Brazil Scientific Mobility Program Student Summer Research Projects to be Exhibited at IIT IPRO Day

This summer, Illinois Institute of Technology welcomed more than 800 students from Brazil to complete short-term research projects, sponsored by the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP). BSMP is an expansive initiative of the Brazilian government that provides scholarships for its citizens to study engineering for a year at another university and complete research projects at the end of their time abroad.

IIT’s School of Applied Technology (SAT) welcomed 170 of these BSMP students to participate in eight-week research projects under the guidance of faculty members from the Industrial Technology and Management (INTM) and Information Technology and Management (ITM) programs. Their work will be on display as part of IIT’s Summer (IPRO) Day on Friday, July 24 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in Hermann Hall.

IPRO Day showcases a variety of projects from inter-disciplinary teams of students who have completed Interprofessional Projects (IPROs) every semester, often working with local industry to develop solutions to actual business challenges. On IPRO Day, the students present their work and compete for top recognition. The event is an opportunity for the general public to meet the students, network with industry professionals and faculty, and learn about student research at Illinois Tech. Professionals from the Chicago area are invited to serve as volunteer judges who provide valuable feedback on all of the students’ work.

IIT’s Summer IPRO Day will feature 10 IPRO displays as well as 39 BSMP individual and group exhibits. The Consul General of Brazil in Chicago, Ambassador Paulo Camargo, and Lilian Colsant, education cooperation coordinator, are expected to attend this event to see the BSMP projects, and help present the judges’ awards.

The BSMP projects focus on topics in Sustainability, Energy, Manufacturing, Information Technology, Innovation and Urban Agriculture, specifically:
• Use of 3D Printing/ Additive Manufacturing techniques to design products including bicycles, footwear, and laptop cases
• Autonomous Driving Technologies, to include navigation, detection, and driver warning systems
• Energy pricing and forecasting, Global Smart Grid Development, and Energy Audits of two Main Campus buildings: Wishnick Hall and Keating Hall
• Information Technologies to build and control drones, develop smart beacons, create a Heads Up Display (HUD) with Google Glass, and other intriguing applications
• Sustainable Energy Concepts such as Intelligent Lighting Systems, , a Self-Sufficient Home, , and an Intelligent Growing Module for the Home Garden
• Developing Urban Food Systems to include Irrigation Technology, Vertical Farming and Fencing, Aquaponics, Solar Desalination, and Oil Seed Processing.

To attend or participate as a judge, contact Pam Houser, INTM program manager, at houser@iit.edu or 312.567.3650.