Illumin is an online magazine dedicated to exploring the science and technology behind the things we encounter every day. Produced and published by the Engineering Writing Program at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Illumin features the work of talented USC undergraduate engineers along with submissions from universities across the nation. These articles, supplemented with innovative multimedia features, relate the far-reaching impact of the engineering profession, and provide a broader view of the socio-economic and political implications of rapid technological change.

History

In the Spring of 1999, Illumin was conceived at the USC School of Engineering as a way to demonstrate the relevance of engineering to engineers and non-engineers alike. In an effort to highlight the impact of engineering upon everyday life and to showcase the writing skills of USC Engineering students, the Engineering Writing Program at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering began the development of Illumin. Using articles submitted as part of a WRIT 340 class assignment, the editors and multimedia specialists built the Illumin website.

With worldwide readership, Illumin continues to evolve as an academic resource for modern society. Illumin articles have been selected for publication in textbooks and university course readers. Multimedia features now include flash animation, graphics correlating with each article, video and sounds clips, a glossary of terms, and an extensive archive of previously published articles. Additionally, a teacher's edition of Illumin is currently being created for use in high school classrooms.

Illumin is funded by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering's Office of the Dean. Seed money was also provided by the USC Fund for Innovative Undergraduate Teaching.

Core Team

Illumin's core team is composed of students who edit and format papers for the online medium. Our staff also includes a web developer and multimedia guru. We interview and hire for open staffing positions every Spring.

Illumin staff group shot Fall 2011 and Spring 2012. (Credit: Ting/Illumin.)

Alfonso Garza Web Developer

Alfonso recently transferred to USC from Mexico and is currently pursuing a Computer Science degree. He is interested in the myriad opportunities of cloud computing. He enjoys reading and playing soccer with friends. After graduating, he hopes to work for a software company in Silicon Valley.

Divya Nair Associate Editor

Divya is a junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Spanish. She hopes to pursue a graduate degree in the engineering field and is currently involved with research in the Visual Processing Laboratory. She is also active in SWE and WYSE, providing mentorship and resources to young girls in the greater LA community. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, dancing, and trying new food.

Heather Chen Associate Editor

Heather is a senior pursuing a Biomedical Engineering degree. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing and oil painting. She loves reading newspapers and feeling up-to-date with regards to the world around her. After graduating, she aspires to enter the medical field specializing in pediatrics.

Kolleen Lee Associate Editor

Kolleen is a junior majoring in Aerospace Engineering and minoring in English Literature. She likes to involve herself in the AeroDesign Team and frolick in the sunshine. Upon graduation, she hopes that life will sweep her off her feet and take her to mountains of success.

Louis Morton Graphics Designer

Louis is an MFA student in the School of Cinematic Arts. He is interested in all types of animation, especially stop motion and flash. He is also interested in the power of animation as an educational tool. He graduated with a BFA in industrial design from the University of Illinois in 2006. In his free time, he enjoys baking pies.

Omar Dana Associate Editor

Omar is a junior majoring in Civil Engineering and minoring in Theatre. He is also involved with Engineers Without Borders and ASCE here at USC. In my free time, he enjoys being a Trojan and going to SC sporting events. GO SC!

Peter Nguyen Associate Editor

Peter is a junior majoring in computer science/business administration. He is currently interning at USC's Information Sciences Institute. In his spare time he enjoys reading the new and following professional basketball as well as college football. After graduating, he hopes to work for an innovative start up company.

Sarah Waliany Associate Editor

Sarah is a junior at USC and is excited for a productive year at Illumin. She does research at City of Hope Medical Center. In her little free time, she enjoys reading medical journals, listening to music, and watching old movies. In the future, she aims to become a medical oncologist.

Steve Bucher Faculty Advisor

Stephen Bucher is the Director of the Engineering Writing Program at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. He is the founder of and faculty adviser to Illumin magazine.