Something Different
The word “innovate” is derived from the Latin word innovare which means to renew or change. It implies doing something different rather than merely doing something better. The USD experience is about actively promoting innovation and examples of this at USD abound. For seniors in the USD Engineering Program, the USD sustainability campaign “Be Blue, Go Green” has become a mantra, as students develop capstone projects that are collaborative solutions to such challenges as providing renewable energy and water in places as near as Loma Hall on campus to Sudan in Africa. Among the most innovative projects was “Engineer a Brighter Sudan” in which four senior electrical and mechanical engineers worked on bringing solar power to a school in the village of Theou. They developed the appropriate technology for that particular environment and raised a majority of the funds for starting the project.
