Award-Winning Capstone Projects: CRISPR
CRISPR is a novel and revolutionary gene-editing technique. But how should we think about its future and the ethics and regulation around its use? This award-winning Capstone project showed a thorough understanding of the problem and outlined a thoughtful, well-reasoned solution that would benefit all Americans concerned about the future of biotechnology.
Elissa Altman (CGS’83, CAS’85) on the Books and Classes that Shaped Her Work
Critically-acclaimed writer Elissa Altman (CGS’83, CAS’85) has authored Treyf: My Life as an Unorthodox Outlaw and Poor Man’s Feast: A Love Story of Comfort, Desire, and the Art of Simple Cooking, praised by The New York Times Book Review as “one of the finest food memoirs of recent years.” Her newest book, Motherland: A Memoir […]
Recognizing Outstanding Students at Capstone Turn-In
Each year, every CGS student gathers in the Jacob Sleeper Auditorium to celebrate a CGS tradition– the Capstone turn-in. Second-year students officially turn in their Capstone projects, the final product of two years of interdisciplinary education and weeks of diligent research and teamwork. CGS also takes the opportunity to recognize students who have excelled in […]
Award-Winning Capstone Projects: The South China Sea
Team W’s award-winning Capstone project focused on U.S. foreign policy in the South China Sea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe administration has expanded the role of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, increased Japan’s missile capabilities, and taken a more aggressive stand against China’s expansion into the South Pacific. How should the U.S. respond?
Award-Winning Capstone Projects: Overexposure to Screens
How can we address young people’s overexposure to computers, the Internet, and screens in general? In their award-winning Capstone project, Team S crafted their paper in the form of two sides facing off at a Congressional joint committee hearing about the problem of screentime overexposure.
Award-Winning Capstone Projects: Meltdown In The Middle East
How can we prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons? Focusing on the question of what the United States should do about the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal of 2015, this award-winning Capstone project identified deficiencies in the treaty but opposed withdrawing from the deal.
Award-Winning Capstones: Creating a Sustainable Transit System
Taking on the name TransitMatters, Team R’s award-winning Capstone project offered a clear and thorough plan of action for the MBTA to improve its service and plan for the future. Focused on short-term and long-term solutions, the team examined subway systems around the world—constructing a plan of action that stretches 50 years into the future.
#My100Days: Self-Reflection
Phoebe Bobola (CGS’18, CAS’20) used her gap semester for self-reflection and growth: “The semester that I had off really helped me lay down the foundation of myself and become more comfortable with who I was as an adult before I made the transition into college.”
#My100Days: Spending quality time with family and friends
With school and classes set aside for the gap semester, students have more time to visit family members and spend quality time with the people they love– whether it’s at home or across the globe.
#My100Days: Focusing On Your Passions
A gap semester can give you the space to try something new, reflect on your identity, pursue a hobby or a passion project, or just spend more time doing things that you love and enjoy. Here’s how some students used their gap semester to focus on personal enrichment.