The recruit Barbara Hawke Lopez was the captain of her robotics team in high school and likes coding and emerging technology.
When she discovered Qnovate Labs opened an installation on the Uconn Stamford campus, with practical learning opportunities in emerging technology, she was intrigued.
Today, Hawke Lopez is employed as a laboratory assistant there, teacher at his peers how to experience new technologies and help them develop their confidence in the automation of the future.
“When you enter the laboratory, there is almost always someone who plays a game using virtual reality,” said Hawke Lopez, who studies journalism and cognitive sciences. “Other students come in 3D print everything, from objects inspired by pop culture with fidget toys. There is a good mix of activities. ”
“The laboratory is very friendly and there are always two or three people there to help you if you are stuck,” she said. The laboratory, which opened in September 2024, is located in room 310.
“People are excited when they discover it, and I think it is a good addition to our campus and the global commercial environment. This helps students develop professional trust and skills ” she said.
Hartford Campus made his debut last week
But Stamford students are not the only ones to have new experiences. Innovate Labs opened another installation in Hartford last week. This new laboratory is on the first floor of the Graduate Business Learning Center in Hartford, at the 100 Constitution Plaza. All students, regardless of the major, as well as teachers and staff are invited to explore the laboratory.
On the day of opening, on February 10, workers’ students demonstrated 3D pens, VR headsets and circuits that can follow the heart rate of a user. The event attracted students and staff from the GBLC, Storrs and Hartford Times Building nearby.
A festive ball arch welcomed students and teachers at the center of the first floor which includes stations featuring Internet objects (IoT), virtual and augmented reality, 3D printing and modeling, vocal technology And intelligent, drones, robotics, circuits and sensors. The Innovate Stamford and Hartford laboratories are both modeled after the original laboratory located at the Storrs activity school.
Lucy Ledesma, a junior specializing in the double -degree MeM program and a laboratory awareness specialist in Storrs, went to Hartford to demonstrate technology. “I think it’s great that students on other campuses have the experiences we have,” she said.
Innovate Labs Tech Manager, Sophia Hatzis, a second year student specialized in sociology and mechanical engineering, said that at the start, some students were hesitant to experiment.
“At the beginning, they may not know how to start, but there is always someone there to browse them and strengthen their confidence to try more advanced things,” she said.
Bring energy and excitement to campus
Innovate Labs is part of Digital Frontiers Initiative (DFI) at the School of Business. The program folds the university world and industry through advanced research, innovation and partnerships. DFI works under the aegis of Connecticut Information Technology Institute in Uconn.
“Our goal is to create an opportunity for students to develop new skills that will promote the next generation of learners, managers, entrepreneurs and innovators,” said Opim professor Jon Moore, who is also executive director of DFI. He created and oversees the three laboratories.
The original innovative laboratory opened in Storrs eight years ago, after some recent graduates said they would have liked more emerging technological skills when they entered the job market.
“People can start where they are comfortable,” said Moore. “We encourage people to get out of their comfort zone, but also to acquire skills that correspond to their career interests. Not only is it precious, but keeps students on campus and committed, but it brings energy and excitement to campus. ”
Professor Opim Wei Chen, the Academic Director of the DFI, accepted.
“Innovate laboratories are a dynamic space where students can explore emerging technologies and give life to their ideas,” he said. “It is an incredible opportunity for them to experiment, collaborate and acquire practical experience with the latest tools shaping the future.”
Students can go to local spaces
Another advantage of the innovate regional laboratories is that once students have comfortable with technology there, they can expand their ideas on nearby makerspaces.
Stamford students have access to Ge’s Cocreate, a 65,000 square feet manufacturer space, which welcomes everyone, from heads to designers to entrepreneurs or owners to use their equipment and explore the “community playground”.
The Digital Frontiers initiative is in conversation with GE Cocreate on joint workshops, events and projects.
In Hartford, DFI establishes a dynamic relationship with Makerspace CT, which is a few steps from the two Hartford campuses. Students have the opportunity to earn three months of free members in this space by participating in one of the unwavering innovative Labs, Innovate2Create programs. This program is designed to help students transform their idea into a marketable prototype. The nine -week program includes guest speakers from Makerspacect and will end with a presentation of Pitch in the spring.
For UCONN students interested, innovative laboratories offer job opportunities, students with the choice of working on the technological team (which oversees stocks and learning), the awareness team (which leads workshops, Clubs and courses), or the marketing team. The laboratory workers of the three campuses collaborate and the live food cameras allow them to share ideas, solve problems or simply say hello from all over the state.
Moore is now striving to offer workshops for UCNC students, in particular primary, college and secondary school students.
If you want to know more about DFI, or make a guided tour of one of the Innovate laboratories, please contact Katherine Lorange in Katherine.lorange@uconn.edu.