Engineering for people. Learning for life
At Olin, you'll find a variety of opportunities to discover the human aspects of engineering, while also gaining the life-long skills to make a real difference in the world.
Practical experience - research, projects, industry and community partners - is built into Olin's DNA.
Scenes from Undergraduate Research
Practical experience - research, projects, industry and community partners - is built into Olin's DNA
The Olin community - students, staff, and faculty - conduct innovative research with a unique focus on human needs, community engagement, and creative solutions.
At Olin, we want our students to understand the impact of their work.
The Olin students participating in the summer research program co-designing assistive apps for the blind are learning that as engineers, we must do the work humbly and understand that you don’t have the experience of the person using the assistive technology. You have to interact with people, understand their daily lives, and seek their input.”
Paul Ruvolo
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Learn more about research at OlinExamples of innovative research you can do at Olin
Olin Baja attracts undergraduate students from all class years, providing members with long-term experience in an extensive, hands-on engineering project!
Scenes from the Baja Project Team
Real students. Olin Baja.
Olin Baja are a passionate team of students from Olin College dedicated to building and racing off-road vehicles for SAE Mini Baja Competitions.
Baja competes in the intercollegiate Baja SAE design series, which involves designing, building, testing, and racing an off-road vehicle. The team attracts undergraduate students from all class years, providing members with long-term experience in an extensive, hands-on engineering project!
Additionally, students get to work on design, manufacturing, testing, fixing, and even racing the vehicle!
STORY: Olin Baja Car Pushed to the Limits at Rugged SAE Competition
After three days of tests and working day and night on-site to get it ready, their vehicle was pushed to the limits on the fourth day. Would it endure the notorious four-hour endurance race?
Read and listen as Olin Baja recap their experiences at the 2024 SAE competition.
Connect with Baja!
Email the team to ask questions and get information
The OCO is the only conductorless orchestra composed of engineers - in the world!
The Olin Conductorless Orchestra Musicians
The Olin Conductorless Orchestra (OCO) - an ensemble, minus conductor - features musicians in leadership, communicative, and collaborative roles.
Dedicated to orchestral performance in the concerted spirit of chamber music, the orchestra forges individual participation, active listening, and group-motivation into performances that have established it as the only conductorless orchestra composed of engineers - in the world!
The OCO performs at Olin’s Candiates Weekends, in addition to other Olin events such as Fall Open House, Family Weekend, and the Fall & Spring Expositions that conclude each semester.
Join a team of musicians!
OCO (AHSE0112) is a 1-credit AHSE course that can be taken in the Fall and Spring semesters at Olin. Audition is required.
Please email Professor Diana Dabby for additional information!
In Design Nature (ENGR1200) students complete individual and team projects in a studio environment where they seek to develop a shared practice and understanding of engineering design. Projects include mechanisms inspired by nature that hop, swim, and climb.
Scenes from Design Nature
Olin's Toy Story.
In their first year, all Olin students take Design Nature - an introduction to mechanical design and prototyping. In the class, students design and engineer a toy that captures the wonder of nature in a fun way – with an audience of real fourth graders from a local school as their audience!
Another favorite project taking place in the beginning of the semester is the hopper project, with students designing mechanisms inspired by nature that hop, swim, and climb.
Hoppers in action!
Watch a Hopper on Instagram that holds the record for the highest jump EVER.
Scenes from Design Nature
Olin College's Shop is a collaborative, inclusive space that empowers all community members to safely explore fabrication and prototyping as part of hands-on learning, creativity, and innovation across the curriculum.
Scenes from the Shop
The Olin Shop: A welcoming resource for all.
Olin College's Shop is a collaborative, inclusive space that empowers all community members to safely explore fabrication and prototyping as part of hands-on learning, creativity, and innovation across the curriculum.
Within their first couple of weeks on campus, all first-year Olin students are trained to use the machines in the green shop, consisting of sanders, saws, drill presses, and woodworking tools. This knowledge complements student projects undertaken in early required courses like Design Nature, Principles of Engineering and User-Oriented Collaborative Design.
Check out all our Shop spaces!
One of the key aspects of Olin that really appeals to me is the focus on hands-on learning and the accessibility of the Shop to all students.
The power to manipulate and improve the objects around us is a reminder that we have the ability to make the world a better place."
Coby Unger
Senior Shop Manager and Instructor of Fabrication
Read a Q&A with Coby UngerShop stories
The Formula SAE project team, competing under Olin Electric Motorsports, is focused on educating engineers through developing and manufacturing electric race cars.
Electric vehicles provide a platform for the team to pursue in-depth mechanical, electrical, computer, and systems engineering.
Scenes from the Formula SAE Team
These student engineers design, build, and compete with a Formula-style electric race car... every year.
The Formula SAE project team, competing under Olin Electric Motorsports, is focused on educating engineers through developing and manufacturing electric race cars. Electric vehicles provide a platform for the team to pursue in-depth mechanical, electrical, computer, and systems engineering.
By working together to compete each season, the team develops their technical knowledge as well as communication and leadership skills essential for success as a professional engineer.
Watch their most recent built car, MK VII, driving at Olin!
Have you ever wanted to learn about the art of knitting which dates back to the 5th Century and engage in 'slow fashion'? Want to learn how to make your own fluffy hat, cabled sweater, or warm winter socks but don't know where to start?
At Olin, you can explore this topic and more with our co-curriculars.
Scenes from a Knitting Co-Curricular
Learning about the art of Knitting.
Have you ever wanted to learn about the art of knitting which dates back to the 5th Century and engage in 'slow fashion'? Want to learn how to make your own fluffy hat, cabled sweater, or warm winter socks but don't know where to start? At Olin, you can explore this topic and more with our co-curriculars.
What are Co-Curriculars at Olin?
Co-curriculars are opportunities to explore non-credit activities combining fun and intellectual awareness, and are typically scheduled for a limited time (e.g., one semester). They're led by staff or faculty members or by a student working in concert with faculty/staff member, and are funded by Student Affairs and Resources.
Co-curriculars differ from curricular offerings in that they are not graded and attendance is not strictly enforced. They differ from extra-curricular activities in that they have an intellectual component, faculty/staff leadership and limited lifespan!
To get an idea of the types of co-curricular activities you could join or create yourself, view the list of Spring 2026 Co-curriculars.
We hope to see you this fall, as part of the Olin Class of 2030...
~ Olin 🧶
