The Future Is Multidisciplinary: Inside the UW Tech Exploration Lab

Sandra Bradley

In today’s rapidly changing landscape, keeping up with emerging technologies requires more than just technical expertise–it demands collaboration across diverse fields to understand the best use cases. If students want to solve complex problems and develop technologies that have a real-world impact, they will need to gather insights from multiple disciplines such as business, engineering, communications, and design. Providing frameworks for multidisciplinary collaboration with a focus on solving real-world problems is exactly what the UW Tech Exploration Lab does.

The Lab is a partnership between the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and the Wisconsin School of Business, and provides a unique space for students to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual and augmented reality, and Internet of Things (IoT). Open to students from all across disciplines, the Lab encourages engagement in self-directed projects or collaboration on industry challenges.

“This Lab surrounds students with resources to explore emerging technology solutions in a meaningful way,” says Sandra Bradley, the Lab’s founder and co-director. “This includes mentors, guest speakers from local and regional companies, subsidized equipment, software platforms, and connections with other students, professionals, and campus experts.”

​​ The Lab provides students with a hands-on learning environment that bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world application. Students can explore innovative solutions, while building connections with professionals and peers from diverse disciplines, helping them tackle complex challenges with technology.

Kevin Ponto

“We’re trying to build something outside the standard classes,” adds Kevin Ponto, the Lab’s co-director, “so people can blend different disciplines together, do hands-on work, and learn in ways that traditional classes might no longer support due to the campus’s growth.”

The culmination of the Lab’s first semester will be on display at their Open House at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery on April 24th from 5:30 to 7pm. This event will showcase the projects that students have been working on throughout the semester, while also giving the campus and public an opportunity to experience these innovations firsthand. 

–Morgan Ramsey