Keeping Up with the Grand Challenge Scholars

Hi friends! Welcome back to our Hart Center blog, where we’re keeping you updated on the exceptional accomplishments of our students. If you missed last week’s welcome message, read it here (if you read it, you can see my dog).

There’s an story that, in 1899, the commissioner of the US patent office famously claimed “everything that can be invented has been invented.” It must be something about the turn of the century, because people thought the same thing when the 21^st century rolled around. Where would we go, if we had already invented everything? Of course, as engineers, we know innovation never ends. And the National Academy of Engineering agreed, so the Academy identified 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century, including universal access to clean water, enhanced virtual reality, and advanced health informatics. Basically, every cool or useful thing that ever has been or will be invented is covered by these Challenges.

How do these Challenges relate to you? In March 2018, SMU joined over 70 cutting-edge engineering schools to offer the Grand Challenge Scholars Program (GCSP). Here’s the Sparknotes (find complete info here) of the program: apply > get accepted > select a Challenge > produce world-changing research.

We want to introduce you to one of our Scholars, Micah Oxner (PSA, she’s a super cool female in STEM). An inaugural member of the GCSP, she will graduate in May 2020 with degrees in Mechanical Engineering with biomed specialization and Applied Math with a minor in Health Sciences. As a Scholar, she researches the biologically inspired design of microrobots for targeted drug delivery. She also received funding through the Engaged Learning Fellowship and a Richter Fellowship to study breast cancer cell lines in microfluidic chips at the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland. Currently, Micah is applying to graduate school for Fall 2020 for her doctorate in Biomedical Engineering.

If Micah’s work doesn’t blow your mind, I don’t know what will. But our Scholars do more than produce exceptional research; they also travel, attend fantastic Scholars-only events, and have their own club! Last September, Micah flew to London to participate in the Global Grand Challenges Summit hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering. In October, 3 Scholars traveled to D.C. to attend the 2019 NAE GCSP Annual Meeting at the National Academy of Engineering. The Hart Center offers a Scholars’ retreat and exclusive Scholars’ events throughout the semester. Cassie Hammond is the founder and incoming President of the new Grand Challenge Scholars Club, where Scholars will join together to participate in peer mentoring and personal development activities (plus, free food).

While stuck at home, I’ve had ample opportunities to think about how I can positively impact the world. If you’re looking for an opportunity to do the same, the Grand Challenge Scholars Program may be for you. If you are interested in researching game-changing challenges, look for the Grand Challenge Scholar application in the fall (all majors accepted). Email the Hart Center with any questions.

Stay safe and healthy. Pony Up, Mustangs!