Innovation in Aging Reverse Pitch, Nov. 20

The “Reverse Pitch Forum” event on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. in the MAC Winter Garden (202) will serve as a springboard to WiSys’ Innovation in Aging student idea competition on March 4, 2020. That competition will include cash prizes for the top solution pitches as well as cash prizes for the top teams representing student organizations.

Anyone interested in the Innovation in Aging Competition is encouraged to attend this forum (all disciplines and majors are welcome). The forum will include brief “pitches” from organizations, community members and interested students about specific problems and challenges associated with aging. There will then be time for audience members to mingle with the presenters to discuss these challenges in greater depth, develop teams for the spring competition and incubate ideas for facing these challenges.

Questions can be directed to Brian Walsh at bwalsh@wisys.org.

 

WiSys offers informational meeting on Ignite Grants (formerly applied research grants), Nov. 6

WiSys is offering an informational meeting at UW-Green Bay on the Ignite Grant Program, which provides funding for applied research projects to UW System researchers. Ignite Grants, formerly known as Applied Research Grants (ARG, AR-WiTAG and PDF), encourage researchers to utilize their expertise and apply their scholarship to support growth in Wisconsin.

Faculty and academic staff employed at least half time at UW institutions are eligible to apply and proposals are invited from all academic disciplines, including the humanities and social sciences. The meeting, which will also be available online via a concurrent live webinar, will take place:

  • Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2 to 3 p.m., University Union, Room 125

Grantseekers are encouraged to attend in person and all attendees are asked to register in advance at the following link:
https://wisys.wufoo.com/forms/wisys-ignite-grant-program-info-session-rsvp/

During the informational meeting, WiSys staff will walk through submission guidelines and provide tips on writing a successful proposal.

The Ignite Grant Program is sponsored by UW System and administered by WiSys in collaboration with UW System. UW System makes final funding decisions.

WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.

UW-Green Bay’s Innovation in Aging Competition is announced with a forum to help prepare competitors

The fourth annual Innovation in Aging (IiA) Student Competition is taking place on March 4, 2020, from 4 to 6 p.m. Please share this information with your students. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to attend or participate. The purpose of this event is to generate ideas and inventions that can help support those in the community facing challenges associated with aging.

A premier event to get students interested and prepared for the competition is taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. This “Reverse Pitch Forum” will provide a platform to identify challenges and problems facing the aging community that can become the basis for the March competition. This event will also serve as a networking opportunity for interested students to form teams for the March 4, 2020 competition.

The “Reverse Pitch Forum” features opening remarks from Aaron Kennedy—founder of Noodles & Company and UW-Green Bay’s Titletown Tech Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

The March Innovation in Aging competition will include cash prizes for the top solution pitches, as well as cash prizes for the top teams representing student organizations.

These events are being organized by an interdisciplinary team of UW-Green Bay faculty in partnership with WiSys. WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.

If possible, consider incorporating these events into your course syllabi as an assignment or provide extra credit to students and student teams that attend and/or participate.

Questions can be directed to Brian Walsh at bwalsh@wisys.org.

Product ‘Doggie Coozie’ wins UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Student Business Idea Contest

UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus students Brianna Chase (Marketing, Finance), Sadie Stiefvater (Marketing) and Allie Torgeson (Human Resource Management) won the $500 first prize at the Spring 2019 UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Student Business Idea Contest on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. Their new product idea, the Doogie Coozie, keeps your pet cool during those warm days of summer. Pajtshiab Yang (Human Resource Management) and Jordyn Schwahn (Education) took second place and a $250 prize for their product idea FlawLess, which solves the problem of keeping makeup off your clothes. This contest was sponsored by UW-Green Bay’s Austin E. Cofrin School of Business and WiSys.

Spring 2019 UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus Student Business Idea Contest winners Brianna Chase, Sadie Stiefvater and Allie Torgeson with their certificate
Brianna Chase (Marketing, Finance), Sadie Stiefvater (Marketing) and Allie Torgeson (Human Resource Management)

 

Faculty note: Assistant Prof. Mandeep Bakshi’s project receives funding

Assistant Prof. Mandeep Bakshi (Natural and Applied Sciences) received funding for his project “Regenerative Biodiesel Microemulsions for Cleaning Automobile Engines” from the WiSys Spark Grant Program. This is a technical project on the applications of biodiesel in the auto industry. Bakshi’s research group will work toward achieving the patenting with successful completion of the project.

WiSys Quick Pitch set for Wednesday, April 3, Green Bay Campus

The WiSys Quick Pitch will be taking place in UW-Green Bay’s Mary Ann Cofrin Hall (MAC) Room 224 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees will be able to listen to seven three-minute innovative and entrepreneurial pitches from students and learn how their research will impact the community and may one day benefit the local economy and/or society.

