Ignite

Clarkson Ignite!

The Clarkson Ignite program builds on the University’s longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary and experiential learning. At its core, it is a call to action to foster a University-wide culture that integrates innovation, problem solving, and creative thinking into every aspect of learning.

Across the campus, Clarkson students are identifying challenges and fervidly designing, making and collaborating to turn interesting ideas into workable solutions. They are jumpstarting design-build projects, using rapid prototyping to fabricate 3-D models of their designs and developing businesses with help from innovation mentors.

They are encountering new ways of thinking and developing the technical tools of innovation in the classroom. They are connecting with experts in the field, like IBM professionals to learn to apply IBM Design Thinking Practices to improve team dynamics and create user-centered outcomes.

This is Clarkson Ignite. And it’s just the beginning.

Launched in the fall of 2017, Clarkson Ignite transforms the entire campus into an innovation ecosystem that connects students with faculty, staff, alumni, and professional and community leaders to gain hands-on creative and making experiences.

Through the Clarkson Ignite ecosystem, all students are empowered to think, research, invent, and develop new products and real solutions. In the process, they learn the value of working in diverse teams to foster innovation and enhance decisionmaking skills.

“Clarkson has a long history of cultivating leaders and successful entrepreneurs who appreciate the value of working in teams of diverse individuals who bring different outlooks and skill sets to the table,” says Erin Draper, managing director of Clarkson Ignite. “We want students to understand that real innovation happens when we move beyond our own disciplinary knowledge and value and build on others’ points of view and expertise.”

Clarkson Ignite also serves as a resource for faculty and staff to develop curricular and co- curricular initiatives that foster the development of entrepreneurially minded students with multidisciplinary knowledge. Engagement with the Career and International Centers, as well as professional expertise from alumni, will inform and ensure the relevance of programming.

The goal of this ambitious effort?

The development of flexible, multidimensional thinkers who will be ready to lead in today’s fastchanging, global economy.

The Studio

In Room 238, on the second floor of Bertrand H. Snell Hall, is the Studio, a one-of-a-kind creative space that students can use to experiment, invent and collaborate. Outfitted with whiteboard walls, movable furniture, computers, conferencing capabilities and a 3-D printer, the space is a playground for creative thinking and idea generation.

The President’s “Learn to Make” Challenge

This annual competition offers students a chance to build their innovation knowledge and skill sets and to find solutions together. This year’s inaugural challenge asks students to identify opportunities to improve life and learning at universities by using intelligent or autonomous technologies. $25,000 in prizes.

Ignite Fest — A New Clarkson Tradition

Last November, Clarkson held its first annual Ignite Fest, a daylong celebration featuring innovation activities, speakers and prizes.

Year-Round Events and Workshops

Lectures and hands-on workshops offer students and faculty additional ways to collaborate and learn from forwardthinking professionals and changemakers from leading industries. Past workshops and speakers have covered topics like entrepreneurism, healthcare innovation, crowdfunding, startup pitches, studio design and the digital revolution.