Virginia Western opens new STEM Building
The 72,000-square-foot, $37 million facility will be a hub for collaboration.
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Dr. Robert H. Sandel, President of Virginia Western Community College, along with staff and students celebrate the opening of the new STEM Building with a Ribbon-Cutting on Monday, August 26 as students arrive. Staff members (from left to right) include Elizabeth Wilmer, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs and Amy White, Dean of STEM at Virginia Western Community College.
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Virginia Western Community College opened its new STEM Building to students on Monday, August 26th with a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the state-of-the-art equipment and contemporary classrooms with a focus on collaboration. The new 72,000-square-foot facility, dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, is the largest building on campus and was designed with input from faculty and staff to best serve the region’s growing needs.
“This amazing new facility is the result of many years of dedicated, hard work and forethought,” said Dr. Robert H. Sandel, President of Virginia Western. “We expect it to be a destination for students and industry partners who are interested in getting ahead in the region’s growing STEM-focused economy. It is designed to adapt to our community’s needs and we are so thrilled to show it off.”
Classrooms in the $37 million facility were designed to be open and flexible, allowing students to seamlessly move from a lecture-style setting to group work. White boards cover the walls along with 80-inch TV monitors to replace the traditional chalkboards and projectors that were present in the School of STEM’s former home, Anderson Hall, which was more than 50 years old.
“We want to prepare students for careers that are available now and those that don’t even exist yet,” said Amy White, Dean of STEM. “They will have opportunities to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will serve them well in whichever field they pursue. Hands-on learning is central to all that we do, and this facility will encourage that in every discipline. Our hope is that this building will not only educate, but also motivate and inspire all the students we serve.”
Programs that will be located in the STEM Building include Mechatronics, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Physics and Mathematics. New cutting-edge equipment includes a phase contrast fluorescence microscope, a multiphoton confocal microscope, a scanning electron microscope, four new spectrometers, process control units, a 5 axis CNC milling machine, a 24-foot water flume and a collaborative robot.
A new grassy courtyard between the STEM Building, the Strauss Family Student Life Center and Webber Hall will be a hive for student activity. It is designed to blend beautifully with the Colonial Avenue streetscape, which is slated to be complete before the end of 2019.
STEM Building by the Numbers
- 44 miles of communication cable
- 217 computers
- 103 TV monitors
- 70 white boards
- 12 wet labs (an increase of 5 on campus)
New Equipment
- Phase Contrast Fluorescence Microscope: Detects the presence of materials, such as protein, and identifies the location of materials in relation to other structures in a cell or tissue.
- Multiphoton Confocal Microscope: Provides high-resolution fluorescent imaging of cellular processes or other materials and generates 3D images of structures using laser scanning to improve resolution.
- Scanning Electron Microscope: Provides visibility at 250 to 500 times the magnification of most light microscopes, with focused electron beams to show detailed features of samples and composition and topography information. This microscope allows visualization at the nanometer level.
- 4 new spectrometers: Used in analytical chemistry to determine information about an object or substance, these sophisticated instruments employ a variety of methods to identify and characterize materials and molecules.
- Collaborative Robot: Much like industrial robots that are common in manufacturing, the largest difference between the two is that collaborative robots are designed to safely work with human operators rather than in lieu of operators. The robot can easily be taught new processes and tasks as operators or operations change, without safety concerns.
Top 5 STEM programs of study at Virginia Western
- Mechatronics
- Engineering
- Biology/Chemistry/Biotechnology
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Health Sciences
Virginia Western Community College is a forward-thinking community college inspiring individual, community and economic transformation. It provides quality educational opportunities that empower students for success and strengthen communities. The college provides credit academic programs and non-credit workforce training along with distance learning online and dual enrollment courses in area high schools. To learn more, visit
https://virginiawestern.edu.
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Audience members exchange questions with some of the world's leading scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. The free lectures are supported by Maury Strauss, a Roanoke businessman and longtime community benefactor.
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National science, health and policy headliners slated for Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
A Nobel prize winner and two National Institutes of Health leaders are among internationally known speakers programmed for the new season of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series in Roanoke.
The free lectures, named for Maury Strauss, a Roanoke businessman and longtime community benefactor, feature scientific topics straight from today’s headlines, from climate change to human gene editing.
“We strive to present the world’s leading authorities on advanced, thought-provoking topics in science, medicine, health and policy,” said Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and host of the seminar series. “Sharing the excitement and promise of scientific and biomedical research with the Roanoke community and our Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic colleagues is an important part of our mission. The experts who visit the research institute are leading contributors and voices on the cutting edge of the latest knowledge, vision and implementation of improved health and quality of life.”
