Blending the classic shop class atmosphere with modern high performance technology, “makerspaces” are revolutionizing the do-it-yourself culture. Taking cues from the maker movement, UConn’s School of Nursing will utilize a portion of its clinical simulation labs as a makerspace by opening these labs to a team of engineering and nursing students and encouraging collaboration to take healthcare innovations from concept to prototype. Space, technology, and equipment provided, students require only ideas and an open mind, breaking down the typical barriers for entrepreneurial innovation.
Already equipped with high-fidelity automated mannequins and the latest healthcare equipment, the makerspace will provide an opportunity for new products, services, and processes to be developed and tested in a realistic clinical environment. The space will also foster collaborative relationships in the healthcare fields to improve the delivery of healthcare services and products.
“The makerspace will develop and train the next generation of healthcare providers who will see a specific need for change and be ready to make that change happen quickly,” Christine Meehan, School of Nursing alumna and Adjunct Professor for the Healthcare Innovations Program, explains. “They will have learned the skillset necessary to be a ‘change agent’ and entrepreneur during their college program and will be prepared to address needed changes when they graduate.”
The makerspace will continue to expand as collaborative product development activities extend to the School of Business and other related schools or colleges on and off campus. Eventually any student on campus with a healthcare idea will have access to the labs and the opportunity to team up with faculty and students from an array of departments who are all interested in improving healthcare technology.
Assistant Clinical Professors Christine Dileone and Meredith Dodge have been newly appointed as interim co-directors for the makerspace.
“We are very excited about this opportunity, and we look forward to collaborating with both the School of Engineering and the School of Business in this innovation venture,” Dodge says.
