During an icebreaker Monday morning in Geology 436, students clustered in groups of twos, then fours, then eights and were forced to find traits in common.
“We all play video games.”
“We like 21 Pilots.”
As the groups grew larger and larger, one student was tasked with remembering classmates’ names each round.
“Do you have everyone’s name?” professor Katie Siek said to one student after a few rounds of peers sounding off.
“That’s so much work,” one student said.
“Welcome to engineering,” Siek said in reply.
IU’s first engineering majors started class Monday, with 25 students as the first undergraduates in the program. The engineering department offers an undergraduate degree in intelligent systems engineering and a Ph.D program with six specializations.
Intelligent system engineering focuses on creating devices or technologies to solve problems.
“There is a little bit of pride being the first class and a little bit of doubt and uncertainty because we are the guinea pigs,” said Maddie Fain, a freshman engineering major.
Fain decided to study engineering after she applied to college. Although Purdue University is traditionally known as the engineering school in Indiana, she said IU was her best option because of her late choice.
She said because she and her classmates are the first class of engineering majors, she trusts IU to give them the resources and help they need.
“It’s a warm, fuzzy feeling that IU is going to make sure we succeed,” Fain said.
Neil Patel, another freshman in the program, said he initially planned to study international studies at IU but decided to switch to engineering with an international studies minor.
He said he hopes to work on creating technologies that help the developing world, particularly technologies related to solar power or other renewable energy sources.
“I hope to get enough engineering experience to make a difference,” Patel said.
Only one engineering course is offered to undergraduates this semester. Siek, who teaches the only section of the E101: Innovation and Design course, said during class Monday she wants her students to learn through hands-on experience and intends for them to start building and creating things as soon as possible.
“Failure is not as bad as it sounds,” she said to her class. “It means you’re learning.”
While some other engineering schools offer a wide range of engineering degrees, such as chemical or nuclear engineering, the IU engineering department only offers a degree in intelligent systems engineering for undergraduates.
With this degree, there are options to specialize in bioengineering, computer/cyber-physical systems engineering and nanoscale systems engineering.
Over and over, Fain said people ask her what exactly she’s studying, and, in class Monday, Siek said the question of what intelligent systems is comes up for her, too.
“What are we doing?” Siek said. “We’re gonna innovate the world.”
