Science and Technology in the Contemporary World

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Yash Sojitra

My project aims to examine various methods used to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands. This involves researching urban planning practices that contribute to heat islands, current mitigation solutions, and assessing the relationship between cost and effectiveness for each method. By analyzing these factors, I seek to provide insights into which mitigation strategies are most effective and cost-efficient in combating urban heat islands.

Alex Tasic

My project consists of a documentary overlooking the struggle towards tele-robotic surgeries from an operator-to-operation standpoint. Wire transmission over 200 miles and wireless transmission more significant than 50 km are the limits to performing telesurgery due to lag-time problems and effects on coordination. My project will aim to find new ways of overcoming this limitation through interviews with surgeons familiar with the field and independent research. The documentary will be around 15-20 minutes long, featuring at least two surgeon's interviews. Alongside interviews, the documentary will also have visual representations of matters being described and updates to current advancements made during the production of the documentary (ex: Toumai® Completes the World's Longest-Range 5G Tele-Robotic Surgery with a 5000 km surgery). Thanks to recent advancements made by Toumai, in Shanghai China, a new method for long distance tele-robotic surgeries has been proposed and displayed however not repeated at a consistent global scale. In my project, I will try and find a way to find a solution towards making these types of surgeries widely available.

Eason Dong

My research focuses on the regulation and certification of eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) and autonomous air mobility aircraft in the United States. Recent advancements in control systems and electric power technology have led to the development of these innovative air vehicles, capable of vertical take-off and landing with varying levels of automation. eVTOLs hold potential for applications in personal air transport, air taxi services, and delivery services, offering benefits like renewable transportation and the ability to operate in urban centers. However, due to the novel nature of this technology, comprehensive regulations are lacking. My project aims to ensure the safe operation of eVTOLs by analyzing current and proposed regulations, addressing unique risks such as flights over populated areas, battery insufficiency, and the absence of traditional safety features. The goal is to publish guidelines to support the safe and regulated integration of eVTOLs into the aviation landscape.

Haylie Brzozowoski

My plan is to research the intersection of Cognitive Science and AI. I will explore various subtopics within Cognitive Science, such as information processing and brain anatomy, and draw connections to related subtopics in AI. Specifically, I aim to investigate how AI seeks to emulate human cognitive functions through the development of artificial neural networks.

Alexander Ananian

My paper aims to establish a framework for Ground Effect Vehicles (GEVs), exploring optimal configurations for applications such as cargo transport, commercial use, military/defense, offshore logistics, and search and rescue. I will be testing various GEV designs using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and potentially wind tunnel experiments. Additionally, my paper will analyze the economic efficiencies of these designs and propose strategies for integrating them into current infrastructure. It will also delve into current and future policies and regulations by ICAO and IMO concerning the regulation of GEVs.

Tyler Rose

AffinityLM is a bioinformatics project that revolutionizes drug discovery by predicting drug-target interactions with unparalleled accuracy. Capable of scoring over 50 million molecules daily on consumer-grade hardware, AffinityLM aims to reduce drug development costs and increase access to life-saving medicines by accelerating therapeutic candidate identification.

Ishika Modi

My research project focuses on modern privacy rights, specifically examining legal protections for individuals' cell phone information. As technology evolves, so do our laws, and I aim to analyze how current legislation addresses the challenges of data collection, surveillance, and data breaches. By evaluating the effectiveness of regulations such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation and California's Consumer Privacy Act, I will explore the ethical implications of data privacy and the ongoing tension between security and privacy.

Sumedh Kothari

My project is a 30-page critical review focusing on the removal methods of short-chain PFAS from water. It will explore what PFAS are and their significant risks to health and the environment. I'll delve into the chemistry of various removal techniques and assess their effectiveness. Additionally, I aim to analyze how external factors influence PFAS removal, providing insights into why certain methods may offer superior results under specific conditions.

Venkat Ramisetty

My project focuses on addressing inequalities in cancer screening. I aim to delve into the specific causes behind these disparities by conducting an extensive review of current scientific literature. Additionally, I plan to collaborate with healthcare centers to gather firsthand insights into the challenges faced. Working closely with healthcare officials and researchers, my goal is to develop actionable solutions that can effectively reduce these inequalities and improve access to timely and equitable cancer screening for all populations.

Gabriel Kirkwood

My project focuses on addressing the critical issue of space debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). I am advocating for Active Debris Remediation (ADR) as the most sustainable solution to this pressing problem. ADR involves capturing and removing small pieces of space debris to mitigate risks to satellite assets and improve orbital safety. My research will delve into various ADR methods, assessing their technological feasibility, economic viability, and international political implications. By comparing and analyzing these solutions, I aim to propose comprehensive political strategies that can effectively manage and regulate space debris remediation efforts on a global scale.

Christopher Whitfeld

My project focuses on using physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) to model the inverse problem of fluid dynamics, specifically in detecting chemical leaks in rivers and civilian infrastructure. Unlike traditional methods, PINNs leverage physical differential equations to minimize their loss function, offering a robust approach where solutions may not be uniquely defined by conventional systems like Navier-Stokes equations. By simulating the injection of distinct fluids into a uniform flow, I aim to generate data to train PINNs in finding inverse solutions for detecting contamination. This approach holds promise for enhancing contamination detection in commercial settings and mitigating the detrimental health impacts on communities.

Yash Panwar

My project involves exploring the progression of machine learning methods, focusing on preprocessing, in-processing, and post-processing techniques. I aim to analyze how altering these processes impacts bias in life and language models. I will develop a standardized metric for measuring bias, using a dataset focused on immigration to examine the effects of purposeful bias on model outputs. Additionally, I plan to investigate the influence of alterations to the loss function during in-processing, although I recognize potential limitations due to the complexity of existing models. Ethical considerations regarding biased datasets and models, along with policy implications, will be integral parts of my research discussions.