The University of South Carolina Aiken’s (USCA) College of Sciences and Engineering and the Aiken Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new machine shop and maker space on April 16. Tours were given to students, faculty, staff, and the community.
“The space will not only offer advanced training for students but also opportunities for collaboration with senior scientists and industrial partners like the Department of Energy’s SRNL,” said USCA Chancellor Dr. Daniel Heimmermann.
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The workshop is expected to support capstone and research projects for students in engineering and science. It will also be used in collaboration with SRNL’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative and other regional partners.
“With this new space, students will be able to learn how to use machines and have the best hands-on experience,” said Yaraxy Martinez, a junior mechanical engineering student at USCA. “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.”
The workshop has large worktables with workshop lighting, wireless connectivity, and large roll-up doors.
“We anticipate that our engineering program 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 engineering program currently only offers students degrees in mechanical engineering and process engineering.
