Summer 5Q: Ryan Gott studies touchscreen friction in summer research

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program.  Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world.  By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration.  This summer, we’re sharing first-hand student experiences in a series we call Summer 5Q. 

 

Rising senior Ryan Gott of Bowling Green is spending his summer in WKU Engineering working with Dr. Stacy Wilson and Dr. Chris Byrne on a project sponsored by Esterline-Korry in Seattle.  His project studies friction, evaluating a finger as it is passed along the surface of a touchscreen.  Ryan kindly shared some thoughts on what research and the Gatton Academy experience means to him.

1. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?
This internship is a great way for me to get ahead as an engineering student. Eventually, I’d like to go into aerospace engineering, but there is a lot of crossover between aerospace, mechanical, and electrical. I’m getting real, tangible experience with what I want to do for the rest of my life.

 

2. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?
I’m really looking forward to continuing on my current path at the Academy next year. I’m glad I’ll have a chance to continue laying the groundwork for future research opportunities, making connections with professors, and building relationships with students on campus.

 

3. What is your favorite Gatton Academy memory?
My favorite memory of Gatton showed me why this school is so important. One Saturday night, I decide to walk around the building to see what everyone was doing. Each group of people I saw looked so happy, so alive. They were all with people they loved doing things they loved. The best part for me was, I could have joined any group, and I would have felt perfectly included. The community we’ve built here is absolutely incredible.

 

4. How does the Gatton Academy help Kentucky from your point of view?
The Gatton Academy is an asset to the state of Kentucky. The educational experiences that are available here allow all students to reach their full potential. The limits of a typical high school education have been taken away.

 

 

5. What does research mean to you as a young person interested in STEM?
Being a young person interested in STEM, research provides me with an opportunity to explore my options. I’ve always wanted to be an aerospace engineer, but now I get to see firsthand what engineering is like. I can explore other branches of engineering and see what I like the best. Research is helping me prepare for a better future.