Two leading voices in STEM visited Upper Campus this week, giving Middle and Upper School students an up-close look at careers in electrical engineering, computer science, and mathematics.
Dr. Donna Auguste, founder of the Auguste Research Group, visited campus this week with several unmanned research platforms, guiding students in how aerial and aquatic vehicles collect environmental data. A UC Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon–trained electrical engineer, Dr. Auguste previously led software engineering on Apple’s Newton PDA, one of the earliest personal digital assistants, and has built a career at the forefront of emerging technologies. During her visit, students saw how these platforms use sensors to capture real-time data, illustrating the intersection of engineering, data collection, and scientific discovery.
Dr. Tai-Danae Bradley, Executive Director of The Math3ma Institute and research mathematician at SandboxAQ, an Alphabet spinout focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies, visited classrooms to discuss studying mathematics and its role in AI. A former PBS Infinite Series co-host and co-author of Topology: A Categorical Approach, Dr. Bradley explained how her linguistic mathematics research informs AI systems like ChatGPT, showing students how abstract theory drives the technologies they use daily.
Experiences like these reflect Sierra Canyon’s commitment to experiential learning, where academic study is enriched through real-world connection. By engaging directly with innovators and industry leaders, students gain insight into the many paths their interests can take. These opportunities help Trailblazers explore new ideas, discover their passions, and imagine how their learning can shape their future.
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