Professor Henry Louie of the College of Science and Engineering engages students in electrical and computer engineering projects that literally light the world. He brings real life experience to STEM studies.
Recently, Louie—a 2015-16 Fulbright—led a student team to Zambia where they installed a solar powered energy kiosk that provided the town’s first electricity. A past project in which a senior team designed a microgrid system to harness wind and solar power in rural Kenya won a $25,000 national grand prize in electrical engineering. In both these projects, Louie and his students brought electricity to areas that had previously gone without.
Professor Louie says these projects are “transformative” for students who “come back to Seattle with a broader perspective.”
Rianne Spath, ’17, who was part of the Zambia team, agreed. “It’s an experience I would never be able to get at any other university. It increases my global experience and makes you feel good on the inside.”