Our students become 21st century engineers by interning at global engineering firms, finding solutions to real-world problems during capstone design projects and by working side-by-side with experts in research labs. We’re especially proud that 80% of the Class of 2012 held an engineering internship and that our seniors completed 37 capstone design projects.

Explosive Experience: Emily Moorehead

Emily Moorehead left her internship at FM Global with a bang. Literally. The chemical engineering student spent the summer of 2012 conducting explosions for the insurer.

To learn how to prevent disasters, FM Global engineers run controlled burns at the company’s research facility in Glocester, R.I. And they invited Moorehead to play a major role setting up the instrumentation to measure the burns and blasts, and analyze the results.

Before each test, engineers huddled in a concrete bunker and remotely triggered a spark to ignite a mix of air and methane. They left the door open a crack to hear the explosions. On other days, engineers set small burns to test ways to prevent a fire from engulfing an entire warehouse.

“It never got old,” Moorehead says. “It was just so much fun.”

FM Global collected dozens of data points on each explosion using a collection of cameras, mass spectrometers and engineering software. Engineers later used the data to gauge the effectiveness of fire-suppression systems. Quality systems received an “FM Global approved” seal.

FM Global executives say the research reduces risks to clients and the company. That keeps the company’s premiums competitive and its balance sheet strong.

The research also offers a window into a specialized field. Few companies conduct sophisticated disaster-prevention research or provide the opportunity for such hands-on research. Besides the burn lab, Moorehead also worked at the earthquake lab.

Moorehead says FM Global engineers encouraged her to ask questions and took pains to explain every step of the processes and take on responsibility.

“The thing I took away the most was confidence,” she says.