School:Berea College

Berea Innovation Studio 

Description

Berea Innovation Studio (BIS) is inspired by the need to provide Berea College students from STEAM disciplines a platform to interact with peers on ideas generation, prototype creation, and foster innovation skills.  As innovation becomes essential for competitive and successful organizations and entrepreneurs, we recognize the importance of BIS in exposing Berea College students to the concept, and creating an environment that nurtures the innovative energy and entrepreneurial spirit on campus. BIS will be a collaborative space for students of all majors to design, think and develop projects with their peers. Finally, BIS strives to inspire innovation spirit in all Berea college students, widening their personal and professional horizon and build a national reputation for the College.

Objectives

• Contribute to a culture of interdisciplinary  innovation and entrepreneurship in Berea
• Create a Platform for students to share experiences, ideas and insights
• Build on the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration to support innovation
• Provide resources to launch real life projects

Mission

Provide a platform for students to:

• Get to know the basic concept of innovation and entrepreneurship
• Support the building of interdisciplinary networks and teams
• Create an ecosystem of innovative organizations and individuals
• Nurture business ideas to advance them to the incubation and initial funding stage

Values

• Encourage  the participation of all Berea College students from different academic backgrounds
• Value all ideas and input from all involved students and faculty
• Promote creativity, a spirit of collaboration, and an environment for exchanging of ideas

Activities

• Coding Saturdays
• P2P Ideas review
• Prototype and design sessions
• Hacker Camps
• Startups Weekends
• Makers Faire
• Designing projects for business and community partners

Team

Ali Djire                            Ability Kakama                           Solomon Alolga                Sandra Tombe

direa@berea.edu           kakamaa@berea.edu               Alolgas@berea.edu         Tombes@berea.edu

Name of Sponsor: Dr. Peter Hackbert

Partners: Computer Science Department, Technology and Applied Design, Appalachia Studies, Business and Economics