Wright State celebrates Wright Brothers Day with hands-on learning and networking event

Wright Brothers Day at Wright State University celebrated the 119th anniversary of Wilbur Wright’s 39-minute flight on Huffman Prairie on Oct. 5, 1905, near what is now Wright State’s campus and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The flight demonstrated that the Wright brothers had advanced their design to the point of a practical airplane.

Held on Oct. 3, the 13th annual event featured over 20 displays highlighting innovative projects from Wright State researchers and local organizations.

One of the featured research projects was a clinical trial for military veterans and first responders who have PTSD. The eTMS Ohio study uses a device that is placed on a person’s head to stimulate their brain and sends a signal to their fingers.

“There are a lot of really cool things that I’m seeing,” said Lauren Gregg, a first-year biomedical engineering major who participated in the eTMS experiment. “I’m from a military family so that’s near and dear to my heart.”

Organizers say inviting so many organizations to Wright State introduces students to local research and innovation.

“It’s a great chance for our students to network and try out some of the cool things,” said Lily Leszczuk, a senior human resource management and marketing major who is the vice president of the American Marketing Association chapter at Wright State. “There could be a student in here right now, talking to someone right now, that could make a huge impact on innovation.”

Exhibitors who participated in Wright Brothers Day included:

• EduGate: societal data gateway/artificial intelligence
• Air Force Research Lab GRILL: video and VR game development
• Wright State’s Center for Genomics Research: direct, real-time sequencing of mRNA
• Cybersecurity training program
• Hyphen Innovations: aerospace, 3D printing
• Biomedical engineering: Anthropometric, 3D scanning
• Hydrology and climate change: effect on plants and animals
• Wright State nursing simulation
• EZKin Factory View: data-driven production planning
• Drone Express: drone delivery
• Dayton Photonics: Wi-Fi-enabled fiber optics
• Total Contact: custom burn mask
• Dropped Head Syndrome Brace Biomechanics
• Biomedical engineering-pacemaker battery life monitor
• Wright State’s Neuroscience and Cognitive Lab
• NeuroLab: nerve-driven robotic claw
• Seer Consulting: artificial intelligence demonstration
• AI Corneal Evaluation

Wright Brothers Day was organized by the American Marketing Association, a student organization in the Raj Soin College of Business.