Open Lab experiences take many forms: Internships, co-ops, capstone projects, and community collaborations elevate classroom learning and engage students in meaningful, measurable work.
Want to start your own Open Lab journey? Learn more about opportunities for students (Open Lab opportunities) and external partners (Open Lab opportunities).
A Digital Backup of the Liberty Bell
A Behrend research team partnered with the National Park Service to create a digital replica of the Liberty Bell. Over two days in Philadelphia, the team produced high-tech scans that the park service can use to repair or replicate any part of the historic landmark.
Read the full story about the digital backup of the Liberty Bell
A New Species of Shrimp
Behrend students captured the first samples of Hemimysis anomala, an invasive species of shrimp, in the water off Erie’s Lampe Marina. The shrimp had never been seen in Pennsylvania waters. The students found them by adjusting the parameters of an ongoing research project.
Read the full story about the discovery of a new species of shrimp
An App that Maps Presque Isle State Park
A team of Behrend engineering students created a mobile app for the Presque Isle Partnership, the nonprofit organization that supports the state’s most-visited state park. Students also designed a portable, weather-proof power unit for the Presque Isle Lights winter display.
Read the full story about the app that maps Presque Isle State Park
Using AI to Better Engage Customers
Business students developed digital and AI-enhanced upgrades to support the operations for the Juice Jar, an Erie café. The students connected through an Innovation Through Collaboration project, a common framework for Open Lab activity in the Black School of Business.
Read the full story about using AI to better engage customers at an Erie Café
An Immersive Factory Tour
A team from Behrend’s VAR Lab developed a 360-degree 3D tour for Snap-tite Hose, a local industrial hose manufacturer. The tour showcases Snap-tite’s Quality Assurance testing lab in an immersive format that is more engaging than traditional brochures or flat video.
Live Coverage of Local Government
Student TV crews provide livestream coverage of Harborcreek Township meetings, giving the community better access to local government. The meetings—along with livestreams of some Behrend athletics—can be viewed on the Wintergreen Media YouTube channel.