Because of the demand for quality scientific speakers, some of the lectures are scheduled more than a year in advance.
Nobel laureate Michael Young, a biologist and geneticist who received the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to the science of circadian rhythms, will be among this season’s visitors. Young discovered the molecular mechanisms in cells that help us set our biological clocks to the different phases of day and night.
In addition, Eliseo Perez-Stable, director of the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, will talk about an effort to bridge the sciences and develop a coordinated research vision to improve health outcomes in populations that experience health disparities. His work shines a light on ways to improve health care for racial and ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minorities.
Another National Institutes of Health official, Christopher Austin, director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, will explain the easily misunderstood process of translating observations in the laboratory or clinic into useful health care interventions.
The lecture series kicks off on Thursday, September 19, with Julie Pulerwitz, the director of the HIV and AIDS program of the Population Council, an international nonprofit organization that conducts research in biomedicine, social science, and public health.
A leader in implementation science, Pulerwitz stresses that for HIV research to effectively inform programs and policies, researchers must engage in regular dialogue with communities and policymakers — along the lines of the Strauss lectures.
"It’s important for community members to be involved in our research activities,” said Friedlander, who is also the vice president for health sciences and technology at Virginia Tech. “As scientists, we need to engage in activities that make a difference in people’s lives. That is why the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute works hard to create interactions that bring together community members, local scientists, and international thought leaders. Presenting these speakers is the cornerstone for the growth of the Virginia Tech Carilion Academic Health Center and the Roanoke Innovation Corridor.”
Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series events begin with a free public reception at 5 p.m. followed by the hour-long lecture starting at 5:30 p.m. at 2 Riverside Circle in Roanoke, Virginia.
Upcoming topics and speakers include...mark your calendar!
- “Transforming Evidence into HIV Policies and Practice: Lessons from Global Implementation Science,” presented by Julie Pulerwitz, director of the Population Council’s HIV and AIDS Program on Sept. 19, 2019.
- “The Science of Minority Health and Health Disparities: NIMHD Perspective,” presented by Eliseo Perez-Stable, director of the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, on Oct. 17, 2019.
- “Preparing for Global Climate Change,” presented by Vicki Arroyo, executive director of the Georgetown Climate Center, on Nov. 7, 2019.
- “Social Inequality and Cancer Survival: How Can We Close the Gap?” presented by Ophira Ginsburg, director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center’s High-Risk Cancer Genetics Program at NYU Langone Health, on Dec. 5, 2019.
- “What’s Next in Digital Health Care?” presented by John Halamka, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief information officer, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chairman, New England Healthcare Exchange Network, on Dec. 12, 2019.
- “Catalyzing Translational Innovation,” presented by Christopher Austin, director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, on Jan. 23, 2020.
- “The Cognition Crisis: Perils and Promise of Technology and the Brain,” presented by Adam Gazzaley, the University of California, San Francisco’s David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry; on Feb. 27, 2020.
- “Engineering Reproduction: From Bench to Bedside to Babies,” presented by Teresa Woodruff, Thomas J. Watkins Professor and Vice Chair of Research at Northwestern University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; on March 12, 2020.
- “How Vaccines Train the Immune System in Ways No One Expected,” presented by Christine Stabell Benn, professor of Global Health at the University of Southern Denmark, on April 16, 2020.
- “Genes Regulating Sleep and Circadian Rhythms,” Michael Young, Nobel laureate, and professor and vice president for academic affairs at The Rockefeller University, on April 30, 2020.
- “Pediatric Robotics: A Journey from the Lab to a Child’s Home,” presented by Ayanna Howard, professor and chair of the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, Oct. 15, 2020.
- “Tiny Conspiracies: Cell to Cell Communication in Bacteria,” presented by Bonnie Bassler, Squibb Professor in Molecular Biology and Chair at Princeton University, on Oct. 29, 2020.
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Why is Roanoke and Virginia's Blue Ridge highlighted as a stunning mountain biking destination? Check out his video project by Brice Shirbach and Maxxis to learn why. It spotlights some of Roanoke's local community advocates for mountain biking in the region. Enjoy
Intersections // Part 1 // Roanoke, Virginia
.
To view the video, please visit the Featured BizLink above.
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Spotlight on Business
Generation Solutions
We all enjoy our home! When we retire, chances are we’d like to stay there. And why not?
For over 20 years our dedicated team of professionals at Generation Solutions have delivered award-winning care to the homes of families all over our region. Sometimes, for whatever reason, day to day responsibilities become difficult. That’s where we come in. Generation Solutions delivers a wide range of services provided by trained and compassionate caregivers. Our goal is to help you and your loved one live at home safely and securely. We offer personal care and maintenance of “smart” home and health monitoring systems. We also provide medication management overseen by our Care Managers.
