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Annual Contest Achievements

MUDDERS ARE WORLD-CLASS COMPETITORS

MCM/ICM: Can You Hear Me Now?

Harvey Mudd College juniors Dylan Marriner, Daniel Furlong and Luis Ryan earned top honors in the 2011 International Mathematical Contest in Modeling and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (MCM/ICM).

Their team received an “Outstanding” rank, which was given to only eight teams out of 2,775 entries worldwide, for their resolution in reducing the number of radio repeaters needed to serve a geographical area.

Tasked with determining the minimum number of repeaters for radio users in a 40-mile radius, the team used a clustering algorithm to group points in dense population areas and placed repeaters at the centers of each region. Their approach significantly increased the transmission capability of their network.

HMC sent seven teams to the competition in February and all seven garnered high marks. In addition to the Outstanding team, one team earned a Meritorious designation (top 15 percent), three earned Honorable Mention (top 45%) and two were designated as Successful Participants.

Putnam: Problem Solving with the Stars

In a test so challenging that this year’s median score was “2” out of a possible 120 points, landing on the Top 200 list—with a score of 50+—is nothing short of a stellar performance. The 39 HMC students who faced more than 4,000 competitors to earn their place in the 2010 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition shined like stars.

Seven seized spots in the Top 200 List for the individual category: Palmer Mebane ’12, Craig Burkhart ’12, Jackson Newhouse ’12, Jacob Scott ’11, Kevin O’Neill ’13, Tum Chaturapruek ’14 and Lee Wiyninger ’11.

Seven made the Top 500 List: Emil Guliyev ’13, Jennifer Iglesias ’12, Andrew Carter ’13, Louis Ryan ’12, Ryan Muller ’11, Aaron Pribadi ’12 and Peter Fedak ’13.

Additionally, Mebane, Iglesias and Fedak placed 21st in the competition’s team category.

Only five other, much larger schools—Harvard, MIT, Caltech, Stanford and Waterloo—had more than seven students in the Top 200, said math professor and Putnam Seminar Coach Francis Su.

Stuart Pernsteiner ’12, David Fielder ’11, Anak Yodpinyanee ’12 and ACM coach Zachary Dodds.

ACM: Local Champions, World Final Veterans

For the second consecutive year, a team of three students from Harvey Mudd College competed against the world’s smartest computer programmers at the IBM-sponsored Battle of the Brains. The contest, held this year on May 30 in Orlando, Florida, challenges students to solve a semester’s worth of real-world problems under a grueling five-hour deadline all in the pursuit of the World’s Smartest Trophy and prizes from IBM. Computer science majors Daniel Fielder ’11, Stuart Pernsteiner ’12 and Anak Yodpinyanee ’12 successfully answered three of 11 problems in 601 minutes, earning Honorable Mention in the competition. Zhejiang University, China, placed first with eight of 11 problems solved. Harvey Mudd College is one of only 18 U.S. schools and 105 total universities to earn a spot in the prestigious contest.

This was the trio’s second year winning the Southern California Regional contest and earning a spot at the world finals. In 2010, they attended the competition in Harbin, China, where they also earned an honorable mention.

The team was coached by Zachary Dodds.

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Student News

Cunningham to Study Cancer-fighting Compounds

FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP WILL TAKE CHEMISTRY MAJOR TO IRELAND

A Fulbright scholarship is allowing chemistry major Anna Cunningham ’11 to spend the coming academic year investigating pyrrolobenzoxazepine (PBOX) compounds—chemicals that show promise as a weapon against cancer. Part of her investigation will entail spectroscopic analysis of how PBOX compounds synergistically interact with other known cancer drugs that also work by binding to tubulin. This, she hopes, will reveal possibilities for new, even more effective anticancer treatments. It’s an approach, she says, “that has the potential to revolutionize current methods of cancer therapy.”

Supervising her work will be Clive Williams, a prominent investigator of new cancer-fighting drugs, whose laboratory she will use at Trinity College in Dublin.

“I’m excited to be working at one of the leading research institutions in Ireland,” said Cunningham, who hails from Seattle, Wash. “With sufficient work, this project could result in publication of a scientific paper and presentation at an international conference.”

Cunningham’s travel to Ireland will mark the second time in as many years that she has traveled abroad in the quest for greater knowledge. During part of her junior year at HMC, she studied at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Her interest in cancer research was sparked last summer while participating in an internship program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. “As a chemistry major, I found it fascinating to be able to approach cancer from a chemical or biochemical perspective,” she said.

