The public is invited to a reception and grand opening (today) Tuesday, February 3rd at the Texas A&M-Texarkana Campus.

Texas A&M University-Texarkana will host a reception honoring Dr. Donald Peterson, new Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. During this reception, Dr. Peterson will announce the grand opening of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Innovation Laboratory.  The event starts at 4 p.m. in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics building at the A&M-Texarkana campus.

Dr. Peterson joined the Eagle family in the fall of 2014 with a progressive attitude, full of ideas and inspiration. He came to A&M-Texarkana from the University of Connecticut as its Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Biodynamics Laboratory in the School of Medicine, and served as chair of the Biomedical Engineering (BME) program in the School of Engineering, as well as the Director of the BME graduate and undergraduate programs.

With his extensive education and background, Dr. Peterson was able to bring the STEM Innovation Lab to Texarkana and the A&M-Texarkana campus. The STEM Innovation Lab will provide a platform for faculty to enhance their interests and strengths, define and structure student projects, and identify, pursue, and maintain industry collaborations. For example, a review of current faculty research interests and strengths demonstrates immediate capabilities within the STEM College in the areas of:

·         advanced design and modeling,

·         agricultural and environmental systems,

·         computational modeling and simulation,

·         artificial neural networks and machine learning,

·         image processing and pattern recognition,

·         controls and error correction,

·         analog and digital signal processing,

·         wireless communications,

·         quantum information and quantum computing,

·         cryptography and cyber security,

·         water resources and sustainability,

·         bacterial source tracking,

·         aquatic micro-crustaceans,

·         agriculture and forestry,

·         environmental impact, etc.

These capabilities will have immediate overlap with key regional industry areas, including:

·         advanced materials and manufacturing,

·         agriculture,

·         chemicals,

·         energy,

·         health care, and,

·         transportation.

The Laboratory will also provide a platform for the exploration of new and ‘untapped’ strengths in the College, as well as engaging other faculty from business, education, and the arts in order to include multiple disciplines.

“Collaborative opportunities for faculty, staff, and, most importantly, students are abundant within the greater Texarkana metropolitan area and throughout the Ark-La-Tex region, where a vibrant technology economy exists with a diverse industrial base. The STEM Innovation Laboratory will be a vehicle to promote and enrich technology translation by establishing strong industrial and entrepreneurial partnerships within the various high-tech eco-systems, hubs, centers, and industrial parks,” said Dr. Peterson.

He added “It will accelerate A&M-Texarkana’s regional, national, and international reputations and play a key role in stimulating the regional economies, invigorating new job creation, and educating and advancing current workforces. The lab will allow students to demonstrate projects and launch discussions with the corporate sector on how to solve contemporary problems on imagining and exploring new ways to implement solutions.”

To attend the reception and tour the STEM innovation lab, R.S.V.P. to Frankie Milligan Tilley at 903-334-6612.

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