The Whiting School of Engineering is in the process of developing plans for a schoolwide engineering design center that will serve all departments and educational centers. Elizabeth Logsdon has been appointed as director of the Sardella Engineering Design Center, which will remain a virtual center until the Board of Trustees approves the design and construction of its physical home.
In addition to coordinating faculty input on the planning efforts, Logsdon will be leading our annual Design Day event coordination. She will also continue to teach and serve as director of undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering. A faculty committee working closely with Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education Michael Falk, to whom Logsdon with report in her new capacity, has articulated ambitious goals for the new center which will:
- elevate the current project-based and engineering design curricula in each WSE department, while also inspiring new models for multidisciplinary learning and engagement;
- be the central location at Homewood for undergraduate engineering design and project-based learning to accommodate the needs of any undergraduate WSE course and student-led co- or extra-curricular activity with a significant hands-on design or project-based focus;
- be a place where students, faculty, and staff from all WSE departments will work together in designing, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing engineering solutions to real-world problems;
- support project-based engineering club activities;
- serve as the central hub for schoolwide design-related events, including various WSE Design Day activities;
- support workshops on design, prototyping techniques, and testing methods, and training on equipment;
- provide an inclusive and inspiring environment that encourages creativity and innovative thinking;
- be a hub of activity where engineering students will want to spend their time;
- strengthen and expand our relationships with industry partners through events, collaboration, and sponsorship;
- foster a welcoming and open environment that supports diversity and attracts the best students, staff, and faculty to WSE.
Logsdon will immediately begin working to meet these goals to the extent that the programmatic and collaborative aspects of these aspirations can be met prior to opening the doors to the center’s home.