Summary

This blog post highlights week 4 activities: of hands-on prototyping with laser cutting and molding research, plus a visit to the world’s largest medical complex. It also captures the joy of meeting fellow Kenyans in Houston and experiencing the vibrant July 4th celebrations.

Week 4 has been a vibrant mix of technical milestones, cultural exploration, and unexpected moments that reminded me just how rich and dynamic this internship journey is. To know more about my previous week’s experience, check out my Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3.

Loads of Laser Cutting and research on molding techniques.

We kicked off the week with heavy laser cutting for our water sampling project. The workflow was super hands-on:

1. Designing parts in SolidWorks.
2. Exporting as DXF files.
3. Editing in Adobe Illustrator.
4. Cutting with precision on plywood and acrylic.

This was my first time using laser cutting extensively in prototyping, and the speed and precision blew me away(They are far more precise than 3D printers[what I’m mostly used to, so I had to iterate a lot at first to get the right tolerancing). I also embarked on a lot of research on molding techniques and materials in preparation for molding for the other project.

Second Design Reviews & Inter teams email updates.

We had our second round of design reviews, which served as a follow-up from Week 3. Each team shared updates on task progress and presented the next steps in our prototyping timeline. It’s exciting to see concepts evolve into tangible solutions each week. At the beginning of each day, every team member was supposed to email each other what they had achieved the previous day and what they would be working on on that given day.

Visit to the Texas Medical Center

I had a swing by visit to one of the hospitals within the Texas Medical Center—the largest medical complex in the world. Its proximity to Rice University and the BioScience Research Collaborative makes it clear why this area is a global hub for medical research and innovation. Walking through those halls was deeply inspiring.

A Kenyan Connection

While grabbing dinner at the Servery, I randomly bumped into a Kenyan student studying at Rice! We quickly connected, and he told me about his incredible research at Anderson Biological Labs. I spent a better part of last week’s evening in one of the labs where he was finalizing a research paper for a presentation. Later that week, we went out for tacos, and I got to meet a group of ambitious Kenyans living in Houston. It was heartwarming to experience that connection so far from home.

July 4th – A Star-Spangled Experience Last week

I got to witness one of the highest displays of patriotism I’ve ever experienced—Independence Day celebrations in Houston. As I walked around Rice on Friday evening, the campus was alive with music, barbecues, and laughter. Outside Martel College, residents were grilling, dancing, and vibing, and the celebration energy was contagious. We later made our way to Hermann Park, where crowds were gathered on the grassy hills, sharing food and watching the sunset. The main event was the Houston Symphony’s “A Star-Spangled Salute” at Miller Outdoor Theatre—a magical performance featuring(among many others): America the Beautiful, The Stars and Stripes Forever, Olympic Fanfare and Theme, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. As the final note rang out, the sky lit up with a spectacular fireworks display, and Americans all around me raised their flags in celebration. What a powerful depiction of patriotism.

Can’t wait to share week 5 updates!