This document summarizes the entrepreneurship and makerspace initiatives at a liberal arts university. It discusses the creation of makerspaces in various departments focused on rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and other tools. Examples include a physics makerspace, biology hackerspace, and art & design studio. Capstone projects involve interdisciplinary groups working on innovations like animal data logging tags. A new Engineering Physics and Applied Design concentration is being offered within the Physics degree. The university also supports entrepreneurship through competitions and spaces for student entrepreneurs.

1. ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER
Design Thinking
• Innovation and Design Studio
• Workshops for inclusion in
programs, courses
• Interdisciplinary design thinking student club
Periodic Entrepreneurship Competitions
• Shark Tank cvents
• 3-day Startup competitions
Entrepreneurial Spaces
• Open to student entrepreneurs
CAMPUS NETWORK OF MAKERSPACES
Liberal Arts Philosphy
Rather than a ‘one size fits all’ we are planning student
accessible, suitably scoped makerspaces in many departments
and libraries. Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship at a
liberal arts university cannot be limited to the STEM disciplines.
Over the course of 3 years we formed new makerspaces and
converted existing studios into makerspaces. Increased focus on
teaching design processes, prototyping and creation (instead of
traditional focus on reproduction of knowledge).
Small Hall Makerspace
Located in research intensive Physics Department with focus on
rapid prototyping, electronics development.
• Electronics prototyping (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, SMD reflow)
• 3D printing (Stratasys Objet30), laser cutting, thermoforming
• Student machine shop with CNC mills/lathes
• Student project support up to $1k for interdisciplinary groups
Bio Hackerspace
Located in large undergraduate enrollment Biology Department
with focus on synthetic genetics.
• iGEM winner 2015: International Genetically Engineered
Machine competition
Art & Design Studio
• Photography courses using silver emulsion plates
• 3D scanning and printing of clay prototypes
• Theater set design and prop production in makerspaces
This material is based in part upon work supported by the
National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. PHY-1405857
and DUE-1625872. Any opinions, findings, and
conclusions or recommendations expressed in
this material are those of the author(s) and do
not necessarily reflect the views of the National
Science Foundation.
This project is part of the PIPELINE Network of the American
Physical Society, a three year project bringing together the
efforts of six institutions to create and document new
approaches to teaching innovation and
entrepreneurship in physics. Supported by
the National Science Foundation's Improving
Undergraduate STEM Education program
under Award No. DUE-1624882.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship at a
Liberal Arts University
How the College of Arts & Sciences and the Mason School of Business at
William & Mary are training the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
CAPSTONE PROJECTS IN INNOVATION
SharkDuino: Development of an inexpensive,
user friendly, open source animal data-logging
tag for marine research
Robo-Ops: Tele-robotically controlled Mars and
lunar rover competition (through NASA)
• For-credit, multi-disciplinary 20-student innovation/technology
development effort. Collaboration with NASA: strict deadlines,
agile project management.
ENGINEERING PHYSICS & APPLIED DESIGN
New Concentration within Physics B.S. degree.
Instead of offering an engineering degree, we expand our
existing liberal arts strengths to offer an engineering experience
for physics and applied science majors, building on strengths
but introducing applied/business concepts. 1st cohort Fall 2017.
Strengths/Weaknesses of a Physicist
• Modeling, distinguishing leading from subleading effects
• But weak in interdisciplinary groups, open-ended problems
Built Around the Core Physics Curriculum
• Solid math basis: Calc 1/2/3, lin alg, ODE, math methods
• Computing proficiency: programming in python
• Theoretical physics core: intro physics, modern, classical 1,
quantum 1, electricity & magnetism 1/2
• Laboratory skills: intro labs, atomic, electronics 1/2 (includes
semester-long design projects)
Complemented with Dedicated EPAD Courses
• Applied science: thermal, fluid dynamics, materials and
characterization, FEM
• Intellectual property, design thinking, business model canvas,
project management
Applied Capstone Group Project
CONTACT INFORMATION
Small Hall Makerspace
Wouter Deconinck, Joshua Erlich
makerspace@physics.wm.edu
Engineering Physics and Applied Design
Mark Hinders, hinders@wm.edu
Entrepreneurship Center
Graham Henshaw, Executive Director
graham.henshaw@mason.wm.edu
AIDDATA
Center for Development Policy
Headquartered at William & Mary,
AidData provides geospatial data and tools
that enable the global development
community to more effectively target,
coordinate, and evaluate aid.
Makerspace for Data and Visualization
• Large number of AidData summer fellows
• Agile project development approach
New Capstone Senior Courses in I&E
• New curriculum requirement, required for 2018 seniors
• Target disciplines: computer science, biology, physics
• Modeled around SBIR/STTR calls for proposals
• Fall semester: Ideation and Prototype Development
• Weeks 1-4: Design thinking workshops, individual ideation
• End of Week 4: Down-select through class shark tank
• Weeks 5-8: Prototype iteration in groups of 4
• End of Week 8: Down-select through open shark tank
• Weeks 9-14: SBIR-like proposal in groups of 8
• Spring semester: Development of MVP
• Week 1-4: Business model canvas, project management
• Week 5-15: Development of MVP in groups of 15
Swem Library
In the 21st century knowledge is available online. Libraries
become places for collaborative learning and check-out of
advanced creative equipment:
• Multimedia center with pro A/V equipment
• Multimedia/editing studios, collaboration spaces, open
classrooms for tutorials, mini workshops and hackathons
• Ultimaker2Go 3D printers (‘3D printer in every dorm room’)
Data Analysis and Vizualization Lab
New space dedicated to VR and data visualization with
powerful graphics workstations.