University of Pittsburgh
ENGR 0715: Engineering Applications for Society
An Applied Service Learning Project
Brian Hu
About Me
Brian Hu is a freshman engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh who hopes to studybioengineering and possibly mathematics. He is originally from Vienna, Virginia, and attended
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. He chose to
attend the University of Pittsburgh for many reasons, including the opportunity to conduct
research as an undergraduate, the desire to be in a new and challenging environment, and last
but not least, the reception of several merit-based scholarships from the university.
His interest in the field of bioengineering stems from a desire to see the great potential of
engineering being applied in a medical context, with improvements in medical technology being
used to help individuals with various diseases and disabilities. He hopes to be able to conduct
research on the development of artificial retinas, which may one day restore vision to the blind.
As a sidenote, he is also interested in the field of mathematics, and enjoys learning the intricate
theory that is behind some of the abstract concepts that are involved with higher mathematics.
Brian's interests include music, soccer, and chess. He recently learned how to play a Chopin
Noctune in F# minor, he is a devoted member of the Hooligans Soccer Club, and often plays in
chess matches for the Pitt IV chess team. Despite a heavy course load this semester, he still
manages to find the time to take weekly piano lessons, play recreational indoor soccer on weekends,
and attend local chess tournaments with the school's team. He has thoroughly enjoyed his time here
at the University of Pittsburgh so far, and is looking forward to another great semester.
Our Team Project
Design & Development of Sustainability WebsiteOur team project is to design and develop a sustainability website for our community partner,
the Sustainability Subcommittee of University Senate. This website will help to promote sound
sustainable initiatives for the University of Pittsburgh and the surrounding neighborhood.
Our Community Partner
Sustainability Subcommittee of University SenateWebsite: http://www.pitt.edu/~gogreen/
Contact: Dan Budny, 412-624-6474, budny@pitt.edu
The subcommittee believes that sound sustainable initiatives have the potential of realizing
significant cost savings, improving campus life, enhancing Pitt’s image as a good neighbor and
recruiting high-caliber students, faculty and staff to whom sustainability has become an
increasingly important issue.
My Team Members
This is a list of my team members:Background Information
- The Mascaro Sustainability Initiative (MSI)
This website gives information about the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering's MSI
program, which is the school's center for research on sustainable engineering. MSI's mission
is to promote innovative research in the field of sustainability through a variety of projects,
mainly focusing on the design of sustainable communities. - US EPA Sustainability
This website helps to define sustainabiliy and the United States' role in promoting the issue,
mainly through the various progams that have been implemented by the EPA. The website also lists
ways the user can help to promote sustainabiliy as both a consumer and a citizen. - Northwest Earth Institute
This website explains the purpose of the NWEI program, which is to "encourage individuals and
organizations to protect ecological systems..." The website provides valuable information for
discussion in small groups about the issue of sustainability.