‘the Wond’ry’
The Wond’ry collaborates with IBM to equip learners for STEM-related careers
Feb. 17, 2023—The Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s innovation center, is working with IBM to equip Vanderbilt community members with no-cost STEM education and career readiness resources through IBM SkillsBuild, a no-cost education program focused on underrepresented communities, that helps develop valuable new skills and equitable access to career opportunities in technology fields. As part of this collaboration, the Wond’ry will work...
Rock-climbing student duo pursues scientific, business and Olympic dreams
Apr. 25, 2022—by Amy Wolf Strategically managing precise steps up a wall or cliff at breakneck speeds is exactly where Michael Finn-Henry, a mechanical engineering student and contender for the 2024 Paris Olympics, finds clarity. Speed rock climbing is a finesse sport that requires fast feet and an even faster brain. Michael Finn-Henry trains with the Vanderbilt Climbing...
The Wond’ry opens Launch incubator space for startups affiliated with Nashville’s universities
Apr. 8, 2022—The Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Center for Innovation, has opened an incubator space called Launch, which is dedicated to startups affiliated with local universities. Launch is designed to support pre-seed and seed-stage venture founders in a wide array of sectors—from health care to the arts—and business models, including social ventures and benefit corporations. “Beginning new ventures is...
EE student connects with The Wond’ry in designing African language app to connect with native roots
Dec. 2, 2021—During his winter break in 2020, sophomore engineering student Wenitte Apiou was struck with an idea that stemmed from his native African roots. In Burkina Faso, West Africa, where Apiou grew up, the national language is French. After moving to the U.S., Apiou realized he hadn’t had the opportunity to learn his family’s native languages,...
Faculty Innovator: Daniel Fabbri demonstrates academic and entrepreneurial prowess
Aug. 12, 2021—By Marissa Shapiro Since his days growing up in Silicon Valley, Daniel Fabbri, assistant professor of biomedical informatics and computer science in the School of Medicine and School of Engineering, respectively, has always been driven to use his academic knowledge to make an impact. “I never wanted to write papers that sit on the shelf,” he...
Vanderbilt team first to win VentureWell stage 2 grant for environmental monitoring startup
Aug. 3, 2021—Intelligent Systems, an indoor air quality monitoring startup founded by Tim Darrah, a Ph.D. student in computer science and a NASA fellow, has won a stage 2 grant from VentureWell. Intelligent Systems is the first Vanderbilt team to be accepted into this program. Formerly known as the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, VentureWell funds...
Day of Wond’ry 2021 virtual event is May 12
Apr. 22, 2021—Day of Wond’ry, an online innovation extravaganza, will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, from 4 to 6 p.m. CT. See student presentations and creations, learn about Wond’ry programs and services, and explore the virtual fair space using Gather.town, a connection platform combining video conferencing with a walkable 2D world. Walk close to a person to speak...
Three teams with engineering faculty, students accepted to 2021 NSF I-Corps cohort
Feb. 5, 2021—Three Ideator teams with an engineering faculty member, an alumna and an undergraduate have been accepted to the Spring 2021 I-Corps cohort. The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program supports deep technologies and fundamental discoveries in science and engineering that have high potential to impact society. Vanderbilt’s Ideator program, run through the Wondr’y, works with burgeoning inventors among faculty, students and staff from universities...