Several Florida universities gathered in Washington, D.C., for the “University and Industry” roundtable this Wednesday. The event advocated for collaboration between the schools in the fields of technology, transportation and logistics.
Academic leaders, technology experts and industry representatives explored future partnerships with STEM students. Florida International University’s Dr. Jason Liu, a computer science professor and director of the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences, emphasized the importance of collaboration in creating innovative solutions for the transportation sector.
“Technology can empower people and can solve problems,” said Liu. “They are using new technology being developed and it’s what we are hoping for.”
Dr. Ankitha Prakash Arvan from FIU’s Transportation Center introduced “Panther X,” a program aimed at equipping students with the latest technological tools for their future careers.
“This collaboration brings [up] some of the trending topics like AI,” said Arvan. “When it comes to the field, how does that [new technology] apply to certain engineering?”
Diana Sorfleet, executive vice president of CSX Transportation, added that this is an excellent opportunity for students.
“They are learning from the industry expectations and how to connect these ideas to what we need to accomplish in the future.”
Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson is considered a long-time advocate for students also highlighted the growing career opportunities in transportation and the importance of education in meeting the industry’s future demands. Industry experts and university professors closed by encouraging students to pursue STEM fields, highlighting how technological advancements are bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.