What is a Care Manager? Sometimes families need help in planning, coordinating and overseeing the care of a loved one, especially if the family lives out of town or they have a busy schedule that prohibits overseeing day to day decision making with their loved one. This is where Generation Solutions can help. Our Care Managers act as an advocate for the client and a surrogate for the family who needs help maneuvering through the health care system and other activities of daily living. We assist with managing the needs and care decisions that come with supporting a loved one in their home. Our Care Managers have experience in gerontology, nursing, and social work/counseling.
How can our Care Managers help you? Here are examples of how we can assist:
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Conduct care planning assessments to identify your needs and develop a care plan.
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Act as a liaison to families, in or out of town, by providing constant communication and support to enable clients to live at home with safety and attention to their needs.
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Assist with bill paying, personal bookkeeping and provide notary services.
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Review financial, medical or legal issues, offering referrals to reliable specialists.
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Attend physician appointments, and ensure orders, diagnosis, medications and all information is clearly and accurately communicated to family members.
Generation Solutions offers a variety of packages enabling families to create a personalized plan of care and maintain an active lifestyle. Please visit our website for more information at www.generationsolutions.net or call us today at 540-776-3622 for a free in-home consultation! Also, ask about our Pre-planning and safe in home technology services!
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Virginia Tech BUSINESS BITS
It’s All About Perspective
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The other day I was making a list for my assistant. I was capturing on the list the names of fliers that I wanted to collate to place in presentation folders to take to meetings. I listed the subjects of the fliers, called the physical magazine I wanted “magazine” on the list, and I even drew a little picture that showed what the letterhead looked like to me to represent one flier – a squiggly line running down the left side.
A few days later she showed up at my office door with a question. She was trying her best to collect all the fliers, but she couldn’t figure out what I meant by “magazine” and the one with the little drawing.
I walked with her to the information table we have on the exterior of our offices, and showed her which ones I was talking about. Everything made sense to her immediately. Then I realized my mistake. It was about perspective. You see, I am a big picture thinker, she is a details person. We both need each other, but in that example I forgot that communication differences occur in that space. She needed the exact name of the flier. She needed what the title said. She needed to know the magazine wasn’t something she could print online, but was a physical, old-school Virginia Tech monthly magazine.
The difference here is illustrated when students and adult learners take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment. On that assessment, I score “i
N
tuitive” (N) and my assistant “
S
ensing” (S). What that means is that we are going to have communication barriers that we must be aware of so that we can overcome them. I need her to burst my bubble sometimes, and tell me that my big idea isn’t going to work because the day I want to hold a giant conference in our whole center, we have a class running at 4:00 pm in one of the rooms. She needs me to generate a dozen ideas on how to get catering ordered for a group whose size keeps growing.
Sensors use evidence from their five senses and focus on the here and now. They prefer concrete information, facts, and figures. They like to learn things one step at a time from start to finish, focusing on the details. They see the trees instead of the forest. I like to think that their brains are like a phone book.
Intuitors don’t ignore evidence completely, but they do rely on their gut instincts. They focus on the big picture, the future, and all the possibilities. Metaphors serve them well, and in stark contrast, they see the forest. Their brains are like the internet, connected but random. One thing will lead to another but not necessarily in order.
We learn to celebrate our differences and seek out others who have another perspective. It makes for a well-rounded team who can dream big dreams AND make them happen!
Can you think about your team and figure out who your Sensors and Intuitors are?
Business Bits
is brought to you by Lesa Hanlin (
Lesa@vt.edu
), Virginia Tech, Executive Director, Roanoke Regional Initiatives (540-767-6100).
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Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine welcomes its 10th class
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“One of the things that attracted me to the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is its high-caliber students,” said Lee Learman, who began as dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine on July 1. “The newest class builds on this tradition with extensive clinical exposure and research experience, both key areas of focus in our curriculum with
early patient interaction
and
training of scientist physicians
. The class also brings diverse backgrounds and life experiences which will enhance their
team-focused learning
.”
More than 4,400 people applied to be part of the class of 2023 with 319 being invited to interview for a position. The final 43 members of the class come from 17 states, including nine from Virginia and four each from Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Washington. About 60 percent of this class are women.
The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine continues to make strides towards diversity and admitting students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine. Four students (9 percent) in the class of 2023 come from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, and another 9 percent are the first in their families to attend college.
