Prof. James Oliver on ISU’s Student Innovation Center: Bold Experiment

Episode summary introduction: Professor James Oliver is the Director of the Student Innovation Center at Iowa State University, Ames Iowa. Prof. Oliver joins us on our podcast today to share Why the Innovation Center was created, the unique programs, activities and opportunities it offers, and how students, faculty and yes, even High Schoolers benefit from it . In particular, we discuss the following with him: Prof. James Oliver’s Professional Background Origins of the Student Center for Innovation Programs and Activities in the Center Benefits for Students and Faculty Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Prof James Oliver [0:36] Prof. James Oliver - Background [2:19] Joining Academia [7:17] 3D Visualization Startup [8:45] Internet Music Startup [10:19] Building a Successful Interdisciplinary Graduate Program [11:35] Birth of The Student Innovation Center [13:44] Center’s Programs for Students, Faculty, High School Students  [21:39] Measuring Center’s Success [25:58] Wrap Up [29:44] Our Guest: Professor James Oliver is the Inaugural Director of the Student Innovation Center at Iowa State University. Prof. Oliver was awarded the title of University Professor in 2012. Prof. Oliver has a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Union College, and a Masters and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Memorable Quote: “...there's a lot of really unique aspects about this building, but it's much more than a building. I like to talk about it in terms of [a] vehicle for culture change here inside the university.” Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript. Calls-to-action: Subscribe to our Weekly Podcast Digest. To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email [email protected]. Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations:, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Breaker, Anchor. For Transcripts of all our podcasts, visit almamatters.io/podcasts.