Bio

Shane Cunniff is a mechanical engineering student interested in sustainability and sports science engineering. His primary interests concerning sustainability are focused on three areas: the environment, energy, and agriculture. Born and raised on the beach in San Diego, Shane has been engaged with the ocean for most of his life in activities such as surfing, fishing, and lifeguarding. He also spent time volunteering at WILDCOAST, a group based in San Diego that works to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife. These experiences have brought him face to face with many issues including pollution, poaching, and the unused energy availability in the ocean. Seeking a way to overcome these problems, Shane decided to become an engineer and design new technologies that have a better place in our current society. Shane was drawn to UCSB due to its track record of environmental awareness and proximity to the ocean. The NOAA Radar Project was a perfect fit for him since the goal is to protect and preserve marine environments. 

Shane has the ability to lead, as proven by his role as Captain in the Junior Lifeguard Program and on many sports teams, but he still works well with teams and in group settings. He is a good listener and mediator, and always takes suggestions and ideas into consideration before moving forward. An avid reader as a child, Shane has superb reading and comprehension skills and can effectively and easily convey main points. In addition, his oral and written communication skills are well refined and can be adapted to any situation. These are useful for team environments, especially when working on projects with multiple subsystems when collaborative meetings are regularly held.  

Unafraid of challenges, Shane will step up to the task at hand and put his best foot forward, as he did when assigned to the Power subsystems group as part of the NOAA Radar Capstone Team. Although it was an unfamiliar area, he was able to thoroughly research the best possible sources of renewable energy and how to implement them in the NOAA Mobile Trailer Unit. After deciding on solar energy, Shane learned the benefits and drawbacks of solar panels and conveyed these finding to his structures team in order for them to design the solar panel rack to optimal specifications. Also, he helped to create a battery bank and integrate solar panels, charge controllers, and the supplied radar electronics together into an array capable of withstanding a marine environment. 

Ultimately, his passion for creating a better world will drive Shane throughout his career. The NOAA Radar Project is the first in what will hopefully be a long line of sustainability projects in which Shane is involved. The bureaucratic nature of this project and the need to design around an existing product has prepared him for how the real world operates. This knowledge will help carry him to a great career after graduation, working to help save the environment.