Personal Reflections

 Abby Abby Sterle

At the beginning of the semester, I was slightly hesitant to dive into a project about which I had basically no prior background knowledge.   However, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to explore an entirely new topic and further my research and team building skills through Engineers for a Sustainable World.   The Solar Oven project was unlike any project I have ever worked on at Cornell in that the research we were completely was going to have an influence on the health and well-being of several Nicaraguan communities. I have never been apart of a global project like such. This experience truly opened my eyes to the need for more collaboration between communities of the Global South and inspired students and graduates like ourselves who have been blessed with an education that has provided us with the tools to make a difference.  
As a team, I was incredibly pleased with the dynamic of our project team.  I enjoyed have the opportunity to work with engineering students of different disciplines and found that each team member added something unique to the group.  In my "Personal Goals" statement from the beginning of the semester, I wrote that I was interested in broadening my understanding of environmental and sustainable engineering research and career possibilities.  The Engineers for a Sustainable World class discussions, conversations with team members, and the Solar Oven project itself have heightened my understanding of the importance and feasibility of providing sustainable solutions to all people of the world.

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