NORTH EAST, MD — Steven Carlson, an Engineering Science major at Cecil College, recently presented his innovative project at the 10th Annual Maryland Collegiate STEM Conference. Held at Baltimore City Community College, the event brought together students from across Maryland to share their work and engage with professionals in the STEM field. Carlson’s project, developed alongside Associate Professor John Murphy, focuses on using Linux and scientific modeling to enhance the learning experience for first-year engineering students.
The project is part of a hands-on laboratory series for Cecil College’s Introduction to Engineering course. It includes four one-hour labs designed to teach students key skills such as navigating the Linux operating system, using terminal commands, and basic programming. “It’s nice that students get a little bit of real-world application because I think nuclear stuff tends to sound far away or not relevant,” explained Professor Murphy.
Using CERN-developed Geant4 software, students simulate radiation interactions, starting with basic concepts like gamma rays interacting with tissue and progressing to sophisticated tasks, including modeling a PET scanner. These exercises not only highlight the role of radiation modeling in medical diagnostics but also help students apply theoretical knowledge to practical challenges in fields like cancer research.
A graduate of Avon Grove High School, Carlson dedicated much of the semester mastering these advanced tools. His ability to explain the underlying processes captured the attention of conference attendees, with particular interest in his integration of Linux, an increasingly valuable skill in technology and engineering.
Professor Murphy expressed hopes for the project’s future, including plans to expand the work into a scholarly paper and publish the lab series. “He’s getting to the point where we can do some beta voltaic modeling and see if we can write a paper,” Murphy remarked, noting the technical sophistication of the project. Further, a GitHub repository is being proposed to host instructional materials and showcase Carlson’s contributions, giving him valuable exposure in the job market.
Steven’s participation in the conference highlights both his dedication and the broader impact of innovative approaches in STEM education. By combining open-source tools with practical applications, this project sets the stage for future advancements in engineering pedagogy. With plans for continued development and potential publications, the work promises to benefit both current students and the wider scientific community.
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