In addition to the Fulbright Scholarship, Cunningham was inducted into the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Her scholastic strengths also earned her departmental honors in chemistry and recognition as an HMC President’s Scholar and a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon (chemistry honorary society). During her time at HMC, Cunningham tutored freshmen in chemistry (and underprivileged local high school students in all subjects) and was active in the performing arts. As a sophomore and junior, she was a member of the school’s ballroom dance team. As a freshman, she joined the Claremont Colleges Concert Choir and, more recently, the Claremont Colleges Chamber Choir. (Adding to Anna’s excitement about the cancer research project at Trinity College is the opportunity it affords to indulge a newfound appreciation of Irish folk music.)

Cunningham credits David Vosburg, assistant professor of chemistry, with being one of the faculty members who most influenced her. “He has been so supportive, and made a huge positive impact on my experience here at Mudd,” Anna said. “His advice about classes, applying to grad schools and writing my proposals for the Fulbright Scholarship and the National Science Foundation was invaluable.”

Vosburg said that Cunningham quickly distinguished herself as an exceptional student. “Her initial project in my laboratory during her sophomore year was to screen a range of green catalysts for enantioselective and chemoselective reductions of citral,

a natural fragrance from lemongrass oil. Several of the catalysts she screened were not commercial, and she showed great facility with solid-phase peptide synthesis and other procedures to prepare them.”

Cunningham’s later experiments led to her co-authorship of an article that appeared earlier this year in the Journal of Chemical Education, Vosburg noted. He said Cunningham also impressed him with her choice of senior thesis topic—mercury resistance in flavobacteria—and reports that her involvement with a research group led by Prof. Nancy Hamlett helped convince Cunningham to set her sights on a career in the biological sciences.

Upon her return next year from Ireland, Cunningham will begin postgraduate studies in pursuit of a doctorate in biochemistry.

The Fulbright Scholarship, a highly competitive, federally funded program, annually goes to 8,000 of the nation’s best and brightest college seniors and provides them grants to study, research or teach overseas.

Anna Cunningham ’11 seeks to revolutionize cancer therapy methods.

WILL VASTA

—Rich Smith

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Student News

Are You Smarter Than a Third Grader Who’s Been Mentored by a Mudder?

Sure there was lots of giggling and squirming. But there was also plenty of curiosity among the youngsters who visited campus this spring at the invitation of two Mudders.

Nate Pinsky ’13 and Elly Schofield ’13 taught math to 23 third graders from Chaparral Elementary School in Claremont for several weeks this spring, then led them on a tour of the Harvey Mudd College campus in May.

“I think exploring what it’s like to be a teacher in a classroom is really valuable,” said Schofield of her experience. “It is really amazing to see the look on kids’ faces when they get a concept. It is very rewarding.”

Pinsky and Schofield decided to design an independent study project that addressed the need to improve mathematics literacy of elementary school students. With the help of advisor and mathematics Professor Michael Orrison, Pinsky and Schofield teamed up to develop five interactive lessons of educationally enriching and fun activities to get third graders excited about learning math. “Since I’ve gone to Mudd, I’ve found myself more and more interested in elementary math education,” said Pinsky. During their first year at HMC, both students became interested in math education while working at Homework Hotline, a call-in tutoring service that helps elementary and middle school students with math and science homework.

This May, to encourage their interest in science, math and engineering, Chaparral third graders toured the HMC campus led by Pinsky, Schofield and other HMC students. The third graders were able to participate in a hands-on experiment in the chemistry lab and visit the rocket and computer science labs. Pinsky and Schofield hope to expand their project with elementary school students in the coming years.

Elly Schofield ’13 and Nate Pinsky ’13 share their enthusiasm for science and math.

Chemists Hear About HMC Student Research

Twenty-five Harvey Mudd College students presented the results of their research at the 241st American Chemical Society National Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., March 27–31. Three students gave oral presentations: Brette Chapin ’11 spoke on “Asymmetric hydroamination of aminoallenes catalyzed by titanium and tantalum complexes of chiral sulfonamide-alcohols;” Kanny Wan ’11 spoke on “Concise, biomimetic syntheses of natural furanyl terpenoids;” and Michelle Hansen ’11 spoke on “Catalytic asymmetric hydroamination with tantalum complexes of chiral amino alcohols.”

