Emerson Chang is a student at Henry M. Gunn High School in the United States. She combines her academic interests with a strong passion for the arts, research, and technology. Through exhibitions, publications, research, and robotics, she has explored different ways to express creativity and solve complex problems.
Recognition in Visual Arts
Emerson’s artwork has received recognition in several competitions and publications. Her acrylic painting, “My Life in My Desk,” was selected for the annual ArtNow exhibition at the New Museum Los Gatos. It was one of only 82 artworks chosen from 810 submissions.
She also received a Scholastic Regional Gold Key for her painting, “To Put a Limit on the Unlimited.” The artwork was later published in her school’s literary magazine, Pandora’s Box.
These achievements reflect Emerson’s creativity and dedication to developing her artistic skills. In addition, her participation in the National Art Honor Society and the annual Picasso Project allows her to remain actively involved in artistic activities.
Research in Social Science
Emerson has also explored academic research through the UCSB Summer Research Academies. During the programme, she co-authored a paper titled “Binding Intuitions in Terrorism: A Comparative Analysis of Moral Foundations in Terrorist Manifestos and Media Reportage.”
The paper examines moral foundations in terrorist manifestos and media coverage. Through this work, Emerson engaged with a complex social science topic and contributed to a comparative research project.
Her experience demonstrates her interest in examining how ideas and values appear across different forms of communication.
Exploring Engineering Through Robotics
Beyond art and research, Emerson has developed technical skills through robotics. At Peninsula Robotics, she was part of the design subteam. She also completed the FRC 3005 RoboChargers CAD class, where she designed a gearbox and an intake mechanism.
Emerson further expanded her engineering experience as a member of Space Cookies Robotics, an all-girls robotics team. There, she worked on vision and localisation systems.
Her responsibilities included tuning the Limelight camera to identify AprilTags. She also coded LED strips to change colours based on the game pieces.
Through these activities, Emerson gained experience in mechanical design, computer-aided design, and robotics programming. Moreover, she explored how hardware and software work together in competitive robotics.
Combining Creativity, Research, and Technology
Emerson’s experiences reflect her ability to explore different disciplines. Her achievements in visual arts demonstrate her creative interests, while her research experience highlights her engagement with social science topics.
Meanwhile, her robotics activities allow her to apply technical knowledge through design and programming. Together, these experiences show how creativity, analytical thinking, and engineering can complement one another.
Ready to explore research in art, technology, and social science?
Turn your interests in art, engineering, robotics, and social sciences into an original research project with guidance from experienced professor mentors at CCIR Academy.
Download the CCIR Research Programme Prospectus to explore our 170+ research areas, learn about our professor mentors from leading universities, and discover our Cambridge Future Scholar and 1-on-1 Research Mentorship programmes, student outcomes, and application process.
