FIU leads the way for Miami’s tech hub ambitions at eMerge Americas
From technology-focused collaborations, startups, and some of the world’s most unique research projects, Florida International University has continued to pump out talent and skilled manpower to not only feed but help lead South Florida’s booming tech sector. The university will showcase its diverse lineup of forward-thinking students and faculty as well as research facilities, innovative technology, and startups at eMerge Americas 2022, an international conference focused on innovative digital solutions held at the Miami Beach Convention Center April 18-19.
“FIU’s commitment to honing local talent enables us to prepare the tech workforce of tomorrow,” said FIU Interim President Kenneth A. Jessell. “At eMerge, we have an opportunity to showcase that talent as well as some of our most promising research and collaborations that make real differences to our community and beyond.”
On Monday, April 18, Jessell and Interim Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Béjar will participate in two separate panels. Jessell will speak at 2:40 p.m. on technology and how it is fundamentally changing the educational landscape, and Béjar’s panel at 3:15 p.m. will focus on the Knight Foundation’s landmark investment in FIU, and how FIU will invest over $100 million in the next decade for computer science education and career placement innovations.
FIU will be a major presence at eMerge with three booths and will showcase research coming out of its labs as well as collaborations that contribute to Miami’s emergence as a tech hub. Displays in FIU’s exhibit space will feature:
Wall of Wind (WoW): the largest and most powerful university research facility of its kind, the WoW can simulate a Category 5 hurricane with winds over 157 mph. The facility can test full-sized structures such as site-built or manufactured housing and small commercial structures.
CARTA + Miami-Dade County partnership: Under Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s leadership and the support of her Tech Innovation Team, this partnership will integrate student social capital and specialized higher education programming to showcase the intellectual and creative assets housed at FIU’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA). The partnership aims to ensure that programs are driving the tech, innovation, and creative economy and creating a pipeline of highly skilled graduates who are both filling and creating jobs.
New College of Engineering Building: FIU is expanding its College of Engineering and Computing with a $75 million, 125,000 square-foot, six-story building that will house makerspace labs, active learning classrooms and research laboratories at MMC. Technology in the building will be enhanced with private funds, including part of a $10 million gift from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Origami Antennas: Working off a $10 million grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to launch the Center for Physically Reconfigurable and Deployable Multifunctional Antennas. FIU has been developing origami antennas that can reconfigure their EM performance (e.g., multi-band, wideband, directional, omnidirectional) using various 1D, 2D and 3D morphing structures.)
The Medina Aquarius Program: The only facility of its kind, Aquarius Reef Base offers maximum efficiency and access for the study and exploration of a region particularly susceptible to global environmental threats. The base offers extensive educational outreach programming to give access to a unique marine ecosystem, share the latest science and inspire countless minds.
eMerge Americas 2022 is held at the Miami Beach Convention Center located at 1901 Convention Center Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Attendees will find FIU’s main booth at space No. 911, the Miami-Dade County and FIU CARTA Interactive at No. 412, and the FIU Ferré Super Citizens booth at No. 1310. A map of exhibitors and booths is available here.