As the demand for STEM-related jobs continues to grow, the University of South Carolina Aiken is working to foster that growth with a new machine shop and maker space on campus.
The College of Sciences and Engineering and the Aiken Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 16 to give tours to students, faculty, staff, and the community around the new space, located behind Pacer Downs Residence Hall. The event follows a groundbreaking ceremony held for the new space last October.
“This space will not only offer advanced training for students but also opportunities for collaborations with senior scientists and industrial partners like the Department of Energy’s SRNL,” said Dr. Daniel Heimmermann, USCA’s chancellor.
The workshop is vital to training engineering students at the university. It’s expected to support capstone and research projects in engineering and science, and collaborations with SRNL’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative and other regional partners.
Yaraxy Martinez, a junior mechanical engineering student at USCA, says she plans to use the space for future projects. “With this new space, students will be able to learn how to use machines and have the best hands-on experience,” she said. “I believe this shop will bring more students to USCA. This school is rising so much within the STEM field, and this shop will help to generate more interest.”
“We anticipate that our engineering programs will grow from 150 to 300 students over the next several years,” said Heimmermann. “That growth will be supported by an increase in process and software engineering students and a potential new bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.” The program offers students bachelor’s degrees in mechanical and process engineering.
The new facility includes large worktables with workshop lighting, wireless connectivity, and large roll-up doors.
For more information, contact Angela Saxon - angela.saxon@usca.edu