By Chris Weber, Phoenix staff writer
In its first weeks, the Governors State University Innovation Club signed up 30 members and took over a portion of the library so students could build and test robots.
The Robotics Rumble held at the end of February was the Innovation Club’s inaugural event. The Robotics Rumble gave students a chance to join the club and design, build, and code robots from Legos and other materials. A regulation-size course was set up for students to test the robot’s abilities and compete using the devices they built.
The Innovation Club’s faculty sponsor, Prof. Shukmei Oh, organized the event with support from other GSU professors. She is a university lecturer in the Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology.
“A lot of students love Legos,” said Oh. “They like to build stuff with their hands. Now, we combine this with computer programming, they can code it. Once they learn all the skills, they can compete in competitions. Once they learn to create and program, they have control of the future. Robots can do so many different things.”
Oh hopes that students at GSU will apply their interest in STEM and robotics to community outreach. The innovation club will look for opportunities to have children and teens from the community come into the campus library to learn from students and engage with robots.
Dean of the Library Jan Figa thinks this is the best use of the valuable space. “This is something that gives back over time,” he said. “It’s nothing against books or digital media, we need both. Once you see an outcome like this, with its texture and tenacity, we know it really sticks with our students. My preference is to have these places that are much more focused on specific types of learning.”
Students interested in Legos, robotics, drones, and other technology are invited to show up at a meeting and join in. The GSU Innovation Club will have regular club meetings every Monday, noon – 1 p.m. in the library.
Sam Shahid, senior lecturer in the Division of Science, Mathematics, and Technology, is one of the co-founders of the Innovation Club. He also leads the engineering and drone club at GSU. Shahid had several unmanned aircraft on display at the Robotics Rumble.
The Engineering and Drone Club has a hangar at Bult Airfield in Monee, where students can learn to fly drones and other aircraft. “Some of our students are going to get their pilot’s license from the airport,” said Shahid. “We meet every Sunday at 10 am at the hangar.”
Shahid said all students are welcome to attend club meetings. They can practice on flight simulators and learn to fly drones.
For more information, contact Prof. Oh at [email protected] or Prof. Shahid at [email protected].
