AN IB WORLD SCHOOL

IB Highlights: Cryptography & 3D Printing

November 02, 2020

Three SGS seniors have used the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to explore topics of particular interest to them -- Cryptography and 3D Printing!

EE Highlight:  Senior Jake Gliniak wrote his EE on the topic of Cryptology.  His research question is, "How does RSA encryption use math to secure information?"  RSA encryption is a system that solves what was once one of the biggest problems in cryptography: How can you send someone a coded message without having an opportunity to previously share the code with them?  More about RSA encryption (until you are able to read Jake’s EE) can be found here on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_(cryptosystem).

CAS Project Highlight:  COVID has created some challenges for students’ CAS projects.  We have students who wanted to do a basketball skills clinic or spearhead the 2nd Harvest Food Bank Drive, but have had to change their plans.  However, some students were able to stick with their plan.  This week we highlight Jake Gliniak, Alec Bunn and Tristan Krzyzanek.  Alec, Tristan, and Jake are creating 3D printed masks to help immune-compromised cancer patients stay safe when it's necessary for them to visit hospitals.  These seniors spent many hours designing and writing up the proposal, recruiting help and support, prototyping and improving the mask, manufacturing and assembling, and distributing the end product to cancer patients.  

Alec and Tristan coordinated the 3D printing, "however, finding strapping or sealant strips for the masks proved difficult due to extreme shortages in supply and limited access," the students wrote in their project proposal.  "We attempted to solve these issues through a number of unconventional solutions including: silicone caulk, elastic shoelaces, weather stripping, etc.  We settled on a combination of elastic shoelaces and weather stripping, which we felt provided the best seal, comfort, and ability to be sanitized."  Jake completed the assembly, with help from senior Sydney Bledsoe, and delivered the first nine prototypes to Summit Cancer Care in Spokane, where "the masks were a big hit."  Their goal is to supply 100 masks to local patients.

CAS Experiences Highlights: CAS experiences for all of our Upper School students (in the US and in China) this week included Everlasting Envelopes, painting pumpkins, pumpkin carving, Knowledge Bowl, National Novel writing Month, wiring letters to family members in Spanish, making signs for the blood drive, playing the ukulele, picking up branches and leaves, developing a Performance Management Chart (Tracking Tool) for Athletic Training, and painting poster for the food drive

IB Question of the Week:  How can you find other IB schools around the world?  Follow this link: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/find-an-ib-school/

IB Overview:  The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum for grades 11-12 is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE).  Please refer to our IB webpage and to the IB Resources page in PowerSchool Learning for detailed IB information.