Huntsville workshops inspire innovation, problem-solving
Published: Aug 1, 2024 11:45 AM
By Carla Nelson
The Auburn University Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) recently held two unique workshops at the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville. The workshops focused on problem-solving, innovation and cognitive engineering.
The “Introduction to Cognitive Engineering and System Design” short course and workshop, hosted July 12, was led by Richard Garnett, a senior lecturer, and Richard Sesek, the Tim Cook Professor.
Successful systems integrate people and machines to achieve optimal performance. Cognitive engineering focuses on how well a system aligns with the cognitive capabilities of its users. It leverages an understanding of human perception, mental processing, and memory to enhance technology design and usability.
Sarah Moore, ISE alumna and a systems engineer supporting the International Space Station, participated in the workshop. Moore, who studied under Sesek and Garnett, was enthusiastic about the opportunity to gain more knowledge from them.
“The experience of the workshop was wonderful,” she said. “It was very intimate and personalized. I loved how much of a discussion it was rather than a simple lecture. I learned new ways to center design around humans and refresh old ones.”
Moore’s job responsibilities include ensuring that all components needed for building, testing and shipping the payload are in the right place at the right time and maintaining the flight schedule to meet International Space Station launch deadlines.
“The knowledge I gained in the workshop is applicable not only to my professional life, but my personal one,” she said. “It’s always wise to design any system with the target audience in mind.”
On July 19, the “Engineered Solutions Workshop” was held, offering structured techniques for innovation. Hosted by Sesek and doctoral student Bob Sesek, participants engaged in various creative exercises to foster problem-solving and innovative idea development, particularly for engineering environments. The workshop aimed to inspire participants to generate and implement novel solutions to their own problems and contribute to their companies’ overall success.
Patrick Reed, executive director of the Intellectual Property Exchange at Auburn University, praised the workshop for allowing him to think and act like an inventor and innovator. He learned creative ways to approach problems from multiple angles and perspectives.
“I strongly encourage anyone to attend this workshop, even if you think you never innovate,” Reed said. “I’d wager you’d leave surprised with a newfound understanding that invention and innovation happens everywhere, often in the unlikeliest of places.”
Auburn ISE doctoral student Diego Caputo also found the workshop inspiring, encouraging him to develop novel ideas in fields he previously thought were fully explored.
“The workshop also provided an incredible opportunity to connect with professionals from diverse industries and gain fresh perspectives on problem-solving and innovation,” Caputo said. “Thanks to it, I am excited and confident to proceed with submitting my invention for intellectual property protection.”
For more information on upcoming workshops, contact Richard Sesek or Richard Garnett.
Media Contact: , carla@auburn.edu, 334-844-1404
The Huntsville workshops focused on problem-solving, innovation and cognitive engineering.
