Silk Road Interactive Website
I reconstructed the journeys of Buddhist monks Xuanzang and Faxian using 大唐西域记, 大慈恩寺三藏法师传 and 法显传, supported by modern annotations. I compiled 388 location records: 303 for Xuanzang and 85 for Faxian, and mapped 28 route segments, including three maritime sections, in QGIS. I then built an interactive, bilingual website to explore their travels. My research examines how geography, trade, monasteries and political support enabled these journeys, while considering whose experiences survive in historical records and how maps should communicate uncertainty.
The Bigger Picture Podcast
I created and host a podcast and YouTube interview series exploring history, politics, economics and the experiences that shape people’s ideas. The project brings together students and professionals from different academic, cultural and career backgrounds. I prepare for each interview by researching the guest’s interests and developing questions tailored to their experiences. Conversations have ranged from a professional whose career spans space technology and investment to an incoming University of Pennsylvania history student discussing conflict, propaganda and historical violence. Alongside these broader issues, I explore how guests discovered their interests, chose their fields and navigated decisions about education and work.
Flashlearn.co
I coded FlashLearn during finals to help students turn their notes into practical revision tools. Built with Next.js, TypeScript and the OpenAI API, the website generates flashcards and quizzes from study material. With 31 users, the project brought my programming skills into a real application supporting students’ revision.
