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September
27, 2004 Vol. 75, no. 5F
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| NYETWORKING:
The Russian Electrical Engineering Student Association (REESA) began
as a Russian speaking club for EECS majors who wanted to work on
community based technology projects. The group attracted many non-Russian
speakers. |
Russian
electrical engineering and computer science club grows to serve community
As an active participant
in the 500-plus-member Berkeley Russian Club, EECS alum Egor Nikitin
often wondered why so few Russian engineers like himself attended the
club’s events. His EECS major had many Russians, but few things
seemed to rouse them from Soda Hall. Nikitin, wanting to establish a
tight knit community of Russian engineers, had an idea. If they wouldn’t
come to him, he would bring the club to them.
In the Spring of 2003, Nikitin started the Russian Electrical Engineering
Student Association (REESA), a group with a professional focus, that
wouldn’t require students to leave Soda Hall.
“Engineering students, especially EECS students, may be socially
shy, but they aren’t shy when it comes to padding their resumes,”
he laughs.
Nikitin envisioned REESA as a big version of a study group where people
work on small software projects and help each other with homework. But
when the group took on a large-scale community project REESA grew into
something much bigger.
In the very beginning, with only a dozen members, the group worked on
small projects such as an online Russian-American dictionary and small
databases. After landing a software development project for the American
Photojournalist Web site, non-Russian engineers began clamoring to join
the group.
Needing the manpower and not wanting to turn engineers away, REESA started
a subgroup, the Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Association (BEECSA).
Last year, BEECSA built an online gallery for the Museum of Children’s
Art in Oakland (www.mocha.org).
“We thought it was a great cause. We created an interface that
kids could use, even kids who are not familiar with computers,”
says Nikitin.
Though engineers from all backgrounds and majors participated in writing
code, the project management team was made up of REESA members.
The project was a labor of love. Nikitin and his REESA team spent every
free moment overseeing the year-long process of development and revisions.
For their effort, REESA members learned how to manage projects and communicate
effectively to team members.
“The idea of the club is to do hard work. Our philosophy and approach
is pretty much in line with the EECS major,” says Nikitin.
Despite the stress, pressure, and workaholic attitudes REESA members
admit they had fun. For Nikitin it was an opportunity to hang out with
his friends and do something he loves.
But the real reward came when the project was done.
“It made us feel so good when we saw the kids’ faces as they
used the new interface,” he says.
REESA’s new president is Dimitri Shafranov and the group is gearing
up for a new year and looking for a new project. While the group is
run by Russian speakers, anyone is welcome to join, contribute a nonprofit
project idea, or get help with personal projects.
“We are looking for people with passion who want to help a good
cause and improve their resume,” says Shafranov.
To get involved with REESA or BEECSA, e-mail team@sensors.berkeley.edu.
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