EMU Today

YPSILANTI – How can we improve water quality in Michigan while still maintaining and developing a strong economy?

How can we create community-based solutions to mitigate the opioid crisis? 

How can Michigan universities work with local industries to train “work-ready” students?

Eastern Michigan University students and community members will answer those kinds of timely and challenging questions when they participate in a stimulating and distinctive event called Solve EMU, taking place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 5 in room 310 of the Student Center.

The first ever solve-a-thon event featured at EMU is a one-day thinking competition that requires participants to take part in innovative and engaging problem solving by offering a platform to create solutions for community-based challenges.

The solve-a-thon is broken into two sessions: ideation/research and presentation preparation.

In the first session, students are expected to brainstorm and come up with effective ideas to solve the problems given to them. In addition, they will also be provided with a subject matter expert to help advise teams.

In the second session, the teams will refine their chosen idea, assess its strengths and weaknesses and determine how well the solution will work.

After the students have finished refining their ideas, they will give a ten-minute  presentation to a panel of judges. The students’ presentation should clearly define, elaborate and address the problem as well as provide a viable solution in order to solve the challenge that was given to them.

“My team and I are very excited to participate in the upcoming EMU Solve-A-Thon event.” said Noah Laroy, a student who’s registered for the challenge. “We are really interested in the topic of improving water quality in the state of Michigan while maintaining a strong economy and feel that we can make valuable contributions to the thought process surrounding this question.”

Teams will be evaluated by a panel of three judges, and winning teams will be awarded prizes, including I Pads, Kindles and Amazon gift cards.

SolvEMU is sponsored by The Creative Scientific Inquiry Experience (CSIE) at Eastern, the EMU STEM Connect Club, and is funded by the Women in Philanthropy group.

To register for the event, which is free and open to the public to watch or to participate, see the website link.

For more information, email solveathon2019@gmail.com.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 19,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.