Chancellor receives NIPSCO Award

Chancellor Thomas Keon has received the annual Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) Luminary Award for Education.

The award recognizes local leaders or organizations for outstanding commitment furthering education to strengthen local communities.

Advancing STEM education

Specifically, Keon was recognized for Purdue University Northwest efforts advancing and applying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education beyond classrooms and laboratories and into Northwest Indiana communities through various business development-focused initiatives.

Efforts of PNW’s Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS), the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center (CMEC) and annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) Summer Camp for youngsters, as well as preparation of students for related job opportunities with area businesses factored into the award selection.

Innovative solutions

PNW’s CIVS is an interdisciplinary applied research center that combines advanced simulation techniques with 3-D visualization and virtual reality technologies to produce innovative solutions to industrial and research challenges. In performing scores of projects since 2009, this cutting edge resource has contributed to cost-effective solutions that have saved steel, oil and energy employers; medical labs; and governmental agencies more than $38 million.

The university’s CMEC facility has positioned itself to become a catalyst for regional economic development by furthering new and advanced manufacturing opportunities through state-of-the-art training and transfer of the latest technology. This center also provides a venue for commercialization of new business ideas.

The STEAM Camp is designed to help youngsters ages 6 to 12 learn about nature, how to use computers and engage in numerous other age-appropriate, indoor and outdoor learning activities.