STEM with Science and Technical Writing is a class taught by Dr. Crowthers and is divided into two sections: STEM I and STEM II. STEM I includes one major independent research project, and can be of an area of science of your choosing. The first half of the year involves researching, improving presentation skills, and working on our project in preparation of December Fair and February Fair, where we get to present our preliminary data and completed project, respectively.
I chose an engineering independent research project for STEM I, and I am designing a wearable assistive device that will be able to counteract the wobbling present in cats with cerebellar hypoplasia. Cerebellar hypoplasia is a neurological condition that can lead to wobbly movement, lack of balance, and poor coordination due to an underdeveloped cerebellum. This is not painful to the cat, but can cause frustration as they cannot eat, drink, or walk properly without stumbling or falling. I chose this topic for my independent research project because I work at a cat-only animal shelter that has cats with cerebellar hypoplasia in their care, and I wanted to find a way to help them!
The image above is my Quad Chart, assigned by Dr. Crowthers, which gives an overview of my project. It includes preliminary data, research, and more insight into the specifics of my project.
Hover and click the image to view the PDF to get a closer look!