Innovation on display April 23 at engineering capstone showcase

A vehicle that puts the brakes on anxious driving, a breathing device that can save lives during a disaster, and an app that empowers parents of children with autism are just a few of the 250-plus innovations on display from engineering undergrads on Tuesday, April 23 at The Ohio State University.

With more than 1,000 students representing 14 engineering majors and 20 non-engineering majors, the 12^th annual Engineering Capstone Design Showcase will be the event’s largest installment yet.

As part of the College of Engineering’s focus on experiential learning, all undergraduate engineering students must spend one to two semesters tackling a real-world problem before graduation. Other projects on display at the event include an automated farming system for sustainable food production in space and a reusable surgical device that reduces complications during respiratory procedures.

More than 70 companies sponsored engineering capstone projects at Ohio State over the past academic year including Abbott Nutrition, EduTechnologic, Honda, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Nationwide Insurance, NetJets, Procter & Gamble and SmartColumbus.

Sponsored by ArcelorMittal and organized by the College of Engineering’s Department of Engineering Education, the showcase attracts several hundred visitors from industry, the general public and the university community.

Held from 3:00-6:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union, the event also includes the 16^th Annual Fundamentals of Engineering for Honors Research Showcase. It features lab-on-a-chip devices designed by teams of first-year engineering students to detect a disease from a blood sample and solve a real-world medical problem. 

WHAT: The Engineering Capstone Design Showcase is a culmination of more than 250 senior undergraduate engineering capstone design projects. Individual students and teams present their projects and selected findings to industry representatives and the Ohio State community. 

WHEN: 3:00-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 **Note new time this year

WHERE: Ohio Union, Archie Griffin Grand Ballroom (2^nd floor) and Performance Hall (1^st floor), 1739 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43210 [Ohio Union parking information]

Editors: Students and faculty will be available for interviews. Photographers and videographers are welcome to attend the event and take photos or video. RSVP to Meggie Biss at biss.11@osu.edu or 614-292-7713.