Hi, I’m Manav Trivedy, and I’m currently a freshman majoring in Computer Science. I am from North Wales, PA, which is just an hour out of Philly. I am currently in Pitt Sailbot club where I’m learning how the codebase works for controlling the boat. My main interests as it relates to my major are the problem-solving aspect in programming and learning more about the technology I take for granted daily. Some of the most interesting CS courses I’ve taken are simply about how computers and software work.

Despite being a Computer Science major, which is associated with higher-level programming and the like, I’m also interested in the engineering side, particularly with compuer engineering. If all goes well, I am going to be doing a Computer Engineering minor next semester in Fall 2026, technically making me a real engineer. Part of the reason I was interested in this program academcially was to learn more about smart systems from both a CS and Computer Engineering perspective. The CS side goes along with the AI and machine learning powering the smart aspect of the smart systems. Then, the COE aspect comes from actually implementing the smart systems, which could use embedded systems and even IoT devices to connect. The various company site visits were also what sold me on this program.

Another reason for going on this trip was to get out of the US and visit another country like South Korea. I’ve never really travelled much in my life, so I want to be able to experience a new culture. While South Korea was the only option available to SCI students, I’m glad I will get to go to a country with such a rich culture and many sights to boast. One of the most exciting parts is the cuisine. I’ve only had limited experience with Korean food, so I’m looking forward to trying more. Outside of food, I’m interested in some of the historical cultural sites, especially after researching many of them for the Plus3 presentation.

This was the first of many (14 to be exact) blogs to come. See you next time!