CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Walk through the halls of the university’s Dr. Robert R. Furgason Engineering Building, and you’ll hear the sounds of innovation in motion — keyboards clacking, drones buzzing, 3D printers humming, and the crackle of sparks as metal meets machine. These aren’t just class projects, they’re potential breakthroughs. In the College of Engineering and Computer Science, “groundbreaking” isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a promise.

“Our students are fearlessly engaging in bold, hands-on projects — from competing in Formula 1 car racing and building a full-scale rocket engine to excelling in cybersecurity competitions,” said Dr. David Ma, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Also, in the last year, our college secured 10 research grants totaling $7 million, marking yet another historic milestone. This momentum has also led to the recent awarding of two U.S. patents.”

Among those leading the way on the innovation front is electrical engineering major Brenden Oller ’25. 在德克萨斯州土地总署研究基金的支持下，这位21岁的年轻人帮助开发了一个早期洪水预警系统。 Now, for his capstone project, he’s designing and building specialized drones — another step in a promising engineering career.

“My team and I are building a system of autonomous aerial and ground drones capable of reconnaissance and surveillance tasks for the Department of Defense,” Oller said. “Our drones will be capable of mapping an unknown terrain and identifying hazards and obstacles for military personnel, but this tech has uses in multiple industries.”

奥勒说，他在TAMU-CC的时间是变革性的。

“Being an Islander has developed my professional and technical skills far beyond what I imagined,” Oller said. “As president of both the Islander Energy Club and the Islander Engineering and Computer Science Council, I’ve gained leadership experience to help me in my next steps after graduation. In fact, I’ve already accepted a job as a product engineer with Texas Instruments.”

Groundbreaking work is also being done in the university’s Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure Laboratory (AMSI), led by Dr. Nancy Soliman, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering. There, you’ll find Mazen Hassan ’25 and Fazal Hussain ’25, civil engineering master’s students working to develop sustainable, energy-efficient construction materials.

“I hope this research will lead to the widespread use of smart concrete in real world infrastructure that can self-regulate its temperature and store renewable energy,” Hussain said. “For example, roads made with self-heating concrete could prevent ice formation in cold climates, reducing accidents and maintenance costs. Similarly, buildings with energy-storing foundations could directly integrate solar energy, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions.”

在Soliman的帮助下，这对夫妇最近在TAMU-CC建立了美国混凝土学院学生分会，其目标是推动混凝土行业的创新、可持续性和增长，以确保其对后代保持相关性和成功。

Mechanical engineering major Alison Tomlinson ’26, a Houston native, has made her mark at TAMU-CC by founding and leading three student organizations: the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. 此外，她还担任岛民工程和计算机科学委员会的活动协调员和对外事务主任。

“Building these organizations wasn’t just about creating clubs — it was about creating opportunities,” Tomlinson said.

工程与计算机科学学院现在拥有23个学生组织，比三年前增加了三倍。

A clear sign of the college’s growing impact is the success Islander students have achieved at national competitions. Leading the charge are the students of the Islander Cyber Society, a student organization founded in 2024 that’s already establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.

“When I arrived on campus, I noticed there wasn’t yet a dedicated cybersecurity student group. So, we rolled up our sleeves and started one,” said Lewis Heuermann, a TAMU-CC computer science adjunct professor. “It’s been incredible watching the students come together and shape it into something special.”

在其短暂的任期内，岛民网络协会赢得了顶级的国内和国际认可。 最近，该团队在2025年春季全国网络联盟比赛的500多所学院和大学中排名第13，使其成为德克萨斯州排名最高的学校。 该俱乐部还在Hack The Box CTF全球8000多支队伍中排名前7.7%，这是一项全球黑客活动，他们不仅要与同学竞争，还要与经验丰富的专业安全测试人员和黑客竞争。

“I always believe our students here are equal to if not better than students going to MIT and other top schools,” Ma said. “The talent level is high, and the success at these competitions proves it.”

The college’s expansion continues to grow with the new and recent launch of the Coastal Bend Midstream Program, an initiative designed to forge strong partnerships with the midstream energy sector. 这个项目已经为岛民学生创造了新的奖学金，并为工业界和学术界未来的研究合作铺平了道路。

 “The industry that surrounds us provides our students with invaluable hands-on experience in the very environments where they will eventually work,” Ma said. “You don’t become an engineer by simply reading about bridges — you build them, test them, and learn from the process. That’s where true understanding takes root. Ultimately, learning becomes meaningful when it leads to action — when it empowers students to create, innovate, and lead with purpose.”