Cluster 1 - Computers in Everyday Life
* This cluster is First Choice only.
Instructors:
Curt Schurgers, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD
Leo Porter, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, UCSD
Prerequisite:
Algebra II or Integrated Math II (The focus of this cluster is students with little or no prior programming experience)
Description:These days computers are everywhere, from our coffee makers and thermostats to our cell phones and televisions. They make our cars safer and more efficient; they perform advanced image processing in intelligent devices; they are the engines behind creating our movies, television shows, and our video games; and they fuel the Internet of Things. This course will focus on the basics of computing and coding, making it accessible to students who have no prior programming experience. It provides an introduction to computation through lectures, guest speakers, and projects. It starts by teaching the fundamentals of programming where students use a puzzle-like programming language called AppInventor to create mobile phone applications. Students then learn one of the most commonly used programming languages in the world, Python, and use it to perform image manipulation (e.g., image blurring, green screen substitution) and later to author video games. The complexity of the projects grows each week and culminates in a substantial final project where students form small teams and create a project of their choosing.
Cluster 2 - Engineering Design and Control of Kinetic Sculptures
Instructors:
Raymond De Callafon, Professor, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, UCSD
Huihui Qi, Associate Professor, Structural Engineering Department, UCSD
Prerequisite:
Algebra I and 8th-grade general science or equivalent
Recommended:
Algebra II or Integrated Math II, Trigonometry, Physics
Description:
Mechanical Engineering and Computer Control are brought together in many modern products that have moving parts, ranging from heavy automobiles to light-weight drones and robotic vacuum cleaners. In this cluster, students will analyze, design and build Kinetic (Moving) Sculptures operated under Automatic Control to get a comprehensive introduction to mixed disciplines in the field of engineering. Students design and analyse a pendulum clock during the first week to become familiar with Inventor, AutoCAD, running 2D dynamic simulations, and (remote) manufacturing capabilities of a LASERcamm and a 3D printer. In the following weeks, Mechanical Engineering methods will be used to analyse, design and build three dimensional kinetic sculptures where marbles move along ramps, bounce on trampolines and drop in baskets. The sculptures are augmented with sensors, motors and computer control to emphasize the mix of engineering skills needed to design a reliable and automatically controlled kinetic sculpture. The students attending this cluster will walk away with valuable engineering experiences that include the use of modern micro-processor controller to measure and analyze timing and mechanical behavior of their design and integrating engineering design and control principles throughout the curriculum of this cluster. Moreover, student will be able to (remotely) use the state of the art facilities at the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) department that include the MAE Design Studio, LASERcamm and 3D Printers for rapid prototyping along with advanced computer laboratories for creating computer drawings, running dynamic simulations and programming a microcontroller. Examples of prior year projects can be seen here.
Cluster 3 - Climate Change
Instructors:
Robert Pomeroy, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD
Marijana Vukovic, Staff Research Associate, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD
George C. Anderson, Staff Research Associate, Scripps Institute of Oceanography
Description:
Climate Change is one of the most important and controversial issues facing our world. This cluster will break Climate Change into four parts. The first section will focus on the science of Green House Gases, GHGs, and their impact on the atmospheric energy balance. In the next section we will introduce the current research conducted at UC San Diego examining the role of aerosols on the energy balance and climate. These aerosols are influenced by the biology in the ocean and are subsequent chemical transformation in gas phase reactions which serve as the third section. The cluster will explore how global industrial human activity has impacted health, food security, and land utilization. We will also review how we might mitigate climate change through reduced utilization, alternate energy sources, carbon abatement and geoengineering.
Sample projects for this cluster include:
GHG Climate change simulations
The Direct and Indirect effect of atmospheric aerosols
The other carbon Problem: Ocean Acidification
Atmospheric VOCs and Secondary Organic Aerosols
Bending the Curve: How do we reach carbon neutrality?
