Campus Innovation Spaces: Surveying the Landscape

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By Brianna Smrke Co-founder, McMaster

August 2014 Social Innovation Lab

Entrepreneur-focused

Socially-focused

Hard skills/ Tech tools and production-focused

Soft skills/design & ideation focused

Often, innovation happens at the fringes before it moves to the mainstream. At the fringes, stakes are lower, experimentation is the norm, iteration cycles are more frequent and thinking is fresher. In the university ecosystem, student clubs are at the fringe. A notable development from this fringe is student-run innovation labs. These spaces seek to foster innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity. They have whiteboards and post-it notes in plentiful supply, as well as, in some cases, 3D printers, computers and even woodworking tools. They teach design thinking, prototyping, creative problem-solving and technical skills. They act as third spaces � neither classroom nor a home � where students can engage meaningfully with problems and with each other. Most interestingly, these labs were initiated, designed and are run by students.

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In the past five years, the McMaster Social Innovation Lab, Queen’s SparQ Lab, University of Alberta Innovation Lab, Georgia Tech Invention Studio, Berkeley Design Engineering Collective, NYU Poly Greenhouse and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Maker Club have all opened their doors. This guide surveys a diverse array of campus innovation labs and offers lessons learned from my experience co-founding the McMaster Social Innovation Lab. I have written it to showcase the potential of these spaces and reveal some of the unique challenges of initiating and running them. Read on to find a conceptual map of the selected labs, a profile of each space, and a list of specific lessons gleaned from the McMaster Social Innovation Lab pilot project.

Welcome: An Introduction

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Entrepreneur-focused Socially-focused

Hard skills/ Tech tools and production-focused

Soft skills/design & ideation focused

The Landscape

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UC Berkeley DEC p. 3

Queen’s U SPARQ Lab p. 7

Georgia Tech Invention Studio p. 6

UNL Maker Club p. 4

McMaster Social Innovation Lab p. 9

NYU Poly Greenhouse p. 5

U Alberta Innovation Lab p. 8

This list of campus innovation spaces is by no means exhaustive, nor are the rankings of each on the axes below meant to be authoritative. Instead, the entire graph is meant to paint, in broad brushstrokes, a picture of the landscape of campus innovation labs, showcasing the diversity of spaces that have emerged.

Design Engineering Collaborative University of California Berkeley

Notable Practice DEC’s processes and activities are modelled after IDEO’s award-winning methods. IDEO’s Human Centred-Design toolkit can be freely accessed at hcdconnect.org

Origins A 2012 tour of famed design company IDEO inspired co-founders to cultivate the spirit of creativity and innovation at their campus.

Purpose Provide an open platform to connect highly skilled, curious and passionate people through a design-based process.

Materials One large room, white boards, chairs, couches, sticky notes, pens, prototyping material.

Activities Weekly design meetings where self-organized teams work on projects, sporadic workshops on design and guest speaker events.

Funding Largely supported by the College of Engineering, with some support from Engineering Student council and from the $20 yearly fee paid by members, who must submit an application to join DEC.

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University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Maker Club

Notable practice The UNL Maker Club is an on-campus organization meant to generate interest in an off-campus space � the Innovation Campus makerspace. As finding space within universities can be difficult for student groups, connecting with external makerspaces or other groups with access to desired equipment or resources may be a good option.

Origins"

After submitting a successful proposal to create an open makerspace in the to-be-constructed UNL Innovation Campus, mechanical engineering professor Dr. Shane Farritor championed the creation of a student group to build a culture of innovation on campus."

Purpose"To create platforms for students and community members to collaborate on projects, learn skills and create innovative products and media."

Materials"The makerspace is still under construction, but when completed will host a variety of fabrication tools and woodworking equipment."

Activities"The Maker Club runs workshops (e.g. DIY Pinhole Cameras), organizes lectures (e.g. Navigating Patents) and hosts open meetings to discuss the ideal format for the organization itself. "

Funding"No special sources of funding are required for the Maker Club, but the makerspace is a multi-thousand dollar investment on the part of the UNL Innovation Campus."

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The Greenhouse: New York University (NYU) Poly

Notable practice The Greenhouse’s use of online innovation platforms such as OpenIDEO provides members with wel-defined challenges to work on, the chance to collaborate with other interested problem solvers the world over and a clear process to follow when tackling these problems. Participating in challenges can also result in prizes or additional opportunities.

Origins"

In January 2013, the OpenIDEO (an online platform for social innovation) NYU Poly student chapter began to design a space for campus innovation. Involving many other students in each stage of the process, they were able to realize their final design – creating the Greenhouse in the basement of one of the NYU Poly engineering buildings."

