Team Story
Team Name, institution name, city, and state
Cyclone Cowboys
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Your faculty advisor and student lead
Faculty Advisor: Professor Nate Lannan
Student Lead: Sophie Hawkins
Why is your team participating in the CWC?
We are participating because wind energy is a vital component to the overall power supply in Oklahoma. In 2021, 40% of electricity generation in the state was powered by wind energy, a figure which is increasing annually (US EIA). Therefore, we want to learn about how wind energy is generated and how it can be improved and expanded.
What is your vision for a clean energy future?
We believe that individual communities should have the resources and knowledge to decide what clean energy solutions work best for them. Diverse communities will require a diverse array of solutions based on factors such as geography, safety, and existing infrastructure.
Describe your project, objectives, and game plan.
Our project involved designing and testing a small wind turbine, planning an onshore wind farm, and developing an outreach program for the group. We have selected leaders for each subsection of the competition and established a project management team to make work completion more efficient.
What steps are your team taking to ensure a diverse and inclusive team?
Our team has recruited students from many different types of engineering and non-engineering disciplines, giving the team a vast array of areas in which members can apply their specific knowledge. Cyclone Cowboys has also been formed into a campus-wide club which allows for greater exposure to potential new team members who are passionate about wind energy and wish to join.
What does your team do exceptionally well? How will you use your team's strengths to your advantage in the competition?
Our team is great at working on interdisciplinary tasks. We enjoy getting to work in areas that are not our specialties and learning more about other engineering and non-engineering disciplines.
What inspired your team's name?
The Cyclone Cowboys' name was inspired by our school, Oklahoma State University, and the windy weather that the state of Oklahoma is known for. Although our mascot is Pistol Pete, we are also known across the nation as the Cowboys. As a final ode to the Great Plains and the severe weather it is known for, we included cyclone in our team's name to give another nod to wind energy in Oklahoma.
Wind Energy Keeps our World Spinning!
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