Department of Biomedical Engineering receives $20,000 worth of electronic design products to create a flexible workspace to attract students and support the next generation of engineers

Chicago, August 13, 2018—Newark element14, the Development Distributor, recently announced Duke University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering as the winner of its Dream Lab competition and awarded the department with over $20,000 worth of the latest electronic design tools. Sixty university teams responded to Newark element14’s Dream Lab competition by sharing a list of “must have” equipment that would help them adapt to changes in education and create a flexible workspace for students to develop their ideas and build prototypes.

University equipment is often outdated or borrowed from other departments, while the curriculum is moving away from traditional assignments toward a maker approach. As a result, universities identified a need for 3D printers, oscilloscopes, single board computers (SBCs) and development kits in their Dream Lab competition entries. For example, the ability to 3D print components to modify designs enables students to improve productivity and the universities to maximize grants and budgets. To build their ideal bench, universities noted the top 10 products and brands on their wish lists:

1. Ultimaker 3D printers

2. Flir Thermal imager

3. Tektronix MDO 3054 Oscilloscope

4. Keysight E36311A Power supply

5. Keithley DMM6500 Multimeter

6. Tektronix ADG1062 Function/waveform generator

7. Raspberry Pi and Arduino SBCs and Development Boards/Kits

8. Tektronix RSA 206B Spectrum Analyzer

9. Metcal CV5210 Soldering Station

10. TE Connectivity Crimp Tool

“We’re very grateful to receive such a wide array of equipment to further our research initiatives,” said Matt Brown, Duke University’s Senior Laboratory Administrator. “Some of it is right off our list of old favorites, and those pieces will be easing the burden of heavily used instruments already in our lab. Some of the equipment we’ve been dreaming of having for years, and some we’re dreaming up novel uses for. The equipment will take our creativity to the next level.”

“Universities told us that having a well-stocked, well equipped lab is important in attracting new students,” said Becky McMorrow, Head of Regional Marketing, Newark element14. “As the Development Distributor, we’re committed to helping universities foster the next generation of engineers. The Dream Lab competition is one way in which we support universities as they seek to attract new students and create new innovations.”

Newark element14 is dedicated to innovation and building the next generation of engineers. The Dream Lab competition encouraged colleges and universities to analyze the current state of their lab equipment and identify the top lab tools needed to attract and retain engineering students.

To learn more about Newark element14’s education initiatives, please visit: www.newark.com/education-services

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