Stefanie Giurcanu's Engineering Camp at Oxford University
The NSLC Engineering program at Oxford was an incredible opportunity to explore the core disciplines of engineering in one of the world’s most historic academic settings. Over the course of 12 days, we dove into mechanical, aerospace, civil, electrical, and biomedical engineering. Each day brought something new — from studying how lift works to, my favorite part, actually building our own drones. The variety helped me figure out which areas I’m most drawn to, and made everything feel exciting and hands-on.
What really set the program apart for me was how we took everything we learned in lectures and immediately applied it. I worked in a group with 4 other members, and together we had to design, build, and present our drones. We used the principles we learned when also building bridges and wooden aircraft gliders.
One experience that really stuck with me was our visit to the BMW Mini Factory in Oxford. We watched as massive robotic machinery worked seamlessly with engineers. The machinery handled the car foundations, while the people focused on the detailed and precise wiring. It was fascinating to see how many cars were able to be produced in a single day and how efficiently the automated system worked.
Outside of the engineering itself, there were some unexpected but equally fun moments. British Olympian Oliver Cook shared his rowing journey with us. He spoke of his resilience and comeback from his injury, and afterward, we got the chance to row and compete at the Oriel Boathouse. It was one of those moments that made the program feel more personal as we really got a chance to connect with the other students. I got to connect with so many students who also shared a passion for engineering. Most of them came from the United States, though there were some international students from Europe. We all clicked and I couldn’t have asked for a better group to learn with.
Looking back, the program gave me more than just technical exposure. It sparked new interests, challenged me to think creatively, and reminded me just how much I enjoy building, exploring, and figuring out how things work — especially if they fly.
