Manufacturing resurgence in the U.S. will be strengthened by a skilled workforce, and RIT faculty-researcher Rui Liu will lead a collaborative effort throughout the Finger Lakes region to support these efforts. Liu was recently awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award to further the advanced manufacturing workforce. The five-year proposal begins this fall and will consist of a comprehensive training initiative that bridges traditional manufacturing training programs with modern concepts of engineering product design and processes.  Each discipline—traditional training (sometimes referred to as apprentice programs) and engineering education—brings specific skill sets to the advanced manufacturing industry. Liu means to build a bridge between the two that had not been done as extensively before to achieve a more efficient training model that delivers broader learning outcomes, and cultivates a highly skilled, stable workforce for the industry’s long-term growth. “What would be the best way to train individuals and what is the best way to use their knowledge?” said Liu, an associate professor of mechanical engineering in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering. “This is an exciting opportunity and a fairly new research direction. This new generation learns differently, and at the same time, in talking to industry leaders, they know what they need in the workplace. What is the best way for technology and people to grow together?” The NSF receives thousands of proposals yearly, and only 14-20 percent across all directorates of the U.S. agency are funded. RIT has 17 NSF CAREER award winners working at the university. Manufacturing represents 12 percent of the U.S. total Gross Domestic Product, and nearly 9 percent of the workforce is employed in a variety of manufacturing settings, according to the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing. Projected estimates suggest that by 2030, if the skills shortage is not addressed, there could be more than 2 million unfilled manufacturing jobs. As part of the project, Liu will deliver a broad manufacturing workforce plan, augmented by modern learning strategies to better understand the cognitive learning required to ensure professional level competencies by a next-generation workforce. The project aims to gain a fresh perspective on the significance of experiential knowledge in manufacturing applications and proposes an innovative experiential learning approach to enhance knowledge transfer in product design and manufacturing education. “This project seeks to advance a fundamental understanding of situated cognition and embodied cognition within manufacturing contexts and proposes an innovative experiential learning approach to enhance knowledge transfer in product design and manufacturing education,” said Liu. He also emphasized that the project, supported by the NSF’s focus on undergraduate STEM education, would add to foundational research about learning processes overall, and impact learning outcomes for undergraduate students who will make up the workforce. Liu’s current efforts build on previous research based in Rochester with its historical connection to a changeable manufacturing industry. Working with the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association as well as Monroe Community College, he discovered specific need areas. Those include improving inefficiencies in current training programs, and the need to move manufacturing education theory toward more practical experiences, including building opportunities for those in technical roles-- whether it is furthering educational opportunities or advanced responsibilities. Another focus will be on ensuring critical institutional knowledge from retiring workers is retained and becomes a baseline of common knowledge and practice in advanced manufacturing. This new work entails bringing together representatives from the K-12, community college, university, and business communities. All have been impacted by changes in manufacturing operations. Early collaborations among these groups are underway, including an industry workshop called Finger Lakes Advanced Manufacturing Education, where local industry and educational leaders discuss specific programming and training needs and work together to adapt curricula. Liu has also conducted several informational programs such as ManufactuRIT a summer camp for middle school students. “What I am trying to do is build a more collaborative effort, for example a pathway program, in such a way to promote some very good students who want to increase their learning so we will get a perfect workforce that has both hands-on experience and very good conceptual knowledge. That is our ideal destination.”

Rafael Gilboa, a fourth -year software engineering major from Pittsburgh, chose to attend RIT because of its strong reputation for co-ops, generous financial aid, and a renowned computing program. But he also discovered an abundance of opportunities with clubs and activities available outside of the classroom. As this year’s Student Government president, he wants to support the more than 300 student clubs and organizations on campus to make sure other students can find friends and community like he has. He’s played intramural badminton, pickleball, volleyball, and joined the sailing team. “One semester, I was on seven intramural teams,” he said. “I even learned how to play hockey here, something I didn’t expect to graduate with from a software engineering program.” Enabling more communication to students about opportunities is just one goal Gilboa and this year’s vice-president, Ana Paolini Carrano, a third-year biochemistry major from Miami, Fla., have in mind for this coming year. Other goals of their platform include increasing student input in academic planning and course management; expanding access to co-op and career opportunities for students in all fields; helping plan more fun events for students on campus; and continuing, completing, and communicating current programs in Student Government. “We know that change is hard to make, and that most students don’t have the time in their busy schedules to dedicate to this type of advocacy,” Gilboa said “That’s what we’re here for, and just because we know something is a long shot or may not be completed by the end of our term, doesn’t mean we aren’t going to try.” They’re already working to get messaging to students where they are rather than having students dig for information; developing an electronic ID “tap” program for making philanthropic fundraising easier; establishing a spring club fair; and extending the add/drop period. And even before they met for their first session, they’ve overseen the installation of free menstrual product dispensers in Campus Center and scheduled the setup of multiple outdoor trash cans for students to use. “We are going to do everything we can to make RIT a better place,” Gilboa and Paolini Carrano said during their campaign, “and that doesn’t just include our own new ideas, but making sure the work of past administrations is followed through.” Gilboa said he tried not to promise specifics when they ran “because we knew that we still had a lot to learn. We ran on our values and a commitment to trying our best and feel really appreciative that the message hit with the RIT student body.” Gilboa decided to run for president to help give back “to a school which has made such a large impact on me and where I’ve been able to find a lot of friends.” He’s grateful for his experience at RIT. He’s kept busy working as a bartender for RIT Catering, being a member of the RIT Launch Initiative performance team, holding leadership roles in the Student Alumni Alliance (now University Alumni Alliance), and Greek Life. He also enjoys competing in in the Quiz Bowl club and spending time in the gym. “RIT is a great school to go to,” he said. “There are a ton of available services and support out there, with a lot of people who are looking out for you. That doesn’t mean it can’t be better. If you have the space and time, get involved. And if you don’t, we’re here to help.”