
## Premise

The word "algorithm" comes from the name of the 9th-century Persian mathematician, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi. His texts, written in prose, described step-by-step procedures for solving equations. Modern engineering is built on symbolic math, a language he wouldn't recognize. What is lost, or gained, in this translation from rhetorical procedure to abstract symbol?

## Project

Create a "Symbolic Translator" in Python. This program will take a simple, modern engineering equation (e.g., stress = force/area) and output a step-by-step solution in the prose style of al-Khwarizmi's texts. The tangible result is the working code and a short paper analyzing how this "ancient" representation changes the cognitive approach to problem-solving.


Exploring the rhetorical origins of computation

The Algorithm's Ghost


## Premise

The Miasma Theory, the belief that "bad air" caused disease, was wrong, but it wasn't stupid. It led to profound changes in urban design, like wider streets and better sanitation, because people intuitively understood that airflow mattered. Today, we face a new miasma of airborne pollutants.

## Project

Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, create a 3D model of a generic city block. Simulate the flow and concentration of airborne particulates (our modern miasma). Then, redesign the block based on Miasma Theory principles, increasing airflow, creating open spaces, and run the simulation again. The tangible result is a comparative visual analysis and a paper titled "Learning from Wrong Ideas: A Miasma-Based Model for Healthier Urban Airflows."


Learning from wrong ideas about urban airflow

The City as a Lung


## Premise

The plants of the Kyzylkum Desert are masters of fluid dynamics, their surfaces covered in micro-textures evolved to capture every possible drop of moisture from the air. This isn't random; it's a physical language of survival written on the surface of a leaf.

## Project

Research and document the surface textures of 3-5 plants native to Karakalpakstan. Develop a computational shape grammar, a set of rules for combining simple geometric forms, that can procedurally generate these textures. The tangible result is the software tool and a design portfolio of novel, bio-inspired surfaces for passive water condensation, all generated from your grammar.


Bio-inspired water harvesting from Kyzylkum flora

The Grammar of the Desert


## Premise

The Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek analog computer, used a breathtakingly complex system of gears to predict astronomical events. It was a physical embodiment of mathematical theory. Modern engineers often see gears as simple components, but here they formed a language.

## Project

Create a complete, functional, and animated 3D CAD model of the mechanism based on the latest research. Go beyond just modeling it. Write an accompanying engineering analysis of its gear trains, calculating transmission ratios, mechanical advantage, potential points of wear, and the propagation of error through the system. The tangible result is the CAD portfolio and your analytical paper.


Engineering analysis of an ancient analog computer

The Antikythera Calculation


## Premise

We have models for how engineers should design, but the actual mental process is messy, chaotic, and full of false starts. The path to a solution is as unique as a fingerprint.

## Project

A "protocol analysis" of one: yourself. Choose a challenging, open-ended design problem. For two months, meticulously document your entire process: every sketch, every calculation, every Google search, every moment of frustration and every "aha moment." Create a coding system for your activities. The tangible result is a deeply reflective paper that maps your personal cognitive journey and compares it to established models of the design process from cognitive science.


Mapping the mental process of engineering

The Cognitive Fingerprint of Design


## Premise

Engineers, like all humans, are prone to cognitive biases (e.g., confirmation bias, functional fixedness). These biases can lead to suboptimal designs, missed opportunities, and costly errors.

## Project

Design and write the pseudo-code for an AI assistant that analyzes an engineer's design log. The AI's goal is not to suggest solutions, but to detect patterns indicative of cognitive bias and ask targeted questions to prompt the human to think differently.


Using AI to detect and mitigate engineering biases

AI for Cognitive De-biasing


## Premise

Traditional crafts are dying out. These aren't just hobbies; they are complex systems of mechanical knowledge passed down through generations. The making of a simple sieve or a wooden boat involves hundreds of micro-decisions based on an intuitive understanding of materials and forces. This is a form of non-verbal engineering.

## Project

Choose a specific, well-documented craft from your region. Deconstruct the process into a series of fundamental steps and rules. Create a "shape grammar" in code, a symbolic system that can procedurally generate valid designs for that craft. The tangible result is a paper defining this grammar and a script that can output novel, "grammatically correct" designs that the original artisan would recognize as valid.


Preserving endangered crafts as engineering grammars

Deep Dives