At
the edge of human knowledge, where the work of previous scholars
offers little help, science and engineering pioneers must take a leap into
the unknown. Innovators are a wide range of individuals with
diverse backgrounds: from the physicist who makes a discovery that
expands our understanding of the universe to the everyday engineer who finds an
elegant solution to an immensely difficult problem. One thing these
forerunners have in common: almost all cite the critical importance of
creativity in the discovery process.
A team
of Mines students including, Alexandra Kliche (IE 20), Alex Kringen
(IE 20), Kate Knott (IE 20), and Hans Leonhardt
(IE 20) are exploring the boundaries of engineering, art, and
music. Their senior design project, called “Gateway,” is an interactive
engineered art project planned for installation on the ceiling near
the front door of the university Music Center (Old Gym). The project
includes aspects of mechanical and
electrical engineering. Its designed to sense the location of an
individual below it and play various notes based on the person’s
movement. Black Hills Energy saw promise in the team’s
design and offered a $4500 grant for its installation.
“I
see engineering as part of art,” says Kliche, who
is the visionary for the collaborative project. “The same
creative process is required in engineering, art and music. All
these pursuits are about b...