Engineering a Stronger Toledo
The University of Toledo professors and graduate students aren’t the only ones solving engineering problems. Undergraduates in the Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (M.I.M.E.) Senior Design Clinic apply what they learn in the classroom to solve real community engineering challenges.
“While collaborating with an internal team, students in the program work with local industries to find technological solutions to help the community – all while networking with potential employers,” says Nagi Naganathan, PhD, dean of the College of Engineering at UT. “Senior Design Clinic students may also learn how to form a business from their own ideas or from innovations presented by community members.”
And in some cases, these innovations have become patented and successful businesses.
For example, M.I.M.E. department professors and students began working with UT alumnus and inventor Ron Roberts who had an idea to help decrease the growing number of football concussions. The recently patented invention incorporates a protective mechanism into the skullcaps players commonly wear under their helmets.
“While Ron is trying to develop a business plan, our students are finding out how to best design the skull cap and what material would provide the most effective protection,” says Ron Fournier, PhD, professor of bioengineering at UT.
It's a win-win — students get real-world experience to add to their resumes, and local companies can take advantage of the undergraduates' know-how.
You can see these projects on display during the biannual Senior Design Expo on Friday, April 30, which will feature more than 50 designs of graduating engineering students.
Want to know how your business can benefit from the Senior Design Clinic? Call (877) 451-2299 to get more information.