In addition, Adam Brown ’13, Arthur Vasek ’11, Cassie George ’11, Daniel O’Neil ’11, Hayden Hatch ’12, Ha Seong Kim ’11, Heidi Linder ’11, Jessie Roy ’11, John Cvitkovic ’11, John Robinson ’12, Karen Heinselman ’13, Kristine Fong ’11, Laura Collins ’11, Laura Poindexter ’11, Malous Kossarian ’12, Mary Van Vleet ’12, Millie Fung ’11, Nagiko Hara ’12, Thomas Aldrich ’12, Thomas Avila ’11, Veerasak “Jeep” Srisuknimit ’12, and Zara Seibel ’11 presented posters of their work in fields as far-flung as characterization of green surfactants, drug discovery and new materials for solar energy conversion. Alumni co-authors included Caitlin Olmsted ’10, Mark Cyffka ’10, Chiara Giammanco ’10, Nancy Eisenmenger ’09 and Eric Nacsa ’10.

The American Chemical Society is the world’s largest scientific society with over 165,000 members. Roughly 14,000 scientists attended the conference to make 9,000 presentations in hundreds of half-day oral sessions and nearly 100 poster sessions.

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Student News

Braineaters are No. 1 in Ultimate Frisbee

Ned Mills ’11 lays out for a disc in the end zone for a goal against Swarthmore at the Division III nationals. The 5-C Braineaters went on to win 12-9.

“This season is going to be a special one for the Braineaters, so stay tuned!”

Such was the promise on the website of the 5-College Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Team, aka the Claremont Braineaters. The team of 24 men from CMC, Harvey Mudd (6 men), Pitzer and Pomona won the men’s Division III nationals in Buffalo, N.Y. on May 22. There were 16 teams at the tournament, out of approximately 80 D-III teams in the entire country, that competed in the ultimate disc competition, a sport using flying discs that is a cross between soccer and football.

The Braineaters spent last year rebuilding the team after losing a strong senior class. This year, with clear leadership, which included team captain Zack Purdy ’13, and a disciplined practice schedule, they posted strong wins, including finishing well enough to be ranked No. 24 in the USA Ultimate D-I rankings. They were considered the favorites going into their first Division III nationals, which began last year.

Purdy said, “We were especially good this year because of star players Markham Shofner (PO ’11) and Tommy Li ( PO ’12), as well as an excellent regular season consisting of a tournament win in San Diego in late February, and second place at a tournament in Las Vegas in early March.”

The Mudders participating at the Division III nationals were Purdy, Edmund (Ned) Mills ’11, Kevin Black ’12, Jon Witte ’12, Jack Newhouse ’12 and Taylor Brent ’14.

Cheering Section

HMC Athletes in CMS Sports, selected results

CMS won the Men’s (64.5 pts), Women’s (63.5) and Combined (128) All-Sports Trophies. CMS won an SCIAC record 11 titles this year and the point totals for the women and combined are the highest all-time.

Men’s Swimming & Diving

SCIAC Dual Meet Record 6–1; SCIAC Championships 1st; SCIAC finish 1st (third straight title); NCAA Championships, Team 17th Vincent Pai ’12 (pictured)– SCIAC Champion 100 & 200 Breast; All-American 200 Breast (3rd), honorable mention All-American 100 Breast Brad Perfect ’13– SCIAC Runner-Up 200 Breast Devin Bowers ’12 Thomas Carey ’13 Alex Flake ’14 Alexander Lee ’14 Chris Ramos ’11 Elliot Smith ’11

Women’s Swimming & Diving

SCIAC Dual Meet Record: 7–0; SCIAC Championships 1st; SCIAC finish 1st (ninth straight title); NCAA Championships, Team 7th Jenni Rinker ’11– SCIAC Champion 50 Free; SCIAC Runner-Up 200 Back; All-American 400 Free Relay Ashley Kretsch ’13, Jaclyn Olmos-Silverman ’13

Women’s Lacrosse: 16–3 overall, 10–0 in SCIAC (1st); SCIAC Champions Margaret Rogers ’11

Men’s Tennis: 27–3 overall, 8–0 in SCIAC (1st) Trevor Apple ’13, Brandon Wei ’12

Track and Field: Women, SCIAC Co-Champions; Men placed 2nd in SCIAC HMC athletes included seniors Dillon Ayers, Matt Cummins, Blake Shaw, Kyle Stewart, Kramer Straube and Matt Streshinksy. Georgi Dinolov ’11 competed at NCAA Championships in 1500 meters and Bennett Naden ’13 was 2nd Team All-SCIAC in steeplechase. Women from HMC included Sara Sholes ’12 and Kate Crawford ’13.

