CHEE's Byron Hempel coordinates Solar Oven Throw Down 2024
(From left) First-year students Grace Cornelius, Karam Alshammari, Danniella Martinez and Cameryn Black from Team Animal Crackers use recyclable materials to cook biscuits at the University of Arizona Mall.
Without a cloud in sight, the sun heated the University of Arizona Mall to a high of 94 degrees Fahrenheit. A group of 711 U of A students filled the lawn and took advantage of the beautiful day for a friendly competition to determine who could build the hottest solar oven out of recyclable materials.
At the Solar Oven Throw Down on Oct. 15, first-year students in the Engineering 102 course applied foundational engineering and mathematical principles to amplify the Arizona heat with cardboard and aluminum foil designs.
“There are no more silos of engineers,” said Byron Hempel, CHEE assistant professor of practice and faculty coordinator for the event. “One of the best things that we do in our College of Engineering is make sure everyone can work on a team.”
Hands-on Engineering 102 activities immediately immerse students into the four-year Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program.
SOTD is the first experiential learning activity where students build models and perfect them as a team.