With Spring 2024 now in our rearview, I take great Panther pride in sharing some of the Florida International University College of Engineering and Computing’s triumphs over the first half of this year demonstrating the excellence and innovative spirit of our college and its stellar faculty, staff and students. On April 19, our college proudly hosted FIU’s annual Senior Design Showcase, where more than 400 engineering and computer science seniors presented nearly 100 capstone projects. For the first time, our students’ projects were showcased in eight different industry-centric pavilions:
- Smart and Resilient Infrastructure
- Manufacturing, Automation and Robotics
- Wellness and HealthTech
- CleanTech
- Education, Entertainment and Gaming
- Automotive, Aerospace and Defense
- Enterprise IT and Cybersecurity
- AI and Machine Learning
As the college’s marquee event, the showcase brought together nearly 1,000 participants, including members of our community and industry executives, recruiters, and partners from federal and state government agencies.
Attendees were welcomed to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center by FIU President Dr. Kenneth A. Jessell and FIU Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Elizabeth M. Béjar. Inspiring our students with their extraordinary testimonials were guest speakers Judith Spitz, Founder and Executive Director of Break Through Tech, and Jason Dettbarn, Addigy founder and CEO (and proud FIU Engineering and Computing alum). Break Through Tech and Addigy provided vital sponsorship to the spectacular display of our students’ ingenuity. Please visit the Showcase website to learn more about the projects, current and past events, future sponsorship opportunities and other event particulars as we continue to empower innovation, shape the future and engage the next generation of tech leaders.
I am filled with excitement as we look to the future, which will very soon include the unveiling of the first of the two new buildings comprising our state-of-the-art Innovation Complex on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus. The first 120,000-square-foot building in the complex will house classrooms, instructional and research laboratories, collaboration spaces, active learning classrooms, teaching labs, maker spaces and a host of other resources that will boost our college’s focus on research, student success and collaboration with private industry. Finally, I am still beaming with pride after watching nearly 700 engineering and computer science graduates cross the stage at Commencement last month. I cannot wait to see how they will positively impact the world with the knowledge and critical thinking skills developed at FIU.
Here are a few of our college’s recent highlights.
- Cybersecurity researchers spotlight a new ransomware threat – be careful where you upload files
- All eyes on FIU at eMerge Americas
- American Express offers jobs, internships to 25 FIU students
- Faculty inducted into American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows
Our college’s growth as a premier engineering and computing research and education hub in Florida resonates through our collective achievements spanning local, national and international fronts. Through cutting-edge research and hands-on learning experiences, we empower students to tackle real-world challenges and drive innovation. We invite you join us as we continue this unparalleled growth. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our shared vision of engineering and computing excellence at FIU.
Inés R. Triay
Interim Dean, FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing