The previous name, the ECS Student Project Competition and Showcase, is a thing of the past. The new name, ECS Student Project Innovation Expo, more accurately describes what guests see when they attend. The Expo is an important opportunity for students to showcase their capstone, competition, or senior projects to the entire college community. It provides students with a platform to share their work with a wider audience, beyond their immediate academic peers, and receive feedback and insights from a diverse range of perspectives.
The projects showcased at Expo cover a broad range of engineering and computer science disciplines, including mechanical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science.
The event, held this year on May 5, 2023, in the Titan Student Union, helped students refine their projects and gain a deeper understanding of the potential impact and value of their work. The Expo also allowed students to network and build connections with other students, faculty, and industry professionals, a valuable step toward their future careers. Such networking also frequently sparks collaboration on future research projects.
“The projects presented at the Expo are often the result of extensive research, experimentation, and problem-solving.” says Kenneth John Faller II, professor of electrical and computer engineering. “Students are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with original and creative solutions to complex problems, which demonstrates their ingenuity and creativity. They are also encouraged to explore new technologies and techniques and to apply them in innovative ways to solve real-world problems.”
Most importantly, Faller says, Expo highlights the importance of collaboration. Many of the projects presented are the result of teamwork and collaboration between students, faculty, and industry professionals. This demonstrates the value of working together and leveraging the skills and expertise of others to achieve a common goal.
Making an Impression & Gaining Valuable Insights
“Through this valuable experience, students develop their abilities to communicate clearly, create engaging visual aids, and explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences,” says Sagil James, associate professor of mechanical engineering. “The feedback they receive helps them identify areas for improvement and refine their communication skills for future presentations. The Expo also showcases students’ skills and expertise to potential employers and provides them with a competitive advantage in the job market.”
The winning project was “Mitral Value Crease Identification and Prevention,” involving ECS students Samson Pham, Jerald Saddi, Aitiena Mac, Kevin Mazon, Szymon Gabriel Lao, and Jason Nguyen; faculty advisor was Dr. Jin Woo Lee. Student participant Szymon Lao, Mechanical Engineering fourth year, shared his perspective about the opportunity to participate in Expo:
“I value the opportunity to expand my knowledge past the engineering curriculum. The ECS CSUF faculty, being open and diverse, allows for plenty of learning opportunities, whether that be from an academia or industry standpoint. Having these extra opportunities only enhances my college experience by giving me a chance to apply the knowledge I’ve learned at CSUF.”
The event included a competition segment where the top projects were recognized and awarded prizes.
View our Flickr gallery of photos from the Expo.
To learn more and get a closer look at this year’s Expo, please view this video.
To learn more about how you can support ECS students and become a corporate or event sponsor, please contact Executive Director of Development Mike Karg at mkarg@fullerton.edu or 714-519-8160 or Senior Director of Development Toni Miller at tamiller@fulleton.edu or 657-253-3308.
