At the behest of his professor, Bickford joined the extracurricular Marine Chemistry Program at his high school, where he conducted research on Puget Sound's red rock crab species over two years. His meticulous research won him second place at the Washington State Science Fair, which in turn allowed him to present his findings at the National Science Fair. His participation proved to be fortuitous, for it was there that he first heard Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Richard Smalley address the subject of "Our Energy Challenge." After that speech, the bug had officially bitten him.
Once enrolled at Santa Clara University, one of the nation’s most advanced and avant-garde engineering schools, Bickford, primarily because of his interest in energy, made the decision to become a mechanical engineer. This decision will allow him the opportunity to focus his career on thermodynamics, the science of energy transfer.
While at school, Bickford has been very active in the engineering community, starting several of his own student organizations and even becoming president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Also high on Bickford's list of accomplishments is his winning of the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Scholarship and a full academic scholarship awarded by SCU.
When he learned that SCU had been selected to compete in the Solar Decathlon, he signed on immediately, and before he knew it he was helping design and build a solar-powered house. His primary role proved to be a multilateral one: he assisted with determining the direction of the architecture, engineering, and thermodynamics in addition to helping with the project's marketing, communications, and fundraising. Bickford likened the experience to starting a company: "We had to raise money, research our topics, learn the science and math behind our concepts, design, redesign, and eventually start implementing our designs." The team has spent more than a year working on the design and will transport it to the National Mall in Washington, DC, where it will compete with other innovative models the week of October 12, 2007.
In the meantime, Bickford is carefully weighing his options as the time nears for him to choose his next career move. He remains confident, though, that his background in engineering will provide him with ample opportunities for personal and professional fulfillment: "As an engineer, I have been trained to creatively problem-solve and overcome unique and difficult challenges," invaluable skills in any field.
Bickford credits much of his success to several adults in his life, namely Steve George, his junior high science teacher, whose class he still visits whenever he goes home. He also acknowledges the influence of Ron Nilsen, his high school science teacher and director of the Marine Chemistry Program, who showed him the importance of detailed research techniques and contributed to his performance at the state science fair. SCU's dean, Dan Pitt, was also instrumental in Bickford's success, convincing him to attend the university and also teaching him essential lessons about both business and life. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the invaluable and constant contribution of Bickford’s parents, who taught him the value of hard work, persistence, and ambitious dreams.
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Q. What do you do for fun?
A. I like to ride my bike, read, and hike.
Q. What CD is in your CD player right now?
A. I am from Generation Y; I have an iPod, not a CD player.
Q. What is the last magazine you read?
A. Discovery magazine.
Q. What is your favorite TV show?
A. Stargate.
Q. Who is your role model?
A. Other than my parents, I think Albert Einstein was a pretty amazing human being—not because of his brilliance, but because of his attitude toward humanity. His inclusive nature and spunky personality as well as his philosophy-driven mentality seem to be lost characteristics in today’s world.
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For those inspired by Bickford's accomplishments, he offers a simple formula for success:
"Do something that you are passionate about. Do something that interests you. If you cannot have a 'save the world' mentality or at least feel that your field is 'really neat,' then you should really keep looking until you find it. The hardest-working people, the people who enjoy themselves the most, and the most successful people are all the same; they are the ones who have found something passionate to apply their lives to."
That Bickford's passions will change the world is evident; that they just might help safeguard the future of the planet is all the more exciting.
