C-NO Chapter Meeting November 2017
Olmsted Falls
7989 Columbia Road
Katie Trase
Engineering 2.0: Rekindling Technological Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing
Topic: Engineering 2.0: Rekindling Technological Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing
Presenter: Sridhar Kota, Herrick Professor of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Executive Director, MForesight: Alliance for Manufacturing Foresight
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Abstract: Innovation and manufacturing are intricately linked, but not just in the direction usually conceived—from innovation to manufacturing. During the scale-up and manufacturing phases that follow the initial discovery phase, many improvements in design and efficiency arise, feeding back to new cycles of innovation. Engineering is fundamental to technological innovation and manufacturing excellence. Being the world’s best in scientific discoveries is still vital to our success but is not sufficient to compete in the global economy. A renewed focus on the application of scientific knowledge, through world-class engineering, is needed to close the innovation gap. This talk will address various challenges and opportunities in engineering in research, education and public policy. In particular, the talk will highlight the role of universities and industry in promoting research, basic and translational, in engineering as well as inspiring K-12 students to embrace engineering as a creative discipline.
Presenter Bio: Sridhar Kota is the Herrick Professor of Engineering, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is the founding Director of MForesight: Alliance for Manufacturing Foresight – a federally-funded national think-and-do tank focused on accelerating technological innovation to enhance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. Between 2009-2012 Prof. Kota served as the Assistant Director for Advanced Manufacturing at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) where he developed policy recommendations and implementation strategies to enhance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. Kota played an instrumental role in establishing National Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, National Robotics Initiative, and National Digital Engineering and Manufacturing. Kota authored over 200 technical papers, 30 patents on product design, bio-inspired engineering systems and soft robotics. He is the recipient of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Machine Design Award, Leonardo da Vinci Award, and Outstanding Educator Award. In 2001 Kota founded FlexSys Inc., that developed the world’s first modern aircraft with shape-changing wings.