Course Reflections
Throughout my time at Auburn University, I have learned valuable information about the different aspects of Biosystems Engineering. Below are some of my favorite classes and relevant projects that shaped me to be the engineer I am today.
Engineering Methods for Biological Systems
In this class, I learned many foundational skills, both hands-on and technological, that will prepare me for my future coursework and ultimately for my career. Online skills included in-depth Microsoft Excel calculations with real-world application and an introduction to AutoCAD. In an Autodesk Fusion project, I learned how to read a 3D modeled template for a fidget spinner and recreate it myself, as well as edit it to fit my specific needs. As for hands-on skills, our semester-long project required the use of "found" materials to make a water filter. More information about these projects can be found to the right. In this class, I was able to expand on my ability to adapt to change and learn from my failures. This is a crucial aspect of being an engineer, as nothing is ever straight and simple. I will be able to use this approach to engineering problems, as well as the technical skills I learned, in my future career.
Heat and Mass Transfer
By the time I took Heat and Mass Transfer, I had already been exposed to many of the same concepts through Thermodynamics. This class has taken my prior knowledge and transformed it into something that I can see in my day-to-day life. This includes how insulation keeps its contents at a specific temperature, how to determine the temperature of food while it is cooking, and even the radiative greenhouse effect. These applications are described in depth in the link to the left. All these aspects of Heat and Mass Transfer are incredibly important to my career as an engineer. Since I want to work in water management, knowing the heating/cooling rate of a certain pipe design could prove that the original design is not possible and requires alterations. Problems like this arose in class assignments, which required me to learn from my mistakes and try again with a different approach. This type of learning is essential for future success.
Basic Soil Science
This class was entirely different than any other supporting coursework in my college career. The lectures went over a wide range of topics from soil physical and chemical properties, to soil classification, and even nutrition management. The labs were very hands-on and gave real-world practices to deal with the problems discussed in class. The class was challenging not only because of its heavy workload and complex topics, but also because it required students to apply knowledge from previous classes to an entirely new setting. For example, the topic that I struggled with the most was soil chemistry. I had to take information that I learned years ago in high school chemistry and apply it to soil properties. Microbiology was also very important to this topic because of the large number of chemical reactions that take place due to microbes in the soil. All things considered, I had to incorporate a minimum of three total classes to understand a singular topic, which is incredibly difficult to do, especially if you aren't expecting it. However, this class helped me understand what kind of learner I am and has better prepared me for how I am going to approach any future academic problems that are thrown my way.
Watershed Management
For my minor in Watershed Sciences, I was required to take this class, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The topics covered here were quite different from those in any of my other classes at the time, as it wasn't entirely theoretical ideas. Every single challenge discussed had real-world applications and management practices. I really enjoyed seeing how what I've been learning would allow me many paths in which I could help the environment and people around me. In my opinion, the best way to show real-world applications is to go to a place that actually runs the experiments that we talk about in class. We even took a trip to the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in North Carolina. Even though it was a super long drive from Auburn, I do not regret a second. It was so interesting to see all of the experiments they ran at this watershed. The area was divided into different sectors that were treated with various practices, such as burned/regrowth and mixed tree species, in order to see the effect on biological diversity and water quality. I really enjoyed this class and everything that was covered, and now I know for a fact that Ecological Engineering is the right choice for me.