Service Learning: Engineering projects in community service (EPICS)

I was on the same EPICS team in different roles for 6 semesters. I was on the Hydration Station team, which works to create a machine that cleans and refills reusable water bottles. This project has taught me a wide range of engineering skills, but, most importantly, it has reminded me of the concrete positive impact that engineering can make on people's lives. This posisitve impact is especially powerful if the team ensures the requirements are driven solely by the customer and stakeholders. This experience is related to my grand challenges theme because the product we designed is intended to not only increase access to water for unhoused individuals, but also reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles that need to be given out each year.

piping design

pressure testing

Welding Frame

Protoboard circuit

Teamwork

This experience taught me about how to effectively manage and work with a team. I started as a member of the mechanical team, then became research lead, prototyping lead, and finally team lead. This process has taught me valuable project management skills specifically for engineering product development, which will be very helpful for my future career.

providing effective solutions for community

One of the main lessons from EPICS was truly listening to the people you are trying to help with your product and making sure that input is what drives the function and shape of the product. In the beginning of the project, the team was getting sidetracked on working on components that were not relevant for the essential core function of cleaning bottles that the Keys to Change campus needed. After visiting the campus multiple times and hearing from staff and clients there about their needs and preferences, I was able to keep the project on track to accomplish the essential functions of the prototype.

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