Julia McGillivray

Here is the finished program for the MATLAB Homework, along with the finished graph for Question 2.

SEAS 1001 this semester has been a very rewarding experience overall. I got to work with materials and programs I had never previously worked with, such as MATLAB and TinkerCAD, and I found myself loving the programs and it was rewarding to see my work put to something tangible such as a 3D printed wrench. Learning about the entrepeneurship route that engineers can take professionally. I was good to think out of the box, in a different way than I was thinking before in terms of applying my knowledge.

I also got to work with the business side of engineering, such as thinking more about inclusion and diversity in the workplace and how I would possibly apply my knowledge to run a business. Overall, SEAS 1001 has been rewarding, especially since I have a wrench, automation, and program to show for it that I hadn't been experienced with before. This has been a great introductory course into the field of engineering and SEAS in general.

I am involved in the Women's Leadership Program for Science, Health and Medicine at GW, where we meet and hear from many women in leadership positions and grow as a community together to become future leaders.

https://wlp.gwu.edu/%20

Here is the link to the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at GW. I am personally enrolled in the Mechanical-Aerospace program.

https://www.mae.seas.gwu.edu/%20

Here is the link to the website for an organization here at GW that I'm involved in, the Engineers Without Borders - GW Chapter. I'm currently getting involved in the Umbe project, where we are designing and will be building a learning center in Uganda.

https://ewb-gwu.squarespace.com/%20

Here is the link to a club in which I'm involved in, the American Institute for Astronautics and Aeronautics here at GW.

https://www.aiaa.org/%20

1a: The problem that I would be solving is the problem that the amount of gasoline being used by cars and other motorized vehicles is having a negative impact on the environment because of CO2 emissions. The constraints are the fact that gasoline isn’t a renewable resource, possible financial restraints from the lack of budget put into developing products to lessen CO2 emissions, and time constraints because of the fact that gas is a finite resource. 

1b: This is an environmental issue, but is also an issue of public health. This is because too much CO2 in the atmosphere could eventually cause problems with the earth warming all over, and breathing problems in areas with high concentrations of CO2 in the air. This is already shown by countries like China wearing masks because of high concentrations of air pollutants. Essentially, environmental issues and public health issues in this case are completely connected.

2: The engineering solution that I came up with is to design a machine in a car that, instead of pumping it as a gas, it would be kept at a stable liquid state in order for it to be able to be reused by the car as either another source or an infinite source of fuel for the car. Since the gasoline that we use is incredibly energy inefficient in the way it’s burned and produced, it would basically be a way for a car to use it efficiently with an energy transmitter in the car that keeps the gas at a liquid state to be reused. When gas is put into the car, instead of it being burned the engine would be kept at a much steadier state so that the gas can stay in a state of not being burned through a sort of energy transmitter.

3a: The values that are created is a more energy efficient way of powering cars so that it can be safer for the environment and more sustainable long-term. 

3b: In a global context, it would mean less CO2 emissions from cars, which in turn would mean that cars that use gasoline would be more environmentally friendly, and possibly more financially affordable than other energy efficient cars such as electric cars because of the lower price of cars that use it. It would also promote a transition to energy efficient vehicles, which could mean that renewable energy sources may become more available to the public and cheaper because of higher rates of mass production because of higher demand.

1. Diversity, equity and inclusion are ways to bridge the gap that exists between spaces in engineering and other disciplines. It’s a way to expand our mindsets and ultimately garner long-term success. Diversity includes bringing all different perspectives and life experiences together to work together. Equity means giving those with disadvantages ways to bridge the gap, and inclusion means being mindful of all diversity that exists and making sure that everyone is respected and valued in their field. 
2. Diversity, equity and inclusion are important for STEM and engineering because expanding our mindsets and being more thoughtful overall about what we all bring to the table will only help problem solving and innovation long-term. People who have had different life experiences will think differently about the same problem, and we will be able to combine all of those perspectives to think more critically about the best ways to problem solve. With diversity, it’s easier to find solutions, because one line of thinking often limits prospects of innovation.

This is an Arduino Circuit that I designed in TinkerCAD.

This is a wrench, nut and bolt that I designed and 3D printed in TinkerCAD.