Purpose"To provide students with a collaborative space that stimulates interdisciplinary collaboration, prototyping and innovation; to bring ideas to life through iteration and experimentation."

Materials"Whiteboards, post-it notes, soft prototyping materials (clay, glue guns, cardboard, etc.) "

Activities"

The Greenhouse hosts talks from inspiring recent graduates; presents workshops on design thinking, prototyping and risky ideas; encourages members to take part in open innovation challenges from websites like OpenIDEO; and allows student or project groups to book the space."

Funding"In-kind donation of space by the NYU Poly engineering department."

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The Georgia Tech Invention Studio

Notable practice The Invention Studio is sustainably funded by the Engineering Capstone course, despite the fact that only a fraction of the users of the space are Capstone students. This financial model is worth investigating for other campuses.

Origins"

In 2009, engineering students engaged in Capstone Courses arrange to have 24-hour access to lab space in exchange for training and supervising other students. Due to student interest in using lab space and equipment, other students are allowed to train as Undergraduate Lab Instructors, new rooms are opened and students from every faculty are invited to come learn and build things in a completely volunteer-driven environment. By 2014, the Invention Studio is used by 15 courses, 500 undegraduates and takes up 5 rooms. "

Purpose"To allow students from any faculty to design, play, learn and build in an environment where responsibility and safety coexist with creativity and autonomy."

Materials"A wide variety of computer controlled tools (e.g. 3D printers and scanners), manual machines (band saw), electronic equipment (soldering tools), cutting tools, bolts, gears and more!"

Activities"

Students can receive training on how to use specific tools, consult with Undergraduate Lab Instructors on their projects, attend workshops, the Maker’s Monday social, and comprehensive safety training."

Funding"

The Invention Studio is funded through the capstone Engineering Design courses, which are funded by corporate sponsors in exchange for having students work on problems relevant to their interests."

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SPARQ Labs: Queen’s University

Notable practice SPARQ Lab founders tapped into the existing innovation ecosystem at their university, which helped them secure funding as well as participants for their makerspace.

Origins"

In 2013, a team of four undergraduate students developed and pitched a plan to Queen’s Innovation Connector (QIC) leaders asking for support to create a campus makerspace: “a physical location where people gather to share resources and knowledge, work on projects, network, and create their ideas... a collaborative studio space for creative endeavors.” The Queen’s Innovation Connector is a multi-faculty initiative aimed to nurture the university’s capacity for innovation, especially at the student level. "

Purpose"Offer students from every discipline the tools and training required to turn their ideas into physical realities. Offer special support to student-startups affiliated with the QIC."

Materials"A variety of equipment, from 3D printers to sewing machines, as well as whiteboards."

Activities"Members have access to the space to work on their projects during set business hours. There are also weekly ‘hack night’ socials and technical skill-building workshops."

Funding"$250k of in-kind funding from the QIC (access to tools, space and other resources) as well as $30k raised from sponsors."

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University Innovation Lab: U of Alberta

Notable practice Requiring no permanent space, the UIL is not resource-intensive and has still managed to create interesting projects by organizing around the interests of its members. This model may work well for campuses where resource allocation is an issue, or where the innovation lab concept must be proven valuable before further development can take place.

Origins"

In 2013, a team of five University of Alberta students launched the University Innovation Lab (UIL), a suite of projects that included a high-school innovation fair, an interdisciplinary journal and a web-based platform to connect students working on interdisciplinary projects. "

Purpose"

To foster students’ entrepreneurial, civic, scholarly, and professional development by cultivating interdisciplinarity, innovative thinking and collaboration with citizens of the Edmonton and University of Alberta alumni."

Materials"UIL is a student group without a designated space. Projects are undertaken by members of the group."

Activities"

The UIL does not host events, but the projects its members create may result in events, workshops and activities. For example, the high school Innovation Fair was a large event created and run by a UIL member."

Funding" No special funding sources required."

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McMaster Social Innovation Lab

Notable practice MSIL’s international orientation - from Pradeep Ghosh’s role in its development, to the Global Sustainability Jam it hosted in November, which allowed the McMaster team to work on the same problem as individuals from over eighty countries � lets its members tap into a much larger network of ideas and opportunities than a purely campus-focused group could provide.

Origins"

Beginning in 2011, Brianna Smrke and Michael Hewlett nurtured a dream of creating a space where students could put their education to creative and/or meaningful use. With funding from McMaster University and the McMaster Student’s Union, advice from Indian Social Innovator Pradeep Ghosh and donated space from H.G. Thode Library, they launched the McMaster Social Innovation Lab (MSIL) in Fall 2013. "

Purpose"To provide students with what they need to start improving themselves and the world: supportive peers, a home base, tools and a playful, hands-on problem-solving process."

