Who are you and what activities are you involved in at Rice?

Hello world! My name is Christian Durante and I’m a junior at Brown College studying Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Computer Engineering. I am also pursuing the Engineering Design minor, hence the decision to take this class. Additionally, I have been a design mentor for both ENGI 120 and ENGI 200 for 4 semesters now and am bouncing between research positions in the ELEC and MSNE departments.

What is one thing that you have made that you are proud of?

Something I made at Rice was largely responsible for the shift in my academic path. Coming in as a Materials Science & Nanoengineering (MSNE) major , I had a strong interest in research. Starting at the Ajayan Research Group my first semester, I assisted several graduate students by preparing chemical samples and performing 3D prints of novel materials (gels made of concrete, metals, carbon, etc.). The project I contributed most to involved using 3D printing to create aligned carbon structures (turning graphite into almost-graphene) that were exceptional electrical and thermal conductors. Pictured are prints I personally carried out, functioning as carbon-based wires and stovetops. While I have moved away from the MSNE department and research group, my love for the actual processes behind this project are what inspired both my major change and increased involvement at the OEDK as a Design Mentor.

What is one thing that you want to make (this semester or in the future)?

One (somewhat silly) thing that I’ve always wanted to make is a wooden puzzle box. While likely simpler and less mysterious to make than they are to solve, they’re just one of those things that I’ve always been amazed by whenever I see them. Further the creativity and appeal behind them isn’t really derived from artistry/aesthetics alone so it feels like something with a low skill floor but a high skill ceiling as a maker.

What is one thing that you hope to learn in ENGI 210?

Through ENGI 210, I hope to learn how to make something more substantial. While I have lots of experience with 3D printing and at least some in laser cutting, I feel that the materials involved are limiting, or at least limited. Based on previous posts and the assignment roadmap, the ability to work with metals, casting in a variety of less porous materials, and the relative speed/replicability of casting would allow for more professional pieces and with a broader set of use cases.