Carson Bove
Hometown
Canton, Georgia
High School
Woodstock High School
Degree
BS Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering Certificate
Expected Graduation
2028
What is your favorite thing about being a student at UGA?
The amazing community of course! As someone who transferred into UGA my sophomore year, I was initially nervous about being the “new kid on the block”, especially after my freshman year fearing that people had already made groups and it would be hard to find any new friends. But thanks to how welcoming and incredibly kind my fellow students and even the faculty are here my fears immediately melted away. It’s incredible that on a campus with over 40,000 students, you’ll see friends everywhere you go.
Why did you choose engineering?
I’ve always enjoyed solving problems, and engineering at its core is the science of problem solving. I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to approach something that may seem completely impossible at first and begin to chip away at it piece by piece through the critical thinking skills I’ve gained while studying engineering. I think playing with legos a lot as a kid probably also had something to do with it.
Why is it important for the university to have an inclusive community?
A diverse community is essential for anything in which information and ideas are going to be passed around and shared. Without diversity, we lack the ability to see things from any perspective besides our own. This is especially true in engineering, when it comes to making decisions that could have massive impact on peoples safety and by extension lives. The other benefit to being exposed to a diverse community in university is to help broaden empathy within the student body as they prepare for a real work environment, and life in general where others may not see things the same way they do, and they will need to understand how to navigate that successfully and productively.
What has been the greatest challenge you have faced while at UGA, and how did you overcome it?
The first career fair I went to was, in all truth, a complete disaster. I did not have my elevator pitch prepared, fumbled over words, and felt so completely embarrassed by the end that I was questioning if I belonged in engineering. However after getting advice from the staff at the career center, refreshing my resume with the help of my fellow students, and getting in some practice at the employer of the days in Driftmier, I was able to feel more confident and prepared for whatever opportunities came my way next.
What have you learned that has made a difference for you?
A lot of what I have learned at UGA that has made a difference for me has been learning how other people think. Being able to understand how others think has led me to be more successful in my own thinking and by adapting those thought processes I believe I have become a better student, as well as person in general. I have also learned how to use a ton of different tools, and grow my manufacturing skills through the fabrication lab, which has been awesome for both personal projects as well as being able to put down actual hands on experience on a resume.
Who has helped you become a successful student at UGA?
Honestly it is difficult to point out even a few because there are so many amazing people that have helped me become and stay successful. However, I would love to recognize the staff at the college of engineering (special shoutout my two incredible advisors Dani Andrews and Dr. George Felis) who have provided me with so much advice and endless resources and my fellow researchers at the UGA Small Satellite Research Lab who I get to work on so many cool and exciting hands-on projects with.
What is your favorite spot on campus and why?
The outdoor space in the center of Driftmier, especially early fall or late spring. It’s a perfect spot to get work done or take a break and chill out for a bit and listen to music.
What has been your favorite class at UGA?
The VIPR research class I have been fortunate enough to be a part of. Learning how to conduct research projects, write papers, present findings and work in a research group has been incredibly rewarding. In terms of more standard classes, Differential Equations has been my favorite class to love/hate. It was very interesting, and for me at least very difficult, and I felt very accomplished when it was all done.
What has been your best memory at UGA?
The first football game I attended! UGA of course beat Texas 35-10. The crowd was awesome, and I really first felt like I belonged at UGA from that experience. Go Dawgs!
What advice do you have for younger students who wish to pursue engineering?
Just build it! If you have an idea, do some research, come up with a plan, and go build it. There are so many free resources out there to learn how to design and build things, and more likely than not there are some engineers in your community with too much time on their hands willing to teach eager students. Building those skills before hitting university is going to both put you ahead of the curve, and help you pick up things learned in the classroom so much faster. I would also recommend joining a organization like Technology Student Association or FIRST robotics if you are able too, as being able to learn teamwork skills and how to work with other builders is going to serve you throughout a career in engineering.
How do you hope to impact society with your engineering degree?
I hope to apply my engineering degree to building better ways to keep people safe and comfortable specifically as it applies to aerospace medicine, but also for general use. I’ve been able to apply those skills so far working with SSRL on a Neurocube, a Cubesat built to study brain cells in space, Newell Brands within the Graco Brand on safer baby carriage design, as well as in my current role as a Pathways Intern with the NASA KSC Biomedical Engineering Facility, where I get to work on a variety of projects that include personal heat stress mitigation technology and bio sensors that work with a digital crew medical officer to assist with medical emergencies in deep space situations.
I think that so much of engineering can be applied to making a safer and more equitable future, and I hope to help build that tomorrow.
