Abstract
Engineering solutions are often judged by what they improve, but just as important is what they
reveal. My capstone project is precision thermal metrology focused on improving the accuracy of
thermal conductivity measurements at cryogenic temperatures through a redesign of a cryogenic
pump into a functioning cryostat for the 3ω experiment. This research was undertaken to create a
cost effective system capable of reaching extremely low temperatures, near 10k while improving
precision in material testing. My STS research paper examines the fitness supplement and GLP-1
weight loss market. Specifically how these products gain public outcomes. I pursued this topic to
better understand how health technologies and products are socially constructed as trustworthy
and necessary through marketing and public perception. Both projects are very unique in their
own regard, but both projects are connected through the pursuit of legitimacy. My capstone
seeks reliable scientific measurement through engineering precision, while my STS paper
critiques how legitimacy is often granted to products without equivalent scientific verification.
Together, they show how engineering and society must both evaluate what is considered
effective, safe, and trustworthy.
My capstone project focuses on repurposing a cryogenic vacuum pump into a working cryostat
capable of supporting the 3ω method, an experimental technique used to measure thermal
conductivity across a wide temperature range. The primary goal is to achieve temperatures near
10k while maintaining ultra-high vacuum conditions near 10⁻⁸ Torr to ensure accurate thermal
measurements. This work addresses the challenge of creating a lower-cost while preserving
precision and repeatability. Our team divided responsibilities across structures, electrical
systems, and vacuum operations, including repairing the compressor, converting the cold head
into the cryostat chamber, and designing a stable vertical support structure using 80/20 framing
mounted to an optical table.
A major contribution of the project is improving accessibility to precision thermal metrology by
reducing dependence on expensive cryogenic resources. By enabling reliable testing at extremely
low temperatures without helium, the system supports broader research applications in
electronics, advanced manufacturing, and thermal material analysis. My work involved structural
integration, vacuum troubleshooting, and understanding rough pumping procedures necessary to
to safely reach operational pressure before compressor activation. This required solving practical
engineering challenges such as stripped bolts, mounting limitations, and seal reliability while
maintaining scientific accuracy. The overall conclusion is that successful engineering design
depends not only on technical performance, but also on reliability, maintainability, and cost
efficiency within the larger system.
My STS research paper investigates how dietary supplements and GLP-1 weight loss drugs gain
legitimacy in the fitness and wellness industry despite scientific limitations and potential health
risks. Using the Actor-Network Theory (ANT), I analyze how both human and non human actors
work together to construct these products as symbols of health and success. Human actors
include consumers, influencers, pharmaceutical companies, and supplement brands, while
non-human actors include the products themselves, social media platforms, before-and-after
images, fitness culture, and marketing algorithms. My research question asks how these
interconnected actors create trust and normalize dependency on products that may not provide
sustainable long-term benefits. This issue is significant because these markets continue to expand
while often prioritizing appearance and profit over genuine health outcomes.
My findings show that legitimacy is created through powerful networks rather can scientific
legitimacy alone. Supplements are often marketed with promises of optimization and
performance enhancement. Similarly, GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide show strong
short-term weight loss results, but many users regain significant weight after stopping treatment,
revealing that the treatment often manages symptoms rather than changing long term behavior.
Through ANT, I argue that these products succeed because networks of marketing, medical
authority, consumer desire, and social validation reinforce their credibility. The products
themselves become actors within the network. My conclusion is that society often mistakes
visibility and popularity for scientific legitimacy, and understanding these networks is necessary
to critically evaluate what we define as health, progress, and success.
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Technical Advisor: Ethan Scott
STS Advisor: Pedro A. P. Francisco
Technical Team Members: Mia Petersen, Mary Cotter, Mohammad Ahmadzai, Andrea Rojas Ramirez, Matthew Alexander Orellana-Aquino, Raymond Ni, Philip Li, Jimmy Chen, Jonathan Martinez, Tristan Huynh, Jimmy Bastos Infantas, Hannah Heafner
