Valparaiso University College of Engineering hosted the 21st Innovators Café

Valparaiso often takes pride in the accomplishments of our Valparaiso University students. Valparaiso University College of Engineering hosted the 21st Innovators Café at Valparaiso University on Thursday, June 19, which showcased some of these achievements.The main focus of the Café was the James S. Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility, which is one of only five solar furnaces in the United States. The facility was designed to use solar energy to create solar fuels and commodities, and the College of Engineering has received two grants to conduct research in this area: a $2.3 million cooperative agreement from the Department of Energy and a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. Valparaiso University ranks in the top 20 universities for engineering undergraduate programs.

O’ Merrial Butchee, Director of the Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, welcomed guests to the Innovators Café after lunch. The hour long presentation included presentations from Thomas Coley, Ph.D., Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College Northwest & North Central, Mark Heckler, Ph.D., President of Valparaiso University, Eric Johnson, Ph.D., Dean of College of Engineering, Robert Palumbo, Ph.D., Professor of Mechanical Engineering, G. Scott Duncan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Mark Maassel, Keynote speaker and Vice President of Indiana Energy Association, and John Davies, Managing Directors of the Society of Innovators. All of speakers stressed the importance of innovation in engineering in modern society and how solar energy is the key to a sustainable future.

Heckler discussed the different features that Valparaiso offers to Engineering students.“Students have many types of hands on experiential opportunities here at Valparaiso University. We now learn, especially with this generation of students, that hands on experience makes all the difference in the world,” Heckler stated. “Here, students get the ability to experience that every single day. In addition, we work very hard to help these students think critically about problems and to propose solutions that have been tried before.”

Professors Palumbo and Duncan described the features of the James S. Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility. A unique feature is that this facility is not only used by Valparaiso University students, but also available for use by Ivy Tech Community College Northwest & North Central students.

“What makes this facility different is that all of this equipment has been given to by the generosity of our donors- our alumni and our friends here in the Northwest Indiana community,” Palumbo stated.

The professors and students at Valparaiso University have outlined some of the major goals for the James S. Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility. These goals include the ability to develop innovative sustainable techniques for creating solar fuels and commodities that impact everyday life, deliver meaningful innovation experiences to undergraduate engineering students, provide leaders and learners exposure to innovative laboratories, projects, and experts that promote science literacy in the region, promote STEM careers for all ages by demonstrating cutting-edge science and engineering projects, and provide students with the technical and innovative foundation that will allow them to solve society’s greatest challenges.

Before the tour of the facility began, Davies ended the presentation on a positive note.

Davies stated, “No longer will graduate students be the ones to make a difference. Now undergraduates have the opportunity to explore engineering like never before at our very own Valparaiso University.”

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