Drexel had a busy 2012.
The University strengthened its academic partnerships internationally with visits to Israel, Turkey and China and created a national buzz with the success of its men’s and women’s basketball teams, not to mention the field hockey team’s first CAA championship. Here in Philadelphia, Drexel made headlines with its groundbreaking research in 3D paleontology, its work with the cutting-edge HUBO humanoid robots, and with the continued transformation of its University City Campus.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, of course, and while there is quite a long list of notable moments and accomplishments for Drexel in 2012, we’ve attempted here to highlight the biggest and best news items of the year.
Top 3 Stories That Created the Most Buzz Around Campus and Generated the Most News Coverage
Drexel’s Digital Fossil Research
Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, an associate professor in Drexel’s College of Arts and Sciences, in collaboration with Drexel engineers, is using 3-D digital scanning, 3-D printing and robotics for the study of dinosaurs. His work was most recently was featured in Discover magazine’s January/February 2013 issue as one of the “Top 100 Science Stories in 2012.” The story was also covered by media nationwide. See news coverage on ABC News.
Drexel's HUBO Robots Take the Stage and Perform "Come Together" by the Beatles
Four of Drexel's HUBO robots performed "Come Together" by The Beatles in a demonstration that combined cutting-edge engineering technology and research with creative expression. The video was produced by Drexel’s Music & Entertainment Technology Laboratory (MET-lab). The story of Drexel’s humanoid robots was reported by media nationwide. See the coverage from time.com.
Drexel’s Campus Construction and Neighborhood Initiatives
Drexel’s strategic plan, campus construction projects and neighborhood initiatives generated numerous stories in 2012. The University broke ground for Chestnut Square, hosted a topping out ceremony for the new LeBow College of Business building, completed the renovation of the URBN Center to house the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and announced plans for a new Dana and David Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships. Coverage appeared in numerous media outlets, including this story from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Top 3 Stories with the Most Page Views on DrexelNow
Drexel to Transform Chestnut Street into New Gateway for University City
Drexel and American Campus Communities will break ground on a new $97.6 million development that will transform Chestnut Street between 32nd and 33rd Streets into a new gateway for Drexel and University City. Designed by internationally acclaimed Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Chestnut Square will feature 361,200 square-feet of mixed-use student housing and retail space. It’s scheduled for completion September 2013.
Driving Without a Blind Spot May Be Closer Than it Appears
A side mirror that eliminates the dangerous “blind spot” for drivers has now received a U.S. patent. The subtly curved mirror, invented by Drexel math professor Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, dramatically increases the field of view with minimal distortion. The research made national headlines and even made its way into Jay Leno’s monologue on The Tonight Show. View the clip here and skip to the 2:53 mark.
Robotic Dinosaurs On the Way for Next-Gen Paleontology at Drexel
Researchers are bringing the latest technological advancements in 3-D printing to the study of ancient life. Using scale models of real fossils, they will be able to for the first time test hypotheses about how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals moved and lived in their environments.
Top 3 Videos of 2012 from Drexel’s YouTube Channel
The Hubos Come Together by Drexel’s College of Engineering
Four of Drexel's HUBO robots perform the Beatles' "Come Together" in a demonstration that combines cutting-edge engineering technology and research with creative expression, produced by the Music & Entertainment Technology Laboratory (MET-lab).
Chestnut Street Development (rendering)
This video is a virtual look inside Drexel's Chestnut Street Development, currently under construction by American Campus Communities.
Student Life at Drexel University
An overview of the student experience and campus life at Drexel.
Top Drexel Athletics Moment of 2012
Drexel Field Hockey Claims its First CAA Championship
In 2012, four Drexel teams advanced to their conference championship game, two qualified for the NCAA Tournament and the field hockey team claimed its first CAA title during a season of unprecedented success for Drexel Athletics. The field hockey team’s victory was chosen as the most important sporting victory for the University in 2012. The field hockey team, led by senior standout Amanda Fleischut, clinched its CAA title with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Northeastern.