The Student Innovation Center is excited to host the inaugural “Innovate at Iowa State: Student Showcase” – a special opportunity to celebrate and spotlight outstanding student innovation teams from across campus. This showcase brings together our university’s most creative minds to share their groundbreaking work with the broader Iowa State community.
Traditional paper production contributes to environmental issues such as deforestation and ecosystem issues. Sustainable Papermaking is an innovative way to produce paper by utilizing recycled rag paper, textile fabrics, and other materials without contributing to the environmental impact, and more people are able to make use of sustainable paper in various fine art applications
This work introduces the first smartphone-based fluorescence detector for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). By combining a smartphone camera with custom-designed, low-cost flow cells and LED light sources, the team has developed a portable and cost-effective tool for detecting fluorescent compounds. With real-time video capture and MATLAB processing to generate chromatograms, this innovation makes HPLC detection more accessible than ever, opening the door to hands-on analytical science in both field and educational settings.
Ever wondered how an airplane flies? Well, this project is an real, dynamic mini-model demonstrating lift on an airplane wing! Once the fan turns on, prepared to be blown away! (Pun totally intended)
Interested in how GenAI tools can support academic research? This project enhances students’ understanding of how GenAI and large language models function while developing procedural and evaluative competencies as part of AI literacy. Focusing on the analysis and interpretation cycle of the hermeneutic literature review framework, this project introduces learning materials that guide students in applying and evaluating Elicit.
My work focuses on the inner workings of the chemical engineering department, allowing me to gain valuable insights through extensive research and interviews with both students and professors. During my examination of the Chemical Engineering Progress Assessment (CH E 2050), it became evident that this course is critical as a foundational milestone for every aspiring chemical engineer. However, I identified significant areas for improvement. In response, I have crafted a compelling proposal to the Department of Chemical Engineering aimed at restructuring CH E 2050 to better serve our students and enhance their educational experience.
This series challenges the harmony between nature and technology, redefining how art interacts with its environment. Cornnectivity is inspired by the form of corn, a symbol of harvest and abundance, and reflects on the divine design present in nature. By exploring patterns at the cellular and molecular level, it highlights the interconnectedness of all creation and celebrates the hand of God in shaping the natural world and sustaining life. This is a prototype that inspired a 7’ tall fully 3D printed Sculpture.
Cosplayers are constantly aspiring to level up their skills and produce costumes of upmost quality, effectively bringing characters to life through artistry and engineering. The Halo franchise has some of the most recognizable and inspiring armor sets, from Master Chief to Carter, the leader of Noble team. I decided to build my customized Noble 6 Spartan, aspiring to make the armor look like it lept off the screen by combining elements of 3D printing, electronics, sewing, and painting techniques.
The SICTR Arcade is a living piece of art designed to give students a platform to showcase their own personal videogames, music, and artwork. A wide variety of tools at the Student Innovation Center were used such as: Soldering, Wood Working, and Programming.
This project involves the design and prototyping of kinetic facades to enhance the sustainability of buildings by optimizing natural light and ventilation.
This innovative leadership development workshop, structured within an escape room format, uses interpersonal puzzles to foster leadership skills.
Elvis Kimara, Masters Student in Artificial Intelligence, developed an AI-powered barter marketplace that replaces traditional currency with a dynamic points-based system. Throwly.AI automatically determines fair point values for items based on real-time market trends, eliminating haggling and creating safer, more accessible local commerce.
Rahman Abdul Rafi, Masters Student in Computer Engineering, Ankit Jyothish, Masters Student in AI, Kunal Suresh, Masters Student in Computer Science, Arun Kumar, Masters Student in Computer Engineering, and Mohammed Musthafa Rafi, PhD Student in Computer Science, created an AI watch system to help visually impaired individuals navigate daily life. The system provides audio descriptions of surroundings, reads text, identifies objects, and offers emergency assistance, addressing challenges faced by over 1.1 billion visually impaired people worldwide.
Educational Technology PhD students Melika Ziba and Melis Dilek transformed frustrating product manuals into an interactive, humorous AI assistant. Their solution provides step-by-step guidance with visuals and troubleshooting support, making learning fun while reducing paper waste.
Akanksha Koshti, Graduate Student in Information Systems, Himanshi Mendiratta, Graduate Student in Information Systems, Prajakta Wankhede, Graduate Student in Business Analytics, and Purva Dusane, Graduate Student in Human Computer Interaction, developed a free, scalable solution for individuals with speech or hearing impairments. Their tool provides real-time Speech-to-Text, Text-to-Speech, Text-to-Sign Language, and Sign Recognition capabilities without requiring specialized hardware.
Design/Shift is a dynamic 6-hour design sprint where local design professionals mentor teams of graduate and undergraduate graphic design students to provide creative services for deserving nonprofit organizations across central Iowa. This year’s event engaged over 105 students and 18 mentors to support 18 organizations, including Central Iowa Shelter & Services, Weekends with Warriors, and the World Food Prize.
Presenting Teams Are:
Find out what’s happening every day during IGNITE 2025 in the Student Innovation Center.
