Priorities:Kettering University Student Priorities
Contents
An area for Rapid Prototyping (T-space)
Description
Kettering University is an engineering focused school that prides itself on taking what is learned in the classroom and being able to utilize the same concepts literally through cooperative education. However, design projects largely take place outside of the university where students work. An area where students can quickly piece up together what they have in mind is need here at Kettering. Having what we call a “Tinkering Space” would create an environment for students to not only have access to the tools they need to produce prototypes, but also have access to an environment where other students have a similar mindset. This new approach may be able to start a movement here at Kettering where students can finally have place where they can work on ideas that have generated for work purposes or even personal ideas.
Background
The T-Space is an idea that has been generated within the last 6 months, and really has begin gaining traction within the last month. The Kettering Entrepreneur Society has had an interest in an area where ideas can be brought to life and we feel this may do just that. In the Kettering Mott Building, at the end of hallway on the second floor, there is an empty space where an organization known TechWorks used to be - this is where we aim to have the Tinkering Space. Some of the tools we would like to add include soldering irons, a laser cutting machine, a 3D printer, computers with high cost software, and many other tools for quick idea generation such as whiteboards, sticky notes, etc.
Leaders
Hunter Casbeer, Saheb Kapoor, Massoud Tavakoli, Alexander Barath, Eddie Scholdolski, Garreth Brazil. We also want to keep this open to the Kettering community with the hope that anyone can get involved with this project.
Research tying in with I&E
Background
While every professor does research at Kettering, in large part it is unknown what research each professor is working on and where their research goes. At least in the Electrical Computer Engineering department, when we have our term get together for a review of the term and what next term will look like, there is some advertisement in the achievements the department has experienced with research, but it is new to nearly everyone attending. Transparency of research projects throughout the university can lead to many benefits with students knowing what exists so they may be able to help.
Proposal
In order to get research make a connection with innovation and entrepreneurship, we first of all have to have awareness. This could be accomplished from the development of a web page listing all the research that is not confidential as well as each department sending out an email to the students associated. Once awareness is achieved, we can begin looking at the broader spectrum, and decide where each research project may lead to. The NSF awards thousands of dollars to bring research out of the labs and into a start-up.
Leaders
TBD
Learning to innovate using art and creativity
With a roughly 50% student population comprised of Mechanical Engineers, Kettering is majorly a technical school.
TedX event
Maker Fair
Description
Once successful implementation of the T-Space and maybe tying research with I&E, projects should be displayed to give recognition to students as well as spread awareness. In general we would like to have this like the Maker Faire in Detroit where many other tinkerers come together and showcase their projects. The event could happen during orientation week where there is the largest amount of student traffic.
