Project Roster 2013

Networks and the Brain

Proj. Leader: James Arnemann (Physics) and Katelyn Begany (Neuroscience)

By modeling different levels of brain activity, ranging from the computations of small groups of cells to whole brain networks, we will explore ideas about how the brain can generate such complex behavior.

Green High Strength and Highly Flowable Concrete

Proj. Leader: Rotana Hay (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Concrete is the most widely used construction materials used in the world. However, the production of cement, the main binder used in concrete production, is energy intensive. The course will cover strength gain of concrete through micro-structure examination, concrete durability, compositions of concrete, admixtures used to make new concrete types and to improve concrete performance, high strength and highly flowable concrete (high performance concrete or HPC), and greening options for HPC.

Object Tracking Through Video Analysis

Proj. Leader: Keven Laboy-Juarez (Neuroscience) and Ian Tse (Environmental Engineering)

Our project will be concerned with the problem of object tracking. We will have the kids play a game in which they have to hit a target with a ball. There wil be 2 different arrangements; one with no obstacles, where the kids simply have to drop the ball into the target, and another with obstacles where they will have to spin the ball to hit the target.

In this project the kids will learn how to use MATLAB to be able to deduce from the images different features such as distance (convert from pixels to units of length), location (triangulate a ball in tridimensional space), motion (calculate velocity of the ball) and even figure out the initial spin that will allow them to hit the target.

Basics of Tunnel Design and Rock Engineering

Proj. Leader: Christopher Sherman (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

The Lawson Adit is an historic tunnel on the UC Berkeley Campus, and is noteworthy because it passes through the Hayward fault. Students will investigate the stability of this structure through laboratory testing of rock, geology, and basic tunnel design.

Ocular Drug Delivery

Proj. Leader: Jennifer Wade (UCSF)

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a disease which causes loss of vision and is difficult to treat. Students will design a fictitious treatment using a thin film hydrogel. Students will measure drug elution of different preparations with a spectrophotometer.