On April 25, 116 GW Engineering students from across all six academic departments came together to showcase their research at the 2025 Research & Design (R&D) and Senior Design Showcase. This annual event sprawls across the first and lower levels of the Science & Engineering Hall, offering a glimpse into the critical advancements being made within the school’s classrooms and research labs.
Now in its 18th year, the R&D Showcase was founded by alumnus Randolph “Randy” Graves in 2007 and expanded in 2022 to include senior design/capstone projects. It invites undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and research scientists from GW Engineering to participate, gaining valuable experience presenting their work to both technical and general audiences and making connections across disciplines.
On the first floor, participants of all levels shared the results from extensive research, development, and testing. For instance, doctoral student Xun Guan from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering presented published research illustrating a novel way that engineering can protect public health against harmful “forever chemicals” in groundwater.
The B-1 level featured 26 senior design projects, including more award-winning work like a self-regulating warming system integrated into a local farmer’s prosthetic arm. Other standout projects included one that leverages machine learning to translate sign language gestures into text and another that uses real-time sensors in an innovative swim cap to assist visually impaired swimmers.
From advancing therapeutic ultrasound to optimizing renewable energy distribution with community needs in mind, this year’s participants highlighted how GW Engineering students are applying technology to improve lives. Their work underscores the breadth of GW Engineering’s expertise and its ongoing commitment to addressing society’s grand challenges.