SOUTHFIELD—Lawrence Technological University has received a $40,000 grant from DENSO, the world’s second largest mobility supplier, for programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The grant, made possible by the company’s philanthropic arm, the DENSO North America Foundation (DNAF), is one of 26 grants awarded by DENSO in 2019 to colleges and universities throughout North America. The donations are part of DENSO’s broader efforts to cultivate tomorrow’s work force and prepare young thinkers to lead a new era of innovation.
Grants were awarded to programs based on design, materials management, mechanical and electrical engineering principles, thermodynamics, robotics, and more. With this grant, Lawrence Tech plans to develop a machine vision system for vehicles to help prevent car-pedestrian and car-animal collisions, as well as other types of accidents. The grant will fund the acquisition of cameras, sensors, other electronic equipment, and software for the research. Students from LTU’s architectural engineering, electrical and computer engineering, robotics engineering, and audio engineering technology programs will be involved. The principal investigator is George P. Pappas, senior lecturer in LTU’s Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
“The main purpose of this grant is to have students in multiple disciplines learn about these systems, to familiarize students with these technologies while they are still undergraduates, in preparation for their future careers,” Pappas said.
DNAF has supported STEM education through grants at colleges and universities since 2001, enabling students to access tools, technology, and experiences that better prepare them for technical careers after graduation. DENSO education grant proposals are invitation-only and evaluated based on technical merit, student experience, and alignment with industry needs.
“Investing in tomorrow’s workforce is critical to ensuring we have individuals who are equipped to help DENSO fulfill its vision of creating software and products that enhance safety and reduce environmental impact,” said Bill Foy, senior vice president of engineering at DENSO and a DNAF board member. “Through these grants, we hope to create a generation of innovators who inspire new value for the future of mobility.”
Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 15 percent of universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.
About DENSO
DENSO is a $48.3 billion global mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in its 221 facilities in 35 countries to produce thermal, powertrain, mobility, electrification, & electronic systems, to create jobs that directly change how the world moves. The company’s 170,000-plus employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. Headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO spent 9.3 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. For more information about global DENSO, visit https://www.denso.com/global.
In North America, DENSO employs 27,000-plus engineers, researchers and skilled workers across 31 sites in the U.S, Canada, and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs 17,000-plus people across 13 states and 25 sites. Headquartered in Southfield, in fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, DENSO in North America generated $10.9 billion in consolidated sales. Join us, and craft not only how the world moves, but also your career. For more information, go to https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/.