ABQ Times

Just call him ‘waterjon’: Undergraduate Ian Kahn has found some creative ways to combine his love of water with passions in computer science, gaming, and even music. Ian Kahn, a senior in computer science at UNM, was born and raised in land-locked New Mexico but has always had an affinity for water. The New Mexico native, who currently holds a part-time job as a lifeguard at UNM’s Johnson Gym, said he always enjoyed when his family would vacation in beach locales, scuba diving in places such as Antigua, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This summer, Kahn will get in a lot more beach time through an intensive educational opportunity he has been selected for. He is one of the students from around the country who has been chosen for the Science Communication and Interdisciplinary Ocean Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) called Making Waves, held at the University of South Florida. Kahn will do research at the College of Maritime Science in St. Petersburg, Fla., from May 19 to July 26. He will work with Mark Luther, an associate professor in physical oceanography at USF, on a project that involves the development of artificial intelligence for the navigation and docking of ships.

Kahn, who once considered pursuing a career in gaming, found a unique opportunity that combined his computer science skills and love of water. He mentioned, "I was once interested in pursuing the gaming field, but I changed my mind. Turns out, they really wanted someone with gaming experience for this internship. It hit a niche they wanted to fill."

He is grateful for the support he received from the Engineering Student Success Center (ESS) at UNM, which helped him discover this internship opportunity. Kahn expressed his excitement about the diverse marine science options available during the REU program, highlighting that "the great thing about the REU is that it doesn’t have to be in your field."

As he prepares to earn his bachelor’s degree in December, Kahn is considering attending graduate school and is currently working on a water-related project involving augmented reality and submarines. When not immersed in academic or professional pursuits, he enjoys producing electronic music under the stage name waterjon. Reflecting on his journey, Kahn acknowledged the challenges of his computer science major, stating, "With computer science, you have to be disciplined. Using the tutors and resources that UNM offers helped me get through."