Nuclear Energy and the Lithium Fluoride Thorium Reactor
Replacing Petroleum: Biofuels and Bioplastics
Cluster 4 - Structural Engineering: Building Better
Instructors:
Lelli Van Den Einde, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Structural Engineering, UCSD
Jacqui Le, Project Engineer, KPFF San Diego
Prerequisite:
Two years of Algebra or Integrated Math I & II (with Trigonometry component)
Description:
In Cluster 4, we like to build AND break things. We build small scale models of all types of structures (bridges, buildings, foundations, soils, underground pipes, aerospace structures, wind turbines, automobiles, human body, etc.) to see how we as engineers can put together different components to build strong structural systems. Every crack and every snap is exciting! We want to understand how and why it failed, discuss what it means, and consider different methods of improving the design to build it better! To further the understanding of building materials, the effects of natural forces such earthquakes, blasts and wind, and project planning and building, we will also do a number of hands-on laboratories. No matter what the structure is, we want to learn to build it better. We will introduce you to structural engineering and immerse you in the design and problem solving process. By the end of this cluster, students will be able to:
Describe the structural engineering major at UC San Diego and explain the role of a structural engineer.Design, build and test a structural component or system, analyze its performance, and evaluate and recommend a possible redesign from initial failures. Interpret structural engineering (SE) concepts such as mechanics and materials, and apply them to the structural design of a component or system. Demonstrate proficiency in the soft skills such as oral and written communication, teamwork, and engineering ethics required to succeed in a multidisciplinary engineering field. See last year's Cluster 4 video.
Cluster 5 - Photonics: Light-based Technologies in Everyday Life
Instructors:
Charles Tu, Distinguished Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD
Saharnaz Baghdadchi, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD
Prerequisite:
1 year of Physics preferred
Description:
We seldom realize how much our everyday life uses photonics, or light-based technologies, such as in cell phone display, traffic light, DVD player, solar cells, microscopes, endoscopes, optical fiber transmission, etc. The progress of photonics is rapid, similar to Moore’s Law for electronics. One recent aspect of this progress is the integration of photonics with electronics to produce high-speed Silicon photonics integrated circuits. Other advances in photonics includes the integration of artificial intelligence with computational optics and the development of optically assisted diagnostics or therapeutic medical devices. While the economic driver for the 20th century was electronics, the economic driver for the 21st century is photonics.
In this Cluster, we shall study the generation, manipulation, transmission, detection, and applications of light. Students will first conduct experiments with LED, laser, prism, lens, and spectrometers to study wave properties of light, such as polarization, diffraction, and interference, and also particle properties of light, such as photoelectric effect/solar cell. They will then work on “workshop” projects, including plastic lens, solar cells, etc. Afterward, they will work on final projects of their choice as a team, and present the results to the Cluster and their families before the virtual closing ceremony.
Cluster 6 - Biodiesel from Renewable Sources **Not offered this year due to COVID-19
Instructors:
Robert S. Pomeroy, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD
Dr. Joe Watson, Former Vice Chancellor, UCSD
Prerequisite:
Introductory high school chemistry – Basic knowledge of ionic and covalent bonding, electronegativity and intermolecular forces of attraction.
Description:
This course will introduce students to renewable biofuels. This is a laboratory intensive experience where the students will extract and purify oil (lipids) from biomass, convert the oil into Fatty Acid Methyl Esters, FAMEs, also known as biodiesel, wash and purify the biodiesel, and then analyze the quality of the finished product. They will use advanced instrumentation such as FTIR, GCMS, Chromatography, and Bomb Calorimetry to determine the quality of their fuel.
Sustainable energy engages scientists, entrepreneurs and consumers searching for a renewable form of energy that will also not place the Earth's ecosystem at greater risk. Biofuels can be generated from biomass. This biomass can range from terrestrial, agricultural, forestry and municipal wastes, energy crops like soybeans, rapeseed, switchgrass and algae. Biodiesel has gained attention in recent years as a renewable fuel source due to its reduced greenhouse gas and particulate emissions, and it can be produced within 10 states in the US. For projects students will create higher value materials from plant lipids to produce renewable and sustainable bioplastics which economically serve as a bridge to large scale biofuels production.
