Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Rex Crayne
"Hyperloop Bogie"
Joining Hyperloop was one of the best decisions that I made in my undergraduate engineering career. I was able to take what I had learned in my core engineering classes and apply those principles to an interesting, engaging project. Working on a competitive engineering team is also one of the most challenging experiences I have had – there’s late nights, problems without solution, and there’s no answers in the back of the book. But everyone on the team is in the same boat, so you figure it out together. There’s nothing like working hard with a team on a common task to really make you feel a sense of community.
Hailey Farrell
"SB-1249 Animal Testing: Cosmetics"
Scientific advancement needs research. Without research, a scientific finding cannot be any different than a guess or an idea. Therefore, research must be precise, accurate, and repeatable. Many years ago, the norm for cosmetic research included live test subjects to test the effectiveness of lotions, creams, or powders on skin before it hits the shelf. In 1938, the United States Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act was signed into law, requiring some safety substantiation of cosmetic products compelling companies to begin testing their products on animals. In 1944, the draize eye and skin irritancy tests were developed. They were considered for decades to be the gold standard for cosmetic safety assessments. To those who do not know what a draize eye and skin irritancy test is, it was most commonly used on rabbits where chemicals were dripped or spread on the eyes and shaved skin of the animals. This test was used to measure irritation or corrosion caused to the eye or skin, and although it was unreliable and produced highly variable results, its use was widespread. Such tests resulted in immense animal suffering without pain relief. There should be an end to animal testing in the near future just based off the barbarity of the draize test’s use alone.
John Veasey
"Addressing the Looming Water Crisis in California"
California is facing a critical issue plaguing the state every year that affects all people. This issue is how California stores its water and uses it efficiently for farming, commercial uses, and families in the state. Currently the state has a heavy emphasis on funding projects for above ground water projects. Naturally, the state has experienced heavy droughts that have dried vegetation and forests causing more fires and pumping of ground water for the farming industry. As a result, the Central Valley region has seen a decrease of elevation by 28 feet as more demand for food is needed by the nations growing population and the state. These issues pertaining to water storage can be solved with a cheaper way of storing water and more efficiently by using the natural storage areas the state has while also changing policies on how water is stored.