Knowing and Understanding Our World
September 18, 2017
How can one go to war with someone you have broken bread, discussed literature and culture, worked shoulder to shoulder? … More Knowing and Understanding Our World
Hold On…
September 5, 2017
Perhaps reflecting the awareness that we must persevere in order to thrive, the most common Billboard Hot 100 song title is “Hold On”. In March 2013, Alabama Shakes provided the sixteenth entry of a song with that title into the Hot 100 list. “Hold On” was nominated for a Best Rock Performance Grammy Award. While … More Hold On…
Guest Blog by Brian Baetz: Mindful Engineering
August 14, 2017
Dave Goldberg, emeritus professor at University of Illinois, teamed up a few years ago with Mark Sommerville of Olin College on a ground-breaking book, A Whole New Engineer. Dave also created The Big Beacon initiative, where he and his collaborators envision and implement innovations to transform engineering education. His 2016 Jack Hodgins Memorial lecture at … More Guest Blog by Brian Baetz: Mindful Engineering
Pride and Prejudice (and University Program Rankings)
July 17, 2017
A less diverse research team is more likely to produce results that have lower impact. … More Pride and Prejudice (and University Program Rankings)
Innovation, Clusters and Universities
June 12, 2017
In response to the Great Depression of the 1930s, economically depressed jurisdictions used an approach, termed as “smokestack chasing”. Regional governments recruited industrial firms to enhance job creation by providing them with tax incentives, land use privileges and loans. Society was transformed. From being primarily agricultural, many regions quickly reorganized into manufacturing and resource extraction economies. … More Innovation, Clusters and Universities
What is design thinking?
May 8, 2017
Design thinking involves repetition that can lead to a winning idea or solution. It’s when you get an iPhone, Lego blocks, Airbnb, a Swiss Army knife, a foot activated car door, or the recipe for the perfect home–baked flourless chocolate cake. Yum! … More What is design thinking?
Dealing with uncertainty
April 17, 2017
See the world through another scientist’s or engineer’s eyes, walk in their shoes. Learn the languages of their disciplines and thus become scientifically and technically multilingual. … More Dealing with uncertainty
Innovation, and the Sharing and Gig Economy
March 27, 2017
How can entrepreneurship that drives disruptive innovation also foster equitable and inclusive social outcomes?
It’s physics: Carbon dioxide and climate change
March 13, 2017
The role that greenhouse gases play in global warming and climate change is indisputable. Why? Simply because of physics. … More It’s physics: Carbon dioxide and climate change
Bringing innovation home
March 6, 2017
One thing is certain. Our alumni are on top of innovation and leading change. I’m convinced that we’re educating just the engaged citizen scholars who are transforming our world through the real innovations that they are catalyzing and developing. … More Bringing innovation home
Fireside with the Dean 