Cluster 7 - Synthetic Biology
* This cluster is First Choice only.
Instructors:
Mauricio de Oliveira, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, UCSD
Carlos Vera, Lecturer, Department of Bioengineering, UCSD
Prerequisite:
One year of high school biology.
Description:
Synthetic biology is an emerging engineering field that aims to produce novel organisms in scalable and reliable ways to do something useful for humankind. For example, treat diseases, sense toxic compounds, produce new fuels or valuable materials.
After thousands of years of genetic manipulation by selective breeding, genetic engineering has finally developed techniques to read and modify the genetic code. Synthetic biology enriches genetic engineering by applying the basic engineering principles (design, build, test) to modular systems built from simple Lego-like standardized biological parts obtained from an open source catalog.
Taking advantage of the increased capabilities to "write" and "read" genetic code, it is now possible to assemble large DNA sequences in a minimal amount of time. These coding sequences can be incorporated into plasmid vectors and introduced into the cells to reprogram the DNA original instructions. This new genetic code will produce new proteins that may modify the structure and/or function of the cell. In that sense, synthetic biology develops software that builds its own hardware!
One of the newest techniques of synthetic biology, CRISPR-Cas9, is revolutionizing biomedical sciences by allowing the editing of genetic information in living complex organisms. This revolution has created myriad ethical dilemmas that will also be analyzed in the course.
In this course we will introduce the basic concepts and techniques of synthetic biology, apply engineering principles to design, build and test modified organisms, and develop mathematical models that quantitatively describe their behavior. The students will learn basic recombinant engineering techniques to clone specific DNA sequences in plasmid vectors, how to transform E.coli bacteria and S. cerevisiae yeast with plasmid vectors to produce fluorescent and bioluminescent proteins, purify recombinant proteins, produce proteins in cell-free systems, test a basic CRISPR-Cas9 system, and predict the behavior of modified organisms using predictive mathematical models.
In this online version of cluster 7, students will be provided with electronic components to model biological circuits and will learn how to simulate basic genetic circuits from the molecular to the cell level. Students will work in small teams with an instructor to work on their circuits and to develop their own programming code to perform simulations. No prior programming experience is required. Many of the wet lab techniques learned will be demonstrated by our instructors remotely from a laboratory and will provide opportunities for the students to interact live with the experiments so that the results can be used to test the students’ models. The course ends with students developing their own projects using their newly learned engineering skills.
Cluster 8 - Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
* This cluster is First Choice only.
Instructors:
Robert Sah, Professor, Department of Bioengineering & Orthopedic Surgery, UCSD
Roberto Gaetani, Research Scientist, Department of Bioengineering, UCSD
Prerequisite:Students must have completed Algebra II or Integrated Math II and one year of high school biology (Honors/AP Bio preferred if available)
Description:
Tissue Engineering (TE) and Regenerative Medicine (RM) both seek to harness the power of biology and chemistry with the precision of engineering to restore, maintain, or improve tissue functions. TE seeks to do so through the application of engineering and life sciences to develop biological substitutes, whereas RM targets therapies to induce regeneration of cells, tissues, and organs. TE-RM are exciting and interdisciplinary fields involving engineers, biologists, chemists, material scientists, and doctors. TE-RM are increasingly providing alternative treatments for medical conditions where traditional treatments such as drugs, medical devices, or transplants face limitations. TE-RM products are rapidly evolving from culture-expanded cells to repair damaged knees and engineered skin to treat wounds and burns, to potent molecules and materials to induce regeneration, laboratory tissue for drug screening, cells to reconstitute damaged tissue, modified cells to combat cancer, and pre-formed replacement tissue.
Cluster 8 activities involve hands-on laboratories, using a loaner kit tailored for the home environment due to COVID-19, and introduced by lectures and discussions. During the first two weeks, students will be introduced to the foundations of TE-RM, using modern tools and techniques. During the last two weeks, after brainstorming about important questions and possible research approaches, students will undertake a guided research project in teams; student research teams will explore novel scientific hypotheses, design and conduct experiments, analyze results, and create and deliver presentations in paper, oral, and poster formats. At the conclusion of the cluster, students will be empowered with the basic techniques of TE-RM, and appreciate the opportunities and challenges for using TE-RM to improve human health.
