STCC receives more than $1 million in science grants

Sept. 26, 2018 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

(Left to right) Gary Mullett and Dr. Nicolas Massa announced the two grants to Springfield Technical Community College.
Reminder Publishing photo by G. Michael Dobb

SPRINGFIELD – The two grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) will enable Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) to strengthen two educational programs that prepare students for jobs in the high technology sector.

Congressman Richard Neal praised the college at press conference on Sept. 24 for the more than $1 million in grants calling the NSF, “the gold standard.”

The college received $599,388 to develop “The Internet of Things Education Project” and $551,202 to develop “Problem-Based Learning
in Advanced Photonics Manufacturing Education.”

Both grants will support their respective programs for three years.

Dr. Nicholas M. Massa, department chair for Optics and Photonics Technology, explained the skills taught by the department are used in a host of industries. The program is one of the oldest in the nation and is the only one of its kind in the Northeast, he said. Graduates have nearly 100 percent job placement, he added.

“We’re where they find their technicians,” Massa said.

The grant will fund ways to increase the “STEM pipeline” from high school to college Massa explained, through a problem-based learning program. He said there is great demand for graduates in this field and the program also includes professional development workshops for high school as well as college instructors, Massa explained.

Gary J. Mullett, co-chair of the Electronic Systems Engineering Technology Department, was the main writer for the grant concerning “the Internet of Things (IoT).”

“Big players in high tech industries believe of the Internet of Things will be their financial future,” Mullett said.

In a written statement Mullett further explained, “The technology of the IoT has the very genuine potential to significantly impact almost every aspect of human endeavor and commerce. It is vitally important that the United States be at the forefront of the development of this technology and the creation of a workforce that can deal with the installation, maintenance and updating of this emerging technology. This project will strive to provide curricula and training to those that would teach the material to ensure an adequate workforce of IoT technicians.”

Essentially of the Internet of Things is about the communication not between people on the Internet but between machines, he explained. Right now, most of the traffic on the Internet is between machines and he predicted that in 10 to 15 years, the Internet of Things would affect nearly everyone.

The goal of the program is to create an Internet Of Things Field Technician certificate at the college. Mullett said that job fields for such training include e-healthcare, cyber-security and self-driving cars.

Neal said that programs such as they could improve the skillset in people living in the region making them better prepared for well-paying jobs.

“STCC is the engine of economic growth in the Pioneer Valley,” he said.

STCC president Dr. John B. Cook, said, “Dr. Massa and Professor Mullett are passionate about their work inside and outside of the classroom. They both have a long history of successfully securing important grants for their programs at STCC. I’m grateful that they both have a keen understanding of the needs of our industry partners and a commitment to ensuring our students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.”

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