ECU conducts the first Makeathon with a focus on Natural Disasters
(Contributed photo)
On March 19, East Carolina University’s Innovation Design Lab in the Office of Innovation and Economic Development supports the first InnovateECU Makeathon designed and conducted by Honors College Interns.
Students welcomed the opportunity to work collaboratively and think critically to create and propose solutions to a real-world issue. This year’s innovation theme revolved around disaster relief and prevention. With the recent damage eastern North Carolina suffered as a result of Hurricane Matthew, students found this theme to be of critical importance and value.
The student teams were challenged to think critically about how to create disaster relief efforts that prepare, respond to and recover our community. Over 30 participants from multiple disciplines formed into six teams to create, prototype, and pitch their solutions in this two-day event. The students competed for development funding and Innovation Design Lab support to continue to strengthen the design and implementation of their concepts.
-by Wayne Godwin, ECU Advance Manufacturing & Innovation Academy