Cluster 9 - Music and Technology
Instructors:
Mauricio de Oliveira, Adjunct Associate Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, UCSD
Shlomo Dubnov, Professor, Computer Music, UCSD
Prerequisite:
Basic computer programming experience recommended, but not required.
Description:
You do not have to be a musician to have fun and learn how science and engineering can be used to transform sounds and to perform and even compose music. With Cluster 9 you will learn about sound, music and technology as we explore the many ways in which technology is used to synthesize and analyze sounds and create music. Please keep in mind that Cluster 9 is first and foremost a science camp, not a music camp. As in any other COSMOS cluster, our primary goal is to have you explore and learn about science, engineering and technology. But unlike any other COSMOS cluster, you will do it while learning about sound and music.
In Cluster 9 you will learn the basic physical principles that are used to make musical instruments, how they affect the perception of sound and what makes music beautiful. You will build simple electronic circuits that can transform audio signals, such as amplifiers, filters and effect generators and will learn how to program computers to analyze, modify, create music and even improvise using artificial intelligence. You will be provided with a basic electronic lab toolkit, including circuit components, a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, and a keyboard.
During the program students team up in small groups to develop a technical and/or creative project to be presented at the end of the program.
Cluster 10 - Robot Inventors
* This cluster is First Choice only.
Instructors:
Curt Schurgers, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD
Nick Gravish, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, UCSD
Prerequisite:
Algebra II or Integrated Math II
Programming experience is expected
Description:TARS, R2D2, WALL-E, .... these robots have captured all of our imaginations, but reality isn't really that far off. Researchers around the world have made humanoid robots to study how children learn, created robotic animals to carry supplies in war zones, and built highly advanced surgical robots that act like snakes. Robotics is a highly diverse field, bringing together skills of mechanical design, electronics, artificial intelligence, programming, mechatronics, and even social sciences. This cluster will introduce the students to this exciting field and will focus on teaching students how to conceptualize, design, and create a custom robot. They will learn about the mechanical design principles (CAD, basic prototyping), the sensors through which robots interact with the world, and the programming that gives them their autonomy. It is required that students have a basic background in programming (any language, such as Java, C, Python, C++, JavaScript, etc ...). The emphasis for this cluster is towards students with no prior exposure to robotics. The cluster consists of lectures from the cluster faculty and guest speakers, a set of hands-on projects, all leading to a final design challenge using hardware and software.
Cluster 11 - Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles
Instructors:Jack Silberman Ph.D., Lecturer Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD
Alex Phan, Postdoc, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Lecturer, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD
Prerequisite:
Open to students finishing their sophomore or junior year prior to the summer, with preference given to juniors. Desirable skills (nice to have but not required): robotics, basic computer programming experience (Python and/or C/C++), hands-on engineering class, and/or physics. Most importantly, “don’t be afraid of showing that you don’t know something”, being willing to learn and not being afraid of making mistakes is key. Please mention these skills and your attitude on learning in your application.
Description:
In this Cluster we incorporate engineering theory and good practice in the development of scale autonomous cars that must perform on a realistic robotics simulator then replicated at the student’s home with her or his own scale autonomous car using GPU Accelerate Artificial Intelligence models running at the robot.
The Cluster consists of lectures and incrementally more challenging projects: install and testing of a robotics simulator, computer vision development tools and libraries, an artificial neural network framework to enable deep learning, training an artificial intelligence model at UC San Diego’s Supercomputer Center, and building and testing the scale autonomous car.
Here are a few links that will give students an idea of what to expect from this exciting new Cluster!
News Article: Undergraduate Engineers Get Hands-On Experience with Autonomous Vehicles
Video: Students Get Hands-on Experience with Autonomous Vehicles
Video: Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles
* These clusters are First Choice only.