to society
Milestones 2006–2011 2009 continued from page 24
COSTA RICAN POWER PLANT
REDUCES ENERGY FOOTPRINT
NSF CAREER grants awarded to biology Professor Robert Drewell and engineering Professor Nancy Lape
A seven-member Harvey Mudd College team headed to Costa Rica this summer to install a micro-hydroelectric station along a stream in a 150-acre nature reserve. The student-built station will produce an estimated 48 kWh of energy daily and potentially serve as a model other ecology centers can emulate. The project was funded by the Shanahan Student-Directed Project Fund and Mudders Making a Difference. Led by HMC engineering Professor Adrian Hightower and biology Professor Donald McFarlane (Pomona College), the team installed the station along Terciopelo Creek on the Firestone Center for Restoration Ecology reserve in Baru, Costa Rica. Unlike The Mudders’ micro-hydroelectric station will produce large stations that require dams, which about 48kWh of energy daily. alter the local environment, the microstation will work with the existing ecology, diverting only a fraction of the creek’s water to generate electricity. The diverted water will flow through a PowerSpout turbine generator and then return to the creek. Power produced by the micro-station will supplement the ecology center’s energy needs. Students Jinhwa Chun ’12, Alice Conant ’13, Abigail Korth ’13 and Lisbeth Santana ’12, and alumnus Brandyn Carlson ’11 spent June 5–11 setting up and testing the system. They also worked extensively with local experts and ecology center staff to ensure the system meets the needs of the people who will use it. “In many cases, it’s this social aspect of the project that is most challenging for students. Especially those not accustomed to worrying about that part of a project and those unfamiliar with the culture and customs of the people,” said Hightower. “We could build a great system, but if it doesn’t fit in with what they typically do, or if it adversely affects some of their policies or processes, it won’t be a successful installation.” Working on the station honed not only social understanding but also management skills for student project manager Jin-Hwa Chun ’12. “The project opened my eyes about areas that most new engineering majors overlook,” said Chun. “I thought this would be a purely technical project, but it required lots of non-technical work such as collaboration with the University of Costa Rica, arranging meetings, requesting a budget and leading the team. The project definitely provided an opportunity to practice management and leadership roles.” The team designed the system using materials available locally in Baru, so the ecology center can replace parts quickly, if needed, and work with local partners such as the University of Costa Rica to maintain the system.
HMC launches Twitter account For first time, HMC has two Churchill Scholarship recipients in same year Students spend 16 days in Kenya on educational mission to share solar water purification method at secondary school. Trip is supported by Trustee Andrea Leebron-Clay and husband, Jim. Merck/AAAS gives $60,000 to biology and chemistry departments Pinky Nelson ’72 inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Annenberg Foundation gives $1 million for scholarships Inventor Dean Kamen delivers commencement address to 164 graduates HMC holds community meetings about campus and new teaching and learning building HMC purchases 11.46 acres, expanding campus, preparing for future opportunities HMC ranked No. 2 Best Engineering College by Salary Potential, PayScale HMC Engineering program ties for No. 1 in nation. U.S. News & World Report Impact Project launched to learn about successes, contributions and aspirations of alumni $419,000 award from Mellon Foundation supports Core Curriculum revision efforts HMC named a Top Value College, 100 Best Values in Private Colleges, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance $1-million gift establishes Kenneth A. and Diana G. Jonsson Professorship in Mathematics and the Jonsson Endowed Fund for Mathematics Department travel
—Koren Wetmore
SUMMER 2011
Harvey Mudd College
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