Improving Engineering Community Using Shared Spaces by Noah

Improving Engineering Community Using Shared Spaces by Noah - June 2026 Scholarship Essay

If I could design a project to improve my school or community, I would create a campus-wide tool-sharing and repair station for engineering students. At a school like Stevens Institute of Technology, lots of students work on design projects that require, small components, sensors, hardware, adhesives, measuring tools, and most importantly, space to work. The problem is that access is not always equal. Some students can afford to buy extra materials or replace broken parts quickly, while others have to slow down because of cost or availability.

At Stevens, there currently is a space dedicated for this, called the Maker-Space. The makerspace is monitored very loosely, and most of the time the "proctors" are not present. Majority of the time it is highly crowded, the 3D Printers are either damaged or in use by another student, and the tool accessibility is limited to those who've taken the proper exams and have an ID card to even enter. This poses a large problem. As engineering students, we are all capable of using tools and equipment without injury and safely. The exams that students are required to take are repetitive, not-educational, and seem more like busy work rather than learning how to use a machine. This offers a feeling of "exclusivity" within the campus. Versus, having a space where all students are welcome, ID card or not.

My project would focus on making the engineering projects more accessible. The station would include a 24/7 monitored inventory of commonly used project materials, basic tools, spare fasteners, wires, breadboarding supplies, 3D-printing support items, and simple repair resources. Students could borrow tools, donate unused materials from completed projects, or request low-cost parts for class prototypes. The station could also include a small peer-support system where students with experience in SolidWorks, MATLAB, circuits, or prototyping could volunteer short help sessions.

This matters because engineering education is not only about lectures and exams. It is also about building, testing, failing, and improving. I have experienced this through projects like a miniature pinball machine, a house temperature regulation simulation, analog signal filtering, and a self-watering plant pot. In those projects, small material or troubleshooting issues could slow the whole team down. A shared resource hub would reduce waste, save students money, and help more students participate fully in project-based learning.

The goal would not be to make every project easy. Engineering should challenge students. But the challenge should come from solving the design problem, not from whether a student can afford one more part or find a tool at the right time. A tool-sharing and repair station would strengthen collaboration, sustainability, and fairness on campus.