A delegation from the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín (UNSA) in Arequipa, Peru, visited Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus in October to prepare for the third phase of a major multidisciplinary research partnership. Purdue Polytechnic’s Daniel Leon-Salas, who served as one of the delegation’s hosts, is developing a low-cost, portable sensor to measure photosynthetically active solar radiation to help farmers and plant growers to assess the solar resources available to them.

A STEM enrichment program offered through a partnership between Purdue Polytechnic Anderson and the Sistas of Royalty, a mentoring program, is building interest in attending college amongst sixth grade girls in the Anderson area.

Soft actuators, components in mechanical devices that enable movement, are inspired by biological systems but can’t yet replicate the complexity of the human body. Purdue Polytechnic’s David Gonzalez Rodriguez is researching the creation of 3D-printed flexible structures that can function as soft actuators and sensors.

Manufacturers in Indiana who aren’t yet using data and artificial intelligence to modernize their operations are missing a golden opportunity, according to a study by Purdue Polytechnic’s Ragu Athinarayanan.

Purdue Polytechnic Anderson and Ninestar Connect, a cooperative offering electricity, water and fiber optic services in Hancock County, Ind., are working together to engage students and the local community in learning about new agricultural innovations.

Purdue Polytechnic’s Mark French was named one of Purdue’s first 150th Anniversary Professors, which recognizes faculty who have shown the highest levels of achievement in Purdue’s mission of education.

Purdue Polytechnic’s Rustin Webster has received three awards for excellence in the classroom, including national recognition from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and two Purdue awards.

Jose Garcia Bravo and Brittany Newell, assistant professors of engineering technology, along with Jose Chamorro, Santiago Guevara, Jose Solorio, Laura Vallejo and other colleagues, collaborated to design a system that predicts the health of conveyance systems in industry. Improving the reliability of conveyor belts has the potential to improve efficiencies and reduce costs in a variety of industries.

STEM Guitar, a project led in part by Purdue Polytechnic’s Mark French, was honored with the Gerhard Salinger award by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association.

Purdue Polytechnic graduates Ivan Ball and Scott Massey received the Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation to advance their GroPod in-home greenhouse technology.