CMS ATHLETICS

s t u d e n t r e s e a r c h

precious problems

Written by CHRISTINE VASQUEZ and KOREN WETMORE

Research and Clinic projects require exploration of new and interesting problems, creative thinking and teamwork in order to achieve solutions. There were many successful projects presented during this year’s Presentation Days (May 2 and 4) and Projects Day (May 3), which represented work in every academic department. A key attribute of the research at HMC is the collaboration of students and faculty, who are partners in the process of discovery. The selection that follows represents a small portion of the many projects performed by more than 200 students under the direction of faculty advisors and, in some cases, external liaisons.

Wax On

Working with Insight Surgical Instruments, LLC, HMC students have developed a tool that accurately applies bone wax without blocking a surgeon’s view.

Bone wax is applied to cut bone surface to block blood flow during minimally invasive spinal surgery. Currently surgeons use a spatulalike instrument, called a Penfield, which requires them to warm the wax between their fingers before using the Penfield to place it on the bone surface.

The students’ prototype contains a heating element to warm the wax and a delivery system that places a precise amount of wax on bone. “Bone can and does heal around the wax, but too much wax can delay the healing process and weaken the bone. So we wanted to reduce the amount of wax used,” said clinic team member Tim Challener ’11.

The device has an angled tip to improve the surgeon’s visibility and a squeezable handle with a spring-loaded hook design and notched rod system that ensures precise wax delivery. Its heating element is powered by a 9-volt battery. About 10 inches in length, it is both sterilizable and disposable, which makes it practical and economical, Challener said. The device is patent-pending.

Challener, Annie Jensen ’12, Cassie Nguyen ’11, Vincent Pai ’12, Matthew Phillips ’11, and Kristen Schunter ’12, worked with advisor Elizabeth Orwin, professor of engineering and biology, to complete the Clinic project.

En Guarde, Film Pirates

Swifter than a sword, the right algorithm can battle the peskiest pirate site on the Internet.

So when Paramount Pictures needed to assess which bootleg film content sites presented the most risk to their industry, they tasked HMC students with developing a program and browser extension that offered a danger-ranking system.

The Computer Science Clinic team developed an algorithm that presents a weighted average of popularity (number of users accessing a site) and sleekness (how legitimate a site looks in appearance) to designate the risk level of piracy websites. Their study revealed that more than half of the pirate sites were “unsleek,” so they tuned the algorithm to weigh a site’s popularity score as three times more important than sleekness. The method proved successful in accurately assessing risk level. The team also built a Firefox extension that nabs a screenshot of the sites and identifies the advertisers and ad networks promoted on them. “Much of what you see in search results for keywords such as ‘watch movies online’ are sites containing pirated content,” said team member Dan Ciliske ’12. “Advertising on piracy websites, if removed, would make these sites no longer viable.”

Ciliske, Jessica Blevins ’11, Rebecca Green ’11 and Moira Tagle ’11 worked with advisor Christine Alvarado, assistant professor of computer science, to complete the project.

KOREN WETMORE

Students developed a practical and thrifty bone wax applicator.

Tropical Curves

Max B. Kutler ’11, advised by mathematics Professor Dagan Karp and University of Texas at Austin Professor Eric Katz, discussed his work on tropical algebraic geometry, a new area of mathematics. In part due to its close ties to other fields—including classical algebraic geometry, graph theory and combinatorics—tropical geometry has become an active area of research over the past two decades. Researchers in this field use an alternate notion of the basic operations of addition and multiplication, and study how this affects the geometry of objects that are defined by polynomial equations. Kutler studied tropical curves, and group actions and divisors on the tropical curve. He found new information about the structure of the group of divisors, which could potentially play an important role in this young field.

A Better Grafting Tool

A plant grafting tool is an essential part of a grower’s toolkit. It allows users to attach a stem cutting of one plant to the strong root system of another to get an exact genetic match of a fruit or flower. This is especially helpful in getting fruits that taste exactly as they should from generation to generation. The Engineering 4 team of James Best ’14, Kate Kryder ’14, Kyle Siegel ’14 and Abe McKay ’14 was one of three teams that designed an improved plant grafting tool. Designs addressed the challenges faced with current tools on the market: bulky designs, pricey blades, sterilization challenges and dullness. The Best-Krider-Siegal-McKay team’s design modified an existing tool, which was so successful a provisional patent is underway. Their portable, cheaper, lightweight, more ergonomic solution has durable blades that are quick to change and sterilize. The tool’s adjustable angles allow several different kinds of grafts. An improved tool could expedite the creation of more plants to better feed growing populations. Valerie Loew from the Fullerton College Horticulture Department lent her expertise as the project client.