Materials"Whiteboards, post-it notes, soft prototyping materials (clay, glue guns, cardboard, etc.) and a home-made computer."

Activities"

Members have access to the space to work on their projects during set business hours, and are supervised by volunteers trained in MSIL’s problem solving process. Periodic special events, such as the Global Sustainability Jam weekend hackathon, are complemented by weekly Lunch ‘n Learn idea sessions. "

Funding"$13.5k in start-up funding obtained from McMaster University and McMaster Student’s Union. In-kind donation of space and furniture by H.G. Thode library."

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2. Too many cooks...

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1. Don’t go it alone.

To complement the scores of best practices I have just surfaced, here are a few pitfalls to avoid when embarking on a campus innovation space pilot project. I learned these lessons, sometimes painfully, through my experience with the McMaster Social Innovation Lab. Each one is explored in the following pages.

Lessons from the MSIL Pilot

4. Know when to pivot. 3. Things take time.

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1. Don’t go it alone

One of the mantras of Studio Y, the systems change fellowship in which I am currently participating, is “We are not the first. Not even close.”

This is an idea that MSIL should have taken to heart. We ignored the fact that there is a thriving ecosystem of student clubs and tried to do general outreach to all students. Pursuing specific strategic partnerships with existing clubs whose interests and missions matched our own would have been a more efficient way to attract users of the space.

I would advise aspiring innovation spaces to look at how students are already spending their time before deciding how best to reach them. Whenever possible, try to avoid duplicating work that has already been done to engage students.

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2. Too many cooks...

The first MSIL executive team had 11 people, each with different roles and competing priorities. Problems immediately started to result. Scheduling was an issue for group meetings. Each role was not well-defined and many overlapped, making it difficult to determine who was responsible for important tasks. Certain people were overloaded with responsibilities and others did not feel like their talents were being fully engaged. It was hard to develop a sense of group cohesion.

I would advise that new groups ‘go lean’. They should aim to have as few people as possible on their top-level executive team, merge roles that overlap significantly, and recruit two or three people for key positions so that sub-groups can form, but only one person from the group has to report to the main executive meeting.

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3. Things take time.

When I look back to the plans we wrote for MSIL’s first year, I am shocked by their ambition and scope. In 8 months of less than part-time effort from eleven people, we expected to be able to move mountains. We were setting ourselves up for disappointment. As a rule of thumb, things took twice the amount of time that we expected.

I think we would have been much more satisfied if we had committed to a longer-term vision that would be carried out by different teams of students over a multi-year time frame and sought out smaller goals that we could have easily hit, rather than trying to immediately hit excellence in all aspects of the space and its programming.

I would advise that aspiring groups choose one or two main objectives and always validate their plans with a time and effort audit of the people involved.

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4. Know when to pivot.

If your vision of a campus innovation space is not based on extensive surveying of the student body, as ours was not, there is no guarantee that it will resonate with the people you hoped to engage. When this happens, as it did for MSIL, the executive team faces a choice: Do they make incremental changes, or drastically re-envision the space? Knowing which of the two to choose, and when, is a crucial skill. In the case of MSIL, we waited too long to revise our initial plan in the face of little interest among students. We had a committed volunteer body of about 40 students, and yet did not use these volunteers to their fullest degree.

I would advise aspiring student groups to take the time to seek input and feedback from your target audience, and to view the first year as a chance for a Goldilocks amount of pivoting: You want to change yourselves only when you are sure that the results you have been getting are not just the result of fluctuations in student attention, and when you have a validated plan for where to go next.

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The End: Further Resources

I wish you all the best as you continue to explore the landscape of campus innovation spaces! Each profile was compiled using the following resources:

Another fantastic resource is the University Innovation wiki (universityinnovation.org), a US-based compendium of campus profiles, resources and guides compiled by University Innovation Fellows, students who must be nominated by their campuses to receive additional training and mentorship about innovation in higher education.

DEC" http://dec.berkeley.edu/ "

Invention Studio" http://inventionstudio.gatech.edu/ "

Maker Club" http://maker.unl.edu/ "

The Greenhouse" http://greenhousestories.com/ "

SPARQ Labs" http://www.queensinnovation.ca/Innovate/SparQ-Labs.html "

McMaster Social Innovation Lab"

http://macsil.webs.com "

University Innovation Lab"

http://uofainnovation.wordpress.com/