Boundless innovation

The future is in fast-forward at UD. On the same day in October, we dedicated two new labs that make us excited for the future of learning, teaching, research and service — all to build higher-quality, more relevant academic programs. 

In the School of Engineering, assistant professor Alex Watson ’10 led a tour of a new interactive 5G broadband teaching lab. As a 3D circuit printer the size of a refrigerator hummed in the background, he explained how students use cutting-edge equipment to design, test, build and iterate the high-speed connectivity systems homes, businesses and industry need. 

In the School of Education and Health Sciences, Father Bob Jones, S.M. ’98, carefully sprinkled holy water to avoid the seven virtual reality stations and advanced 3D anatomy tools where students explore complex biological systems and practice interpreting CT and MRI scans. The Dave and Norma McCarthy Virtual Reality Laboratory in memory of Anne Crecelius helps students improve their skills faster, making them assets to community health from their very first patient encounter. 

Across disciplines, these labs elevate hands-on learning. Long a hallmark of our Marianist educational philosophy, experiential learning is now being supercharged by the expectation that every UD student will have at least one mentored, high-impact, hands-on learning experience. In the 5G lab, thanks in part to $4.26 million from the state of Ohio, students from high school through graduate studies will train to bring broadband into 12 Ohio counties. In the VR lab, teams of undergraduate and graduate students will engage in AI-generated case studies to build collaborative, cross-professional skills for patient care. 

Riley Stevens, a junior health science major, shared how the virtual anatomy tables amplified her recent internship experience. As a physical therapy intern, she talked patients through the mechanics of each exercise and its benefit to their recovery. Her education transcends memorization of body parts, she says: “I can explain how everything is connected.”

“I can explain how everything is connected.”

Innovation in education knows no bounds. Thanks to visionary faculty and staff and dedicated donors and partners, opportunities continue to multiply for our students. This is the future. And we can’t wait to see what comes next. 

photos by Sylvia Stahl ’18