Set It, and Forget It

Two Engineering 4 teams worked on the design of a year-round, convenient, “set and forget” solution to combat mice infestation, which can present a significant health hazard, particularly in summer homes, cabins and camps in rural areas. The device, designed by Josh Edelman ’14, Stephen Pinto ’14, Jean-Claude de Sugny ’14 and Michelle Liu ’14, is a mouse repellent dispensary system that employs a membrane design to dispense coyote urine pellets in oneounce doses every two months. Client Mark Howard requested that the device be economical, low-maintenance, easy to use, small, lightweight and durable. The device also must withstand sub-freezing conditions and must not kill the mice or use messy liquid repellent. The team concluded that dispensers would be needed throughout a home to adequately control the mice population.

Critical Issues

Through the required Critical Inquiry class, second-semester first-year students explored social, political and economic issues—echoing the College’s mission to create socially conscious and responsible scientists, mathematicians and engineers.

Beverly Yeh ’11 looked at the effect of video games from a unique perspective: that is, their ability to promote pro-social behavior. She used primary psychological research to evaluate the accuracy of this claim about video games. She argued that prosocial video games, in which the player helps other characters in the game—such as City Crisis, a rescue helicopter pilot game, and Nintendogs, a virtual pet simulation game—are linked to “helping” behavior and feelings of empathy. Yeh reported that people who play pro-social video games are more likely to help others, even when doing so is personally risky, compared to people who do not play pro-social video games. Yeh’s advisor was psychology Professor Debra Mashek.

A better plant grafting tool, like the HMC students’ design, could improve plant production.

STEVE SCHENCK

s t u d e n t r e s e a r c h

Jeffrey Burkert ’11 was one of several students who explored techniques that might improve mathematics education among elementary and middle school students. He discussed research and advances in the field of mathematics and shared ways to engage students using innovative approaches to teaching. In contrast to the traditional lecture model is a technique called spaced repetition—learning less material more often versus learning more material less often. Efforts in this area, he said, could raise mathematics literacy and help the nation remain competitive on a global scale. Burkert’s advisor was political science/environmental science Professor Paul Steinberg.

Tied in Knots

Surgery on the vocal cords requires the physician to manuever inside a small tube with very long instruments, similar to trying to tie one’s shoelaces with barbecue tongs. Brian Wong of the Beckman Laser Institute asked four Engineering 4 teams to create a knot-tying assist device for ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgical applications, such as robotic surgery, endoscopic surgery, cancer and voice surgery of the head and neck. This 30-minute procedure requires specialized skill and involves using two graspers to manipulate sutures to tie knots inside the small space of a laryngoscope. Wong requested that teams’ devices work in a 10- to 15-inch-long space that is 1 to 2 cm in diameter and that they create knots that would not slip.

The team of Neil Pearson ’14, Vijay Ramakrishnan ’14, Brent Stapleton ’14 and Brianna Thielen ’14 created five prototypes, including an oversized version to test the concept. They focused on creating a simple, easy-to-use design that ties knots quickly while minimizing tissue damage. Their semi-automated knot-tying device, resulting in a seven-minute procedure, pushes one loop of the knot at a time down the laryngoscope and into place on the tissue by threading the suture through two holes in the device.

The project advisor, engineering Professor Patrick Little, said that each of the teams came up with interesting and creative designs. “It speaks to the creativity of the students in the class that we could develop so many good solutions to a very difficult problem,” he said.

Mirror, Mirror

Large mirrors are used at Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants to concentrate sunlight so that thermal energy can be converted to electricity. But these mirrors, often located in dry, dusty areas, must be cleaned frequently to maximize their efficiency. Soil-resistant mirror coatings are available, but they must be tested before applying to the mirrors. Clinic sponsor National Renewable Energy Laboratory sought ways to quickly test the durability and effectiveness of various coatings. The team of Julia Diaz, Sam Keene, Ashley Nelson, Evann Gonzales, Dalar Nazarian and Ethan Susca analyzed soil from several CSP plants using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray fluorescence and x-ray diffraction, and sought answers to questions like “what makes mud sticky?” Team members plan to present their soil research in Spain at the conference for SolarPACES, an international cooperative network of experts who focus on the development and marketing of concentrating solar power systems. The team also built an apparatus with simulated day and night cycles that applies the soil to mirrors using the same mechanisms as the natural environment.

“The results of the soiling studies were very interesting where a novel platelet structure was found in clay materials,” said Cheryl Kennedy, senior scientist who leads the Advanced Materials Team at NREL.

