Three Augustana students awarded outstanding communication award at Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

On March 11, the University of Alberta hosted the poster presentation portion of the annual Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, and three Augustana students were awarded for their outstanding communication on presenting a project they completed for an Augustana computing science course. Harshil Vyas, Jared Matson and Joseph Menezes worked to create an …

Tia Lalani - 23 March 2020

Joseph, Jared and Harshil presenting at the Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. Photo courtesy of Undergraduate Research Initiative, UAlberta.

On March 11, the University of Alberta hosted the poster presentation portion of the annual Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, and three Augustana students were awarded for their outstanding communication on presenting a project they completed for an Augustana computing science course.

Harshil Vyas, Jared Matson and Joseph Menezes worked to create an app that would help with sustainability efforts on Augustana campus as part of a three-week software development course. The group worked with Experiential Learning Coordinator Amber Basarab to develop an app that would help Augustana students determine which items to recycle, compost or throw away. The app, called "URecycle" incorporated a fun game-like experience to allow students to have some fun and get competitive while giving them useful information.

The group hopes to make the currently Android-only app downloadable through the Google Play Store and hopefully develop the app for Apple users as well. The U of A is also interested in the app and the group is working with various stakeholders across the university to implement it in the future.

Congratulations, Harshil, Jared and Joseph!