(June 17, 2003) — Nuclear energy, quantum physics, and the practicality of resource energy used in the world today, no, this is not another AP class or summer assignment. This is Drew Atwater’s senior project. Overall topic: nuclear energy, fieldwork research on quantum physics, and the research paper on the practicality of resource energy used in the world today. And yes, you read correctly… quantum physics. Not quite sure what any of this means? Just ask Drew. With aspirations of becoming a nuclear physicist and having been accepted to Reed College in Portland, Oregon, this project served as a “great learning experience and precursor to research papers” to come, he said. Along with the experience came the opportunity for him to get in on the ground floor, as Reed contains it’s own nuclear reactor, open to undergraduates willing to experiment. Not only that, But Reed College requires a continued investigation of a carefully-defined problem (experimental, critical, or creative) chosen from the major field, as part of an overall senior-year program. Sounds familiar? The problem is selected, then developed through the year by the student, with the support of a faculty adviser. At the conclusion of the year, the student submits to community scrutiny, a thesis describing the problem and its attempted resolution. However, as in all projects, the thesis involves substantially more than the writing of a long paper. It requires the development of new knowledge and a wide variety of skills, and permits the student to integrate all aspects of his or her academic experience. Hmm… maybe this senior project will come in handy later on in life. According to Drew, he chose this topic because it was something that you would never experience on a high school campus. “It isn’t something found in AP Physics or AP Chemistry. This is something you have to do outside of school and that’s what I found to be interesting,” he said.
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Drew Atwater focuses on nuclear energy for his senior project
June 4, 2009