My name is John Nickels. I am a Sophomore at Brown College at time of publication, and am studying Computer Science. I participate in the Rice Symphonic Band and am engaged with the OEDK.

A recent Creation that I am proud of is my ENGI 120/200 project, a Hot Air Balloon exhibit for the Children’s Museum of Houston. To my knowledge, it is currently on display in the museum. I focused primarily on the electronics and circuitry of the project, which I controlled using an Arduino microcontroller.

One thing I want to make is a puzzle box, with small, hidden locking mechanisms. I think this will be an incredibly challenging project, both in design and manufacturing, but will be a very satisfying result.

One thing I hope to learn is how to better design models for 3D printing and to become much more familiar with printing in general. I’ve made some amateur forays, but I want to become adept and effective with this medium, especially as its applications continue to grow.