Searching through bushes, between rocks, under benches and near trees, 15 local high school students and 10 undergraduates combed Cornell’s campus in search of hidden transmitters as part of a digital ‘fox hunt’ on Oct. 5.
Wondering how he could encourage students to consider microchip design as a career, Mohamed I. Ibrahim, assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering, decided to try a fox hunt competition, in which teams of students working together tried to find 10 hidden transmitters using handheld spectrum analyzers provided by electronics and software company Keysight Technologies.
Ray Hage, assistant director of the Science and Technology Entry Program at Cornell’s Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, praised Ibrahim’s inclusion of local youth from the program. “The students love competition, and this was a fun experience that got them excited to learn more about chips and how they work. Students were even late getting back to lunch because they wanted to find all the hidden transmitters,” Hage said.
