Five Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics undergraduate students recently completed a one-week summer program through the International Collegiate Design & Innovation Competition where they gained hands-on design experience completing team projects.

Purdue students Mike Abram, Nathan Wilkins, Roshni Kasturi, Casey Haney, and Saphal Adhikari were five of only 80 students selected from the worldwide competition to attend the July 2014 Beihang University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA) Undergraduate Summer School.

During this one-week program, the teams of undergraduate students were divided into the two categories of aeronautics and astronautics, and were assigned with creating and presenting an innovative solution to a problem. “The problem that was given to us for aviation was to propose preventative countermeasures to improve the overall safety of aviation,” relates Mike Abram. “We were given three days to do as much research as we could, and to write up a formal report and presentation which would be given to a panel of four judges on the last day of the competition.”

The Purdue AAE team was entirely self-supporting, securing necessary funding through donations from family, friends and local industries. Some of the costs for attending the Undergraduate Summer School 2014 were then reimbursed by BUAA, leaving Mike with excess funds which will be the foundation to create the International Collegiate Design & Innovation Competition (ICDIC) Summer Program student assistance fund.

Abram plans that this fund will allow future AAE undergraduates to attend the BUAA with financial support. “Some students might not know about the ICDIC or summer school program at BUAA,” explained Mike. “Having this financial assistance in place will allow undergrads to consider attending, knowing they have funding to support their endeavors.”

Mike (pictured at right on the Great Wall, back row middle) and his teammates found their experience in the International Collegiate Design & Innovation Competition and BUAA Summer School program to be extremely beneficial in enhancing their coursework in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. “Working in teams with other students from around the world was very valuable. It’s exciting to think how this experience, combined with our education in AAE, will prepare us to work in industry after graduation.”