Notes and Recordings For 3D research program on March 28th, 2026

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your time yesterday.

We had a wonderful evening, and the professors’ project introductions gave us a helpful overview of the research we will be doing in the coming months.

Here are the notes and recordings from yesterday’s session. Please take a moment to review them.

Notes: This meeting was the kickoff event for a 20-week scientific technology project designed to guide students through scientific research, academic writing, 3D technology learning, and final presentations. The event began with introductions from various professors and advisors, including Professor Jin from UBC's Mechanical Engineering Department, Professor Feng from UT Arlington, Professor Shao from NYIT, and Mr. Darling from Oxford University. Students from different high schools introduced themselves, sharing their interests and university goals. The meeting featured mini-lectures where Mr. Darling explained the benefits of scientific research projects for university applications, Professor Jin provided detailed information about UBC's engineering programs and admission requirements, and Professor Shao outlined his academic writing course structure. William, who participated in the program the previous year, shared his experience researching tricuspid valve heart replacement using 3D printing, including his successful publication attempt and receipt of a $1,000 research grant. The upcoming schedule was briefly outlined, covering academic writing, 3D modeling, independent investigation, and final presentations in September.

Next steps

• Share videos of self-introductions from students who could not attend in person, during the meeting (as referenced during the session).

• All students: Begin working on their research project, including developing research questions related to 3D printing, as outlined in Professor Shao's 5-week learning pathway.

• All students: Participate in the upcoming 5 weekly sessions on academic writing, literature review, and research proposal development, as per the program schedule.

• William: Plan and (if possible) conduct a full-scale experiment and include more statistical analysis in this year's research project, as stated in his presentation.

• William: Consider connecting this year's research to business competitions to help build team members' resumes (optional follow-up for interested students).

• Program Team: Continue with academic writing and thesis analysis sessions, followed by 3D modeling and slicing, investigation, group seminars, literature review submissions, and final presentations in September, as per the announced program plan.

Summary

Research Project Technical Setup Meeting

The meeting began with confusion as Bo initially joined the wrong meeting and didn't know about the scientific research project. After clarifying the purpose, participants discussed technical setup issues, including screen sharing capabilities and recording for remote students. The meeting appeared to be a check-in for a research project involving multiple students in different locations, though specific details about the project were not discussed in this segment.

Technology and Science Project Kickoff

The meeting served as the kickoff for a technology and scientific project program, designed to guide students through scientific research, academic writing, 3D technology learning, and final presentations. The program aims to develop both academic and practical skills, including critical thinking, creativity, communication, and public speaking. The meeting introduced various professors and advisors who will support the program, including Professor Jin from UBC, Professor Feng from UT Arlington, Professor Shao from NYIT, Mr. Darling from Oxford University, and Ms. Renee from UBC Faculty of Education. The evening's agenda included an overview of the project, introductions to guests and courses, student self-introductions, mini-lectures, and a schedule overview, followed by a Q&A session.

High School Research Initiatives Meeting

The meeting began with introductions from participants including Professor Phone, Yun Shao, David Darling, and several students from different grades and schools. Students shared their interests in sports, music, gaming, and potential future careers in law, medicine, and biology, with some expressing interest in specific universities like Duke, Stanford, and UBC. The meeting transitioned to a mini-lecture section, with David Darling set to speak about the benefits of high school students doing scientific research projects.

Technical Setup and Student Introductions

The meeting focused on technical setup and student introductions. David experienced difficulties with screen sharing and PowerPoint presentation view, which was resolved with assistance. The group watched pre-recorded introduction videos from students who couldn't attend in person, including Robert Hsu from Steeson London Secondary School and Chris from University Hill Secondary School, who expressed interests in forensic science and material/polymer science respectively.

Benefits of Student Research Projects

David presented on the importance and benefits of conducting scientific research projects. He explained that research projects allow students to learn outside the classroom through hands-on experimentation, develop critical thinking skills, and build confidence. David highlighted how research projects can enhance university admission chances by demonstrating initiative, curiosity, and independent learning abilities to admissions officers. He also noted that working with professors on research projects can help build relationships for potential future recommendation letters.

UBC Mechanical Engineering Options Overview

Professor Jin presented an overview of UBC's organization and mechanical engineering department options. He explained UBC's ranking, research funding, and faculty structure, emphasizing that first-year students in the Faculty of Applied Science take similar courses before choosing a specific department in their second year. Professor Jin detailed the mechanical engineering department's options, including Flex, Aerospace, Biomechanics/Medical Devices, Energy/Environment, Mechatronics, and Naval Architecture, describing the competitive application process for specialized options like Mechatronics which requires a GPA above 86 and an interview. He also highlighted career paths and companies associated with each option, including aerospace, biomedical devices, and energy sectors.

Engineering Programs and Research Opportunities

The meeting focused on discussing engineering programs and research opportunities. Professor Jin presented information about mechatronics engineering, including examples of companies and applications in robotics, transportation, and marine fields. Professor Shao outlined a 5-week course on academic research and writing, covering topics from forming research questions to creating academic papers. Cesar shared his background in biomedicine and offered to help students develop relevant research projects. William, who participated in the program last year, described his 3D printing research on tricuspid heart valves and shared his experience publishing and funding the research. The upcoming schedule was briefly reviewed, including sessions on academic writing, 3D modeling, and final presentations in September.