The students and presentations:

  • Nahida Akhtar (Chemistry) and Ben Fredeen (Chemistry) presenting on: “Magnetic Nanoparticles”
  • Alison Bahena (Psychology) presenting on: “Executive Function in a Normative Population with Psychosis-like Symptoms using ERP”
  • Halee Behrens (Biology) and Katlyn Tappy (Natural and Applied Sciences) presenting on: “Discovery of Antibiotic-Producing Soil Bacteria with Broad-Spectrum Activity”
  • Daijana Carrasco (Psychology, Human Development) presenting on: “Senior Center Cruise”
  • Akanshka Gurtu (Chemistry) presenting on: “Potable Water”
  • Charity Joy (Business Administration) presenting on: “Team Building Yoga”
  • Noah Redfearn (Business Administration) presenting on: “Do you Seriously Care About the Environment?”
  • Zach Zeutzius (Business Administration) presenting on: “Bookbates”

Judges:

  • Associate Prof. Bryan Carr (Communication, Information Science)
  • Assistant Prof. Vallari Chandna (Management)
  • Dean John Katers (College of Science, Engineering and Technology)

Winners of the Quick Pitch competition will receive a cash prize ($250 for first place and $125 for second place), with the first place winner qualifying to present their pitch and compete in the state final at the 11th annual WSTS Symposium at UW-Stout from July 22-23, 2019.

Elder-centric debit card concept wins WiSys Innovation in Aging competition at UW-Green Bay

The Assist team took first place in UW-Green Bay’s third annual WiSys Innovation in Aging student idea competition on March 1, 2019 with its “Scan Shield” concept of a safe debit card design specifically for the elderly.

FIRST PLACE
The Assist — made up of UW-Green Bay students Jenna Bares, Emily Lautenschlager, Tommy Mlodzik and Garrett Spencer — won a $500 prize for its presentation before an audience and judges in UW-Green Bay’s Christie Theatre. Members of The Assist team represented the Design Lounge, a student organization, which works to broaden student designers’ knowledge of graphic design through real life experiences and involvement.

SECOND PLACE
Team Health Sensor — made up of UW-Green Bay students Charles Warren, Ryan Ramminger and Andy Weigel — won second place and a $250 prize for its concept of an affordable health monitoring device. The team represented the Engineering Club, another student organization on campus. The second place award was sponsored by UW-Green Bay’s Austin E. Cofrin School of Business.

THIRD PLACE
Team PureSock’s idea for a monthly subscription service that delivers specialized socks designed to alleviate the symptoms associated with nerve damage in the feet, as well as promote stretching and muscle functionality in the foot, took third place and a $100 prize. The team included students Calvin Salmon, Kristen Lewandowski, Rachel Wirth and Zeyu Yan. The third place award was sponsored by the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Team Futurism’s senior center cruise idea was awarded the People’s Choice Award by audience vote. The team was made up of Daijana Carrasco and Karina Mendez.

The Innovation in Aging competition challenged UW-Green Bay students to create innovative solutions to combat hardships and improve quality of life for an aging public. Nine student teams, made up of students of each of the university’s four colleges, made eight-minute presentations with their creative solutions and were evaluated by a panel of judges from the community.

The student teams received mentoring assistance from WiSys, UW-Green Bay faculty members and Green Bay area community members in the weeks leading up to the event. The competition gave students an opportunity to develop important skills such as idea development, collaboration and public presentation. WiSys also instilled an understanding of intellectual property.

The event was a partnership between WiSys, the UW-Green Bay College of Health, Education and Social Welfare, and the UW-Green Bay Gerontology Center.

WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries, and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.

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In the photo, WiSys President Arjun Sanga and Susan Gallagher-Lepak, dean of the College of Health, Education, and Social Welfare, flank winning team members, Jenna Bares (left middle) and Emily Lautenschlager. Team members not pictured were Tommy Mlodzik and Garrett Spencer.

Click to advance slideshow or view the album on Flickr.

Innovation in Aging Competition 2019

– Photos by Liesl Sigourney, Marketing and University Communication

Reminder: Students should register for WiSys Quick Pitch by Monday, Mar. 11

Students should be reminded that they have until Monday, Mar. 11, 2019 to register for WiSys Quick Pitch. Students should explain their research or innovative idea in three minutes and illustrate its community impact for the opportunity to win a cash prize. The WiSys Quick Pitch will take place on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2019 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the 1965 Room located in UW-Green Bay’s University Union. Learn more.

Reminder: Innovation in Aging Student Idea Competition is Friday, Mar. 1

The Innovation in Aging Student Idea Competition will take place Friday, Mar.1, 2019 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in UW-Green Bay’s Christie Theatre, located in the University Union. Students from all four colleges and all four UW-Green Bay campuses have been invited to compete. Teams are challenged to identify an aging issue and design an innovative solution. Innovations are broadly defined — a product, service, social approach, etc. Teams have the opportunity to the $500 first prize, as well as gain experience. Learn more.

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Innovation in Aging Student Idea Competition is March 1

It’s the third year of the Innovation in Aging Student Idea Competition! Mark your calendars to attend the competition on Friday, March 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Christie Theatre, Green Bay Campus (awards will start about 3:20 p.m.). Students from all four colleges and all four UW-Green Bay campuses have been invited to compete. Student teams are working on their “innovations.” Teams are challenged to identify a problem related to aging and design a solution to address it. Solutions, or “innovations,” are broadly defined (e.g., an application, social service, policy change, environmental redesign, etc.).