Abstract
This Undergraduate Thesis Portfolio consists of both a technical capstone project and an STS research paper, with the technical capstone project investigating precision thermal metrology and the STS research paper investigating cybersecurity disclosure laws in the United States. Together, these two research projects provide an exploration into both design of technologies and societal applications of technologies through research into designing a thermal conductivity measurement device and research into the societal application and implications of cybersecurity practices. While the two projects differ in scope, both address how systems, whether experimental or regulatory, can be designed to improve reliability and trust in how systems function and report information. These projects demonstrate how engineering and policy analysis each contribute to building trust in technological systems through precision and transparency.
My technical research investigates precision thermal metrology. The technical project was developed by a group of thirteen individuals who were advised by Professor Ethan A. Scott, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The goal of the project was to design an experimental tool that will hold a material sample and accurately measure the sample’s thermal conductivity at low temperatures using the 3ω technique. The device was created through the refurbishment of an existing cryopump, with the goal of reaching and maintaining a temperature of 10 Kelvin, which is equivalent to -441.7 °F. The cryostat was used as a cryogenic thermal conductivity measurement device and utilizes the 3ω technique. This project was carried out through the combined efforts of four subteams: the structures team, the vacuum team, the experimental team, and the electrical team.
The STS research paper explores the relationship between companies and consumers regarding cybersecurity disclosure laws in the United States. Businesses are increasingly facing large-scale cybersecurity attacks daily, putting users’ personal data, privacy, and finances at risk. While companies are investing heavily in their cybersecurity infrastructure, there is a large gap in corporate interests towards cybersecurity and the interests of the users, with many users being impacted. With this disparity in mind, I researched the following: How do cybersecurity disclosure laws in the United States succeed or fail in balancing the protection of companies’ reputations with consumer privacy? This research revealed that the national cybersecurity laws and patchwork of state laws lack sufficient protection with few requirements for notifications of breach disclosure on the front end when creating an account and handing over sensitive data, along with insufficient laws to bring compensation on the back end for those impacted by a data breach.
By working on the technical capstone and the STS research paper simultaneously, I was able to realize the importance of reliability in engineering, not only as a technical goal, but also as a social expectation, which would not have been realized had these projects been developed in isolation of one another. The technical capstone emphasized precision and reliability within a physical system, since designing a device capable of reaching 10 Kelvin and measuring the sample’s conductivity required careful attention to calibration and tolerancing. My STS research similarly highlighted reliability from a societal perspective, demonstrating that cybersecurity systems may fail users if they do not provide transparency and accountability. Additionally, this experience strengthened my ability to switch between different modes of thinking. The technical capstone required mechanical and electrical principles, while the STS research paper required policy analysis and regulatory frameworks. Engaging in both projects improved my ability to connect technical design decisions with their broader societal implications. These projects highlighted how engineering systems should not be designed in isolation, but rather with careful consideration of the societal impact on users.
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Technical Advisor: Ethan Scott
STS Advisor: Bryn Seabrook
Technical Team Members: Mary Cotter, Mohammad Ahmadzai, Andrea Rojas Ramirez, Brandon Flores Castaneda, Matthew Alexander Orellana-Aquino, Raymond Ni, Philip Li, Jimmy Chen, Jonathan Martinez, Tristan Huynh, Jimmy Bastos Infantas, Hannah Heafner