A Clinic team will present their soil research at the SolarPACES conference in Spain.

STEVE SCHENCK

Hufsa Ahmad ’11 describes her team’s solar thermal energy storage system.

Using the Energy in Dirt

Their task was challenging: use inexpensive, natural materials to capture and store solar energy for use during India’s four-month monsoon season.

Their solution was nothing short of brilliant.

The six-student Harvey Mudd College Global Clinic team designed a system that collects thermal energy with water and stores it in dirt.

“We tested all kinds of soil—loam, sand, rocky soil, compacted and not compacted—to determine their effectiveness as a storage medium,” said summer Team Leader Hufsa Ahmad ’11. “The system worked on all soil types and, since you can find dirt almost anywhere, it can be used almost anywhere on the planet.”

Powered by a 9-volt lithium battery, the system’s pump circulates water in a tube that runs through a single solar collector. The cold water heats up in the collector, then passes through a series of refurbished refrigerator condenser coils buried in 10.6 cubic meters of soil housed in an insulated, underground cylinder.

The water transfers thermal energy into the soil as it passes through the condenser coils—which act as heat exchangers— and comes out cold again. The cool water then travels back to the collector and the cycle resumes.

The process continues for eight months, storing thermal energy and raising the soil temperature to about 149-degrees Fahrenheit (65°C) at its coolest point and 194-degrees (90°C) at its warmest. To extract the thermal energy from the soil, the process is reversed. Cool water is pumped through the condenser coils, heat from the soil transfers into the water, which is then deposited into an insulated water storage tank.

Designed for use in rural India, where residents have no access to a centralized power grid and rely heavily on solar sources to meet their energy needs, the system solves the puzzle of how to provide power during times of insufficient sunlight.

The Global Clinic team—comprised of Jennifer Lee ’11, Andrew Xue ’11, Hufsa Ahmad ’11, Allie McDonnell ’12, Julie Lapidus (Scripps) and Niger Washington (Pomona)—worked on the capture and storage components of the project. Team members coordinated with a second student team at the Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) in Ranchi, India, which focused on how to convert the stored thermal energy into electricity for use in rural Indian homes.

“The [HMC] team had to learn what materials were accessible and what the people were willing to use,” said Global Clinic Director L.G. de Pillis. “Working with a team from the area gave them good information about what was acceptable and doable. They also learned about working with people from a different culture and language.”

The BIT team determined there were two potential ways of converting the thermal energy from the water into electricity to power homes. The first would be to use a Stirling Engine to convert heat to electricity, but it may be too costly, Ahmad said, since few companies manufacture the engines.

The second, more feasible option would be to employ an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), which uses low-grade heat to power a turbine and generate electricity.

“An ORC would be ideal for our system for two reasons: 1) its operating temperature range is appropriate for our soil system, and 2) we’re outputting heat into a water tank, which stores water as the working fluid for the ORC,” said spring semester Team Leader Jennifer Lee ’11.

The system works theoretically, but will require more work before a prototype can be installed and tested. “To make the [storage] system feasible, we need to determine the pump requirements, model the heat extraction process, merge the collector system with the water system model and determine the tank insulation thickness,” Ahmad said.

High High

ive years ago, the HMC community came together to F examine all that it does, in view of the challenges and changes in the world today. Priorities were set around six themes:

Innovation, leadership, and impact, especially in engineering, science and mathematics

Focus on experiential and interdisciplinary learning

Unsurpassed excellence and diversity at all levels

Nurturing and developing the whole person

Global engagement and informed contributions to society

Improvement of infrastructure and resources to support

HMC’s commitment to excellence and building community

Then, we rolled up our sleeves, and got down to work, making these goals a reality on campus, within the local community and abroad.

In just five years we’ve:

Created new experiential learning opportunities Designed innovative interdisciplinary courses

Revised the core curriculum to be as rigorous as ever yet flexible and innovative

Introduced a new writing course to teach the communication skills our students need to succeed as leaders

Admitted the largest entering class of women in the College’s history

Developed unique Clinic and Global Clinic opportunities with far-reaching impact

Expanded our mentoring programs and Summer Institute

Instituted methods to continually assess and improve our educational experience

Approved plans for a new, state-of-the-art teaching and learning building

And, we’re just getting started.

With help from philanthropic institutions, individual donors, and the hard work of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees and friends, we’re making our vision a reality. Read about some of our creative, collaborative initiatives in the stories and timeline that follow.