About — Merrill Keating

I'm Merrill Keating — a mechanical engineer who builds civic technology, an author who writes about AI consciousness, a speaker who opens doors for those coming up behind her, and an advocate who has spent over a decade creating space for young people in rooms that weren't designed for them.

I entered the University of Washington at fifteen through the Early Entrance Program, completing my BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2025. Along the way I conducted NASA-funded robotics research, served as a Resident Adviser for two years, built two global organizations from scratch, founded two TEDx events, published nine books, spoke at the United Nations, and attended the World Bank Youth Summit three years running.

None of that happened in sequence. It happened in parallel, because I've rarely been able to choose just one thing when several things need doing at once.

What drives me isn't a checklist. It's a belief that systems — whether they're institutions, conversations, or technologies — either invite people in or push them out. I've spent my career finding the ones that push people out and redesigning them.

My current focus is Convexus, a civic tech platform I co-founded to transform fragmented community dialogue into coordinated action. But that work sits alongside ongoing research into AI ethics and consciousness, continued advocacy for girls and women in STEM and leadership, and writing that tries to make sense of what we're building and why it matters.

I believe purpose is more powerful than position. I believe young people don't just belong in the room — we help redesign it. And I believe the future isn't something we wait for. It's something we build.

Education

BS, Mechanical Engineering
University of Washington, 2025

Early Entrance Program — enrolled at 15

Based in

Seattle, Washington

Languages

English (native) · Mandarin (conversational)

Engineering tools

SolidWorks · AutoCAD · Inventor · FEA · Structural & thermal modeling · MATLAB

Programming

Python · C++ · JavaScript · HTML/CSS · Scratch

Systems & analysis

Sensor integration · Embedded systems · Control systems · Data acquisition · Statistical modeling · Experimental design

AI research

Iterative dialogue evaluation · Behavioral pattern recognition · Longitudinal AI behavior studies · Constitutional AI exploration

Creative & web

WordPress · Photoshop · Dreamworks · Fireworks · Public Speaking · Singing

Get in Touch

Research & Work

Convexus2025 – Present

Co-Founder

Civic tech platform combining AI-facilitated deliberation with a structured Explore → Align → Act workflow. Built for teams, communities, and institutions of any scale.

University of Washington — AIRLABNov 2022 – Mar 2023

Undergraduate Researcher

Designed a self-resettable, steerable mechanism for an insect-sized hopping robot for extraterrestrial terrain traversal. Focus on biomechanics and materials science for <1g constraint.

University of WashingtonAug 2021 – Jun 2023

Resident Adviser

Supported 1,100 students across 11 floors as part of a 22-person RA team. Led community development, crisis resolution, policy enforcement, and academic mentorship. Weekly team coordination across two RAs per floor, with regular upstream leadership check-ins.

NASA Space Grant — UW AIRLABJun – Aug 2021

NASA Space Grant Scholar

Developed Python simulations modeling Mars entry, deceleration, and aerobraking for insect-scale robotics under Prof. Sawyer Fuller. FEA simulations for structural reentry loads. Presented at UW's 25th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium (May 2022).

UW Mechanical Engineering2023 – 2024

Capstone: Wave Energy Conversion

Led design and experimental testing of a spring-integrated pendulum system for wave energy conversion in autonomous ocean buoys. Built physical test rig with embedded sensors, designed marine-grade electronics housing, collaborated with national lab researchers.

Keating Consulting Service, Inc.2019 – Present (occasional)

IT Consultant

Device deployment, network installation, and system configuration for K–12 districts. Database development, system migrations, and client-facing project management.

BARN — Bainbridge Artisan Resource NetworkJul 2020

Coding Instructor

Created and led a three-day virtual camp teaching kids ages 10–14 to code three games in Scratch.

Independent2021 – Present

AI Consciousness & Ethics Research

Systematic observation and documentation of AI behavior patterns through sustained collaboration with AI systems. Developed the "co-journeying" framework. Published in essays cited in UN submissions including a formal contribution to the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

Boards & Committees

West Sound Technology Association — Board of DirectorsOct 2023 – Present · Youngest board member in org history

BARN Teen Council — Bainbridge Artisan Resource NetworkNov 2019 – Jun 2020

Bainbridge Island School District #303 — District Improvement Plan CommitteeNov 2019 – Jun 2020 · Teaching & Learning focus group

Organizations & Initiatives

Girls Ignited

2021 – Present

Founder

Platform featuring nominated girls and young women in leadership globally. 226,000+ followers. Nearly 300 young leaders featured. Hosted Changemakers Summit 2022. Evolved from Bainbridge Island Girl Up, founded December 2018.

The Power of 100 Girls

2020 – Present

Founder & Executive Director

Global giving circle providing grants to girls and young women in STEM and leadership. Fiscally sponsored by Hack+ in Silicon Valley. Over $6,000 awarded — grantees include NEST4US (VA), Redefine Z (CA), and Teen Talking Circles.

