User:Geo4

About Me

I am a student at Duke University who is studying engineering. Currently I plan to major in mechanical engineering and earn my certificate in aerospace engineering, but we know how these things tend to change. My post graduation plans are...unsolidified to say the least. Roughly they include either continuing on to a graduate degree, working and then returning to school for an MBA, or law school to study patent law.

Pronunciation of My Name

First Name

There are no tricks here: Grant. You may stress the first or last syllable, seeing as there is only one to choose from.

Last Name

Slightly more complicated: Oakley. It's two syllables. The "oak" part is the stressed portion and pronounced like the tree. The "ley" portion comes second, and is not stressed. It rhymes with "tree." If more help is needed, consult your nearest sunglasses retailer.

Interests

I like to keep my interests diverse and at all times fairly random. That way nothing ever gets old.

• Engineering, obviously! I became interested in engineering doing projects at home and while trying to teach myself computer programming.
• Mountaineering, rock climbing, and hiking. These are slightly more accessible at home than in North Carolina, but I'll be sure to do as much as I can on breaks.
• Slacklining, juggling, unicycling, and other circus skills.
• Music. I play the tuba, bass, and piano. Unfortunately my band had to break up to go to school, so for now its only tuba with the school.
• Amateur computer programming. I spent a few too many hours of my summer learning to write in Processing (a very fun but utterly useless Java distribution).
• Morse Code. .. | .-.. --- ...- . | .-- .... --- | -.-. .- -. | .-. . .- --. | - .... .. ...

Classes

I figured I would post these in case anybody wanted to study together or discuss the class.

• Engineering 53 (Section 002)
• Engineering Lab (Section 06)
• Chemistry 43 (Section 001)
• Chemistry 43 Lab (Section 12)
• Math 103 (Section 12)
• German 2 (Section 01)
• Endurance Swimming (Section 01)
• Symphony Orchestra

Grand Challenges of Engineering Article

Here is a link to a page on the National Academy of Engineering website. It discusses the need for engineers to design and create devices to further scientific research in fields such as biology and particle physics, and how these devices will allow researchers to better understand life and the universe.

• Engineering the Tools of Scientific Discovery, National Academy of Engineering, updated 15 February 2008, accessed 3 September 2010 (Engineering the Tools of Scientific Discovery), is one of fourteen grand challenges, all of which can be found at www.engineeringchallenges.org.

Shameless Promotion of my Band

I figure that my band counts as personal information, so it wouldn't be out of line to direct you to our webpages.

• The main page is on MySpace (I know, not very trendy these days). Olaf Olaf Olaf on MySpace
• I also tried to make a wiki-style page, for those who are truly bored. Olaf Wiki