Gabrielle (Gabbie) Chang, a senior undergraduate majoring in computer science from Hinsdale, Illinois, has been granted a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, a scholarship that provides graduating students a year of autonomous study outside of the United States. Throughout her project, Chang will dedicate her time to exploring the computational topology of knitted structures in Japan, volunteering at sheep farms in New Zealand, creating a digital platform for a feminist fiber arts collective in the United Kingdom, and learning Viking weaving techniques in the Faroe Islands—all to investigate how fiber arts have influenced scientific knowledge and the wider narrative of technological advancement.
Chang brings a collection of interconnected interests to this endeavor: knitting, of course, but also the history of fiber arts as a female-dominated craft, the political aspects of handiwork, and the ways in which knitting may contribute to modern scientific inquiry.
“I was quite crafty as a child—I always enjoyed being tactile and creating things,” Chang remembers. “Then when I discovered coding, that was yet another way to create—just in a different form.” Throughout her various interests, Chang recognized that the process of making frequently fosters community. With coding, she engaged in hackathons and subsequently co-founded Caltech’s chapter of Girls Who Code, which has grown to over 70 members. Through knitting, she discovered community via regular knit nights and online crafting circles. Craft, she asserts, possesses a unique ability to connect different generations and cultures. “You meet the most amazing people you never thought you would have so much in common with—and suddenly you’re swapping knitting tips and life advice,” she states.
Chang was attracted to the Watson Fellowship, she explains, as it provided her the chance to merge what she was learning with experiences outside the classroom. Caltech, she emphasizes, equipped her with the skills to achieve this: “You’re constantly maneuvering through uncertainty, addressing challenges you’ve never encountered before,” she notes.
Last autumn, Chang participated in a study abroad program at Cambridge University, where she recognized the significance of immersing herself in a locale and establishing connections that enriched her education beyond the classroom. She had secured a full-time software engineering position following graduation, but her plans shifted upon discovering she had been granted the Watson Fellowship. “I knew I had to accept it,” she mentions.
As she advanced through her computer science studies at Caltech, Chang observed unexpected similarities between knitting and computing. “Both create intricate systems from basic components: knits and purls, ones and zeros. They employ abstraction and logic to construct structure and meaning,” she explains.
During her Watson year, Chang aims to collaborate with researchers examining the physics of knitted structures to model everything from elastic metamaterials to the mechanics of biological tissue. “Fiber arts have historically been linked to innovation,” Chang remarks. “They’ve contributed to the technologies we utilize today.”
Chang joins the 57th cohort of Watson Fellows. The Thomas J. Watson Foundation is named after the former chief executive officer of IBM. According to a press release announcing the newest group of 37 fellows, “the Foundation partners with students to broaden their perspectives, cultivate their potential, and build the confidence and insight to become more compassionate and effective leaders in the global community.” The foundation’s executive director, Chris Kasabach, stated regarding this year’s fellows: “It’s never been more crucial for young leaders to connect with others across differences, disciplines, and borders.”
Previous Caltech Watson Fellows include Saehui Hwang (BS ’22), who investigated the use of wearable sensors across various cultures; Liana Merk (BS ’21), who focused on sequencing and analyzing the DNA of bacterial cultures found in local yogurts; Michelle Dan (BS ’19), who examined humanity’s influence on the planet from intersecting viewpoints in biology, geology, the arts, and agriculture; and Michelle Wang (BS ’18), who engaged in a series of projects related to enhancing humanity through machinery.