The average age of the class is 25, with most taking time after college to pursue graduate studies, work, do research, and/or gain clinical shadowing experience. Twelve have master’s degrees. The average member of the class of 2023 has completed more than 2,300 hours of research and accumulated more than 4,200 hours of clinical experience.
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One Stop Shopping for Events in Virginia's Blue Ridge (VBR)
The team at Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge has created a new landing page on www.visitvbr.com to showcase weekend events happening in Virginia's Blue Ridge (VBR)! It updates every Monday to feature the events for the upcoming weekend - making this page a great resource to bookmark and reference when making plans with friends and family!
Whether it's a major festival, great live music, art show, outdoor activities, sporting events, or any of the other fun events happening in the region, this list will help you make the most of the weekend in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
To see all the exciting events happening this weekend check out our new weekend events page. Recent website stat – The VBR website received 175,899 unique visitors during the month of July, producing an average of 5,674 unique visitors to the site per day!
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A Demo Day and reception is being hosted by the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Acceleration and Mentoring Program (RAMP) on September 9, 2019. This event is designed to showcase the 2019 RAMP program cohort companies.
When:
Monday, September 9, 2019
4:30 PM Registration Opens
5:00 PM Demo Day Program Begins
Reception immediately following program in Fralin Center for Science and Health Professions.
Where:
Virginia Western Community College – Whitman Theater | 3095 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015
RAMP’s mission is to propel high-potential startups to expand and create jobs in the STEM-H (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Health) fields. Founding partners in the initiative include the City of Roanoke, the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council, and Virginia Western Community College. The program is housed in the renovated
Gill Memorial Building located at
709 S. Jefferson Street along the downtown Roanoke Innovation Corridor.
To register and attend this event, click
here.
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New RIDE Solutions App Offers Employers Immediate Transportation Solutions
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RIDE Solutions and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation have launched a new, statewide ridematching system to help commuters explore their transportation options.
The new system, part of the Commute!VA statewide network, provides a suite of instant ridematching tools on mobile devices and through the
www.ridesolutions.org
website to help citizens connect to carpool, transit, and bike commuting opportunities.
“Our new software represents a huge leap forward in the level of service we are able to offer,” said RIDE Solutions Program Director Jeremy Holmes. “Commuters can instantly find and communicate with potential carpool partners, join vanpools, and find transit or bike buddies to help them navigate all their transportation choices, all via their smartphone or the web.”
An exciting feature of the new system, powered by the software platform Agile Mile, is the addition of a robust rewards system. Users can log their telework days, carpool, transit, bike, and vanpool trips to earn points that can be cashed in for over 2,000 different rewards at local and national businesses. RIDE Solutions hopes to work with retailers and restaurants across central and southwest Virginia to offer more reward options.
Additionally, the new system will allow commuters to match to destinations across the state and into areas not covered by existing programs, allowing long-distance, event, and one-time ridematching.
Chris Arabia, Manager of Statewide Mobility Programs for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, said “We are excited to partner with RIDE Solutions and commuter assistance programs across the Commonwealth to provide statewide ridematching through Commute!VA. This is the next step in DRPT’s continuing commitment to provide transportation options that help move more people on our transportation system, reduce congestion and emissions, and provide mobility solutions for all our citizens.”
The new system can be found at
www.ridesolutions.org
or downloaded from the Apple app store or Google Play.
RIDE Solutions is a commuter services program operated by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission in cooperation with the New River Valley Planning District Commission, the Central Virginia Planning District Commission, and the West Piedmont Planning District Commission. It provides multimodal trip planning services for citizens and employers throughout Central and Southwest Virginia.
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Recent Grand Openings & Ribbon Cuttings in the City of Roanoke
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Mayor Sherman Lea cuts the ribbon for Retirement Unlimited, Inc. (RUI), a Roanoke Virginia based Senior Living Community management company, as they hosted an Open House and Ribbon Cutting at their new Woodland Hills Community on August 29, 2019. The facility is located at 3365 Ogden Road in Roanoke City.
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The City of Roanoke Department of Economic Development is on
Facebook
and
Instagram
! Please "like" or "follow" us today!
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Don't forget...BizRoanoke is on RVTV Channel 3!
BizRoanoke is a monthly television program highlighting economic activity and programs
within the City of Roanoke.
Tune into RVTV Channel 3 to learn more, access it on our website at
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Check it Out!
City Owned Available Property
The City of Roanoke has a variety of properties, from existing buildings to buildable sites,
presently available for acquisition. The purchase of City property must be approved by Council; this requires potential buyers to submit a proposal for the property.
For more information on available properties and the proposal process, please visit the links below:
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