Innovation

Saving the world, a hair tie at a time: Q+A with Sydney Kobak

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 18:50:06 +0000

Saving the world, a hair tie at a time: Q+A with Sydney Kobak Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 12/18/2023 - 11:50

Sydney Kobak, an Integrated Design Engineering graduating senior with a mechanical engineering emphasis and business concentration, has been recognized by the college for her academic engagement. Kobak won fourth place out of 97 teams in the New Venture Challenge for her business pitch for Piña Designs, and has been a dedicated member of the IDE advisory board, helping to craft an alumni panel and give feedback on the program. She is currently studying abroad in Italy.

How does it feel to be recognized?

It feels amazing and so heart warming to receive this award. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to even have been considered while also feeling very proud and happy for myself; it was definitely the cherry on top of an amazing four years.

What is Piña Designs?

Our mission at Piña Designs is to create a lasting positive impact on climate change, one hair tie at a time. At Piña Designs we make biodegradable and sustainable hair ties made from discarded pineapple leaves and natural rubber. We are a female-owned and operated company and we are so excited to launch hopefully sometime in 2024!

What are your views on collaboration?

I think that collaboration is vital to success in all facets. Through my academic experiences at CU Boulder I have learned the most through collaboration and interaction. On top of that, I think that getting a variety of perspectives from different backgrounds and views is what can yield amazing and creative results.

What has been your experience as a part of the BOLD community?

The BOLD community has been such an amazing experience for me personally. I have gotten to meet lots of women in STEM and also got the opportunity my Spring 2023 semester to mentor some amazing freshman STEM women! It has created lots of opportunities for professional development and also gave me a nice sense of community throughout my years at CU Boulder.

Whats important for people to know about your jouney through CU Boulder and IDE?

I think the most important thing for people to know about my personal journey is that among the successes I have had, I have also had plenty of failures and if I could go back in time and change them I wouldn't. For me, the times I fell flat on my face were the ones that shaped me to be the person, student and engineer that I am today and I am grateful for them.

I also think that in general IDE really shaped my academic experience and has made me a better engineer and person. If I could recommend any program at CU Boulder I would highly suggest IDE, it gave me a unique learning experience and a lot of skills that I think differentiated my experience from traditional mechanical engineers.

What are your hopes for the future?

In a general sense, I hope that we continue to see an increase of women in engineering and STEM fields and on a more personal note I hope to see people wearing Pina Design’s in 2025.

If you were to give advice to a younger you, what would you say?

If I could give the younger me some advice I would say to raise my hand more and speak up! Don't be afraid to be loud and it's okay to be incorrect, that's what learning is for.

Sydney Kobak, a graduating senior, has been recognized by the college for her academic engagement, including balancing her classwork with a startup venture and her leadership in the Integrated Design Engineering program.

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Engineering projects expo celebrates collaborative, interdisciplinary design

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 18:59:43 +0000

Engineering projects expo celebrates collaborative, interdisciplinary design Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/09/2022 - 11:59

Grace Wilson

The Integrated Design Engineering program presented their 50th project design expo on Dec. 3. The expo celebrates engineering solutions created by first, second and third-year students across majors.

�鶹��Ժ used a wide variety of skills to make their proposed solutions into a reality. From a vertical hydroponic garden and algae-collecting robot to a mechanical flower that blooms in the dark and a device that thwarts catalytic converter theft, the students created innovative solutions testing the skills they honed during their classes.

Integrated Design Engineering leads the college’s efforts in first-year projects courses and supports multiple classes and a major focusing on collaborative and interdisciplinary problem-solving through a hands-on approach.

Expo participant Stefan Ferla said he appreciated the chance to work on something that could have a meaningful impact.

"This is why we're in engineering, to create real solutions," he said.

Ferla and his group created a prototype for a small vaccine-carrying box to keep them at necessary low temperatures when traveling the last mile to unelectrified areas that require them.

Eighty-two teams and 415 engineering students presented their work to solve complex design problems to real-world challenges. Projects ranged from designs for sustainable solutions and specific products for local community clients to entrepreneurial innovations that contribute to the betterment of society.

The projects were judged multiple times throughout the day. Local industry engineers gave Best in Section awards across 14 categories and visitors were allowed to vote for People’s Choice, an award for community favorite projects.

This year, the People’s Choice Gold award was tied between team Liquid Lightning and The GEEN Team'. Liquid Lightning created a small scale hydroelectric turbine while The GEEN Team built phone-operated LED climbing handles. Team Green Seal with their Polier Alert project won runner up for People’s Choice.

Mindy Zarske, associate director of the Integrated Design Engineering program said, "student teams across different majors are able to showcase their semester projects to judges, peers and the public. The student projects were amazing! It is fun to watch them confidently show off all their hard work to each other.”

The Integrated Design Engineering program presented their 50th project design expo on Dec. 3. The expo celebrates engineering solutions created by first, second and third-year students across majors.

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�鶹��Ժ invent device for delivering COVID-19 vaccines to rural areas

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 18:16:23 +0000

�鶹��Ժ invent device for delivering COVID-19 vaccines to rural areas Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/11/2022 - 12:16

Gary Yu, a mechanical emphasis and business concentration student was the test engineer for the 2021 first-prize New Venture Challenge Portavax, a portable, super cold vaccine transportation unit that can safely hold and transport up to 250 vaccine doses for four days.

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Labs use 3D printers to create face shield parts for health care workers

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Labs use 3D printers to create face shield parts for health care workers Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/01/2020 - 00:00

Rachel Sharpe, Senior with a Mechanical Emphasis and Engineering Management concentration teamed up with the ITLP and other engineers at CU to help create personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis.

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�鶹��Ժ go to the New Venture Challenge Finals!

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 06:00:00 +0000

�鶹��Ժ go to the New Venture Challenge Finals! Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/30/2020 - 00:00

The New Venture challenge had a record number of competitors for their 12th annual entrepreneurial competition. 146 teams started the competition and only 6 teams made it to the finals where they will compete for up to $100,000 in prizes.

Engineering Plus is please to announce that 3 of the 6 final teams have e+ founders! Congratulations Soulutions Tech, Frenz, and EdBoard Technologies!

Jennifer Kracha, Senior in E+ Mechanical/Engineering Management, is the founder of Soulutions Tech - A company developing assistive technology to help people with Parkinson’s Disease get their voice back.
Zayna Pieper, Senior in E+ Mechanical/Engineering Management, is the founder of Frenz - A company who is creating a phone accessory that lets people discreetly test their drinks for date-rape drugs.
Cody Candler, Graduate of E+ Civil Engineering/CU Teach Engineering Physics, is the co-founder of EdBoard Technologies - A company offering circuitry education kits that are fun, accessible, and backed by education research.

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Walk this way: Undergrad team wins $100K for safer senior mobility

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 06:00:00 +0000

Walk this way: Undergrad team wins $100K for safer senior mobility Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/05/2019 - 00:00

Mechanical Emphasis and Engineering Management Concentration student Timothy Visos-Ely, CEO of Stride Tech, and a team of CU undergraduates won the New Venture Challenge at CU and received $100,000 for their startup company focused on safer senior mobility.

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