Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2012 - (Page 12)

tinkerer’s The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest W hen I was a kid, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said, “an inventor.” I was always putting things together in new ways to make other things. Watching my mom struggle to reach stuff in tall cabinets, I used a bent coat-hanger, a toilet paper roll, and masking tape to make her a “grabber.” At my grandparents’ house, I hid my toys in a bucket that could be hoisted up to the rafters with a pulley system. So in high school, when I learned there was a Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, I was interested. The competition is named after engineer Reuben Lucius Goldberg, who is known for drawing outrageously complicated contraptions as a way of poking fun at increasingly complex machines. Contestants construct machines that use as many steps as possible to complete an annual task, such as assembling a hamburger, squeezing toothpaste from a tube onto a brush, and watering a plant. My junior year, I put together a team. Although we didn’t win any competitions, I learned how to pace the building process, what qualities make a good team member, and what kinds of steps will generally be successful. In my senior year, I decided to try again. The challenge: to inflate a balloon and pop it. The winner of my high school contest in February would advance to the state competition. But first, I needed a team. Fundamental Parts and random trinkets Teams are limited to 12 members. I needed people who not only are intelligent but also work hard consistently, work well with others, and have practical skills that they apply to a variety of jobs. I began by recruiting a couple of students from my previous team, including one who would become my co-leader, Anthony. By October, our team—four girls and eight guys from my school—was ready. We met at my house every Sunday to figure out how to approach the project. We started by deciding on our machine’s theme. It’s usually what spectators remember a machine 12 imagine may/Jun 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2012

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/june 2012
Contents
Big Picture
In My Own Words
Building Green
Learn and Build
Tinkerer’s Dream
The Healing Touch
From Jupiter to the Moon
Building a Better Landmine Detector
Designing the Future
27 Pipes
Better Than Wikinotes
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Exploring Our Political Legacy
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2012