SEAS students receive standing ovation at 2022 AMIE conference

2022 AMIE Design Challenge contest winners presenting at the AMIE conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) students received a standing ovation from over 200 industry professionals for their presentation at the 2022 Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE) Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 26.

An innovative and interactive experience, the conference brings together the Council of Engineering Deans of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), students, engineering professionals and leaders from top corporations and government agencies.

Biomedical engineering student Glacia Martin, computer science student Ciero Kilpatrick, computer science and medical engineering student Chidera Igwebuike, mechanical engineering student TaiZeree’ Walker and internet technology student Adrienne Lambert were invited to participate after they won first prize in the 2022 AMIE Design Challenge, held virtually on April 1.

Dr. Ji Chen, UDC visiting assistant professor in mechanical and biomedical engineering and Dr. Max Denis, UDC assistant professor in mechanical and biomedical engineering and George Omae, industry advisor from Boston Scientific, served as faculty advisors.

The Design Challenge was a part of a collaboration with AMIE to demonstrate emerging technologies and how they are used to solve real-life problems. Each university team was judged by industry professioinals on their design, problem-solving, communication and business model.

This year’s Design Challenge focused on the following problem statement: “How might we design a solution to improve the quality of life in clean water, urban infrastructure, clean energy, transportation and access to high-speed internet?”

UDC’s team sought to design a solution to improve the wellness of college students by harvesting kinetic energy as a rewarding application of clean energy. They presented their answer at the conference—an innovative piezoelectric sensor-based device called “Gravicube,” demonstrating leadership, innovative user-centric solutions and out-of-the-box thinking.

Students received $600 each for their participation, and UDC received $6,000.

SEAS Dean Devdas Shetty said that he was extremely proud of the team.

“It was an extremely nice experience. I thank the students and the faculty advisors.”

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