Author Archives: slin1923

Mousetrap Vehicle is, without question, my favorite Science Olympiad engineering event. The event has endless room for creativity and is the most open-ended of the Science Olympiad engineering events. As well, it does not require the hours upon hours of boring and repetitive work that building a wooden structure requires. Perfecting my vehicle became myContinueContinue reading “Mousetrap Vehicle”

Towers (or any of the Science Olympiad structure events), has a simple premise. The goal is to build a weight-bearing structure that meets minimum width/height dimensions that has the highest structural efficiency. This efficiency is defined as the mass held (g) / mass of the structure (g). As a simple example, if a tower holdsContinueContinue reading “Towers”

Chess and Go run in my family.  As a product of western society, I grew up playing Chess. However, my dad, who grew up on mainland China, is a lifelong Go player.  We are different in similar ways.  Each of us knows the basic rules of the other game, though we are by no meansContinueContinue reading “Chess vs Go”

Helicopters was an event which I only dabbled in during my years as a Science Olympiad competitor. Due to my responsibilities in other events, our competition designs were always constructed by one of my teammates. However, I did build my fair share of Helicopters on my own just for kicks. This particular design is, inContinueContinue reading “Chinook Helicopters”

Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory Wooooooo!  That was Professor Rao’s way of waking up the entire class for the 8 AM Zoom lecture.  Coincidentally it would also be the one word I use to describe my experience taking this class.  Oh my was this class a delight to take.  The main reason why was becauseContinueContinue reading “CS 70”

Introduction to Economics I apologize in advance for the negative feelings I have about this course.  This course was nothing special.  Do not get me wrong, the course was decently well taught given how much it needed to cover in such a short time as well as the circumstances of remote learning.  There simply wasContinueContinue reading “Econ 1”

Probability and Mathematical Statistics for Data Science Question: which of my following of my intended degrees do you think statistics is a requirement for?  Mechanical Engineering major, Business major, or EECS minor?  If you guessed one of my STEM degrees, you are incorrect despite your sound logic.  Statistics is a math class >> math isContinueContinue reading “Stat 88”

Introduction to Manufacturing and Tolerancing   I think it only natural for people to wonder how some of the equipment they use on the day to day is made.  To prove my point, so many people ask that there is even a whole TV series on the Science Channel dedicated to it.  Well, E27 isContinueContinue reading “E27”

Solid Mechanics If you are anything like me (or frankly any typical American child), chances are you’ve spent a fair share of time playing with Legos and Tinkertoys.  In my case, I probably have enough hours of experience with K’nex to merit a mention on my resume.  Regardless, these harmless children’s toys help foster aContinueContinue reading “ME C85”

Data Structures and Algorithms You know that one class every semester that’s just a breeze?  That one class you expect not to have to put too much work into, and reality plays out the same way?  Guess what, 61B is NOT that class.  61B is that class I expected to be 50% of my academicContinueContinue reading “CS 61B”