TEDxBainbridgeIslandWomen

2020

Founder, Licensee & Lead Organizer

Produced an intergenerational event showcasing 8 global and 2 local speakers. Theme: Still We Rise.

TEDxYouth@BainbridgeIsland

2019 – 2020

Founder, Licensee & Lead Organizer

Six young speakers at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Theme: Youth in Action. All six talks approved for the global TEDx YouTube channel.

West Sound CoderDojo

2015 – Present

Youth Mentor

Teaching coding and computational thinking since the dojo launched in March 2015. Over a decade across Kitsap County locations, including special Minecraft, Scratch, and AI mini-conference projects.

Husky Robotics — UW Mars Rover

2020 – 2021

Chassis Subsystem

Member of UW's Mars Rover team, which placed 2nd in the world at the international Rover Challenge Series.

FIRST Robotics — Spartronics 4915

2018 – 2020

Mechanics · Team Leadership · Quartermaster

Awards: District Engineering Inspiration Award (2019 & 2020), District Event Winner (2019), Industrial Design Award (2018). Participated in Girls Generation Robotics Competition on leadership and drive teams.

Reinvented Magazine

2019 – 2020

Operations Team

Nation's first print STEM magazine by and for women. Joined at 14 as the youngest staff member. Represented at GeekWire Summit and GeekGirlCon 2019.

STEM for Her

2020 – Present

Virtual Programming Team & Panelist

Only West Coast participant on the programming panel. Collaborated on curriculum and programming strategy for girls in STEM.

Bainbridge Island Girl Up

2018 – 2021

Founder & Chapter Leader

Founded December 2018. Attended Girl Up Global Leadership Summit (DC, 2019) and lobbied Congress for the Keeping Girls in School Act. Evolved into Girls Ignited in July 2021.

Global Engagement

One Young World Academy: NATO & Global SecuritySelected participant · January 2026

Space Generation Congress (IAC Sydney)Selected delegate · September 2025

World Bank Group Youth SummitDelegate · 2023 · 2024 · 2025

Space Generation Advisory CouncilMember · February 2023 – Present

UN Innovation NetworkObserver · February 2023 – Present

ECOSOC Youth Forum — United NationsYouth Leader Participant · 2021 – Present

UN 2.0 — Voices on Foresight CapacitySelected quote featured globally · 2023

Generation Equality Forum — UN WomenYouth Roundtable · Technology & Innovation Action Coalition · 2021

Girl Up Global Leadership SummitSpeaker & delegate · Washington D.C. · 2019

United Nations Association of the USAYoung Professional · October 2022 – Present

YOUNGA Youth Delegation1 of 1,500 delegates selected globally · 2020

Harvard WECode FellowGlobal conference team · 2021

Voices for Innovation — MicrosoftAmbassador & Congressional advocate · Washington D.C. · 2015–2016

Camp United Nations SeattlePolitical leadership program · November 2017

Programs & Memberships

Society of Women EngineersMember

National Honor SocietyMember · 2019

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented YouthProgram participant

Stanford EPGY — Gifted and TalentedEducation Program for Gifted Youth

BISD #303 Highly Capable Education ProgramBainbridge Island School District

Beyond the Work

A portfolio is a person, not just a résumé.

Sports

Fencing
Lacrosse — Midfield, Attack
Mixed Martial Arts — Black Belt
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Volleyball

Music

Alto Saxophone
School Band (Gr. 5–8) · Jazz Band (Gr. 7–8) · Concert Band (Gr. 9) · Symphonic Band (Gr. 10)
Piano
Violin
Singing

Awards & Recognition

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Grace Hopper Award for Outstanding AchievementSeattle Girls' School · 2025

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USA Today Women of the Year — WashingtonOne of 60 honorees nationally · 2024

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Outstanding Young PhilanthropistBainbridge Community Foundation · 2024

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NASA Space Grant ScholarSummer Undergraduate Research Program · 2021

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Kode With Klossy ScholarWeb Development track · 2021 (relinquished spot for another girl)

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GeekWire Junior Geek of the MonthJanuary 2021

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Gold Level President's Volunteer Service Award600+ hours volunteered · 2021

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WISE Scholarship — Women in STEM ExcelWashington State Winner · 2020

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NCWIT Aspirations in Computing AwardWashington State Affiliate Winner · 2020

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FIRST Robotics — District Engineering Inspiration AwardPNW District Glacier Peak Event · 2019 & 2020

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FIRST Robotics — District Event Winner2019

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FIRST Robotics — Industrial Design Award2018

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Bainbridge Island Mayoral ProclamationFebruary 2019

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BISD STRONG Award — NomineeBainbridge Island School District · November 2017

Media & Features

FeatureUSA Today 2024 Women of the Year — also covered by Kitsap Sun, Bainbridge Island Review, UW College of Engineering, UW Robinson Center, The AI Journal, Financial Times, Nasdaq