By Tiffany Olsen
Nokia Research Center is broadening its work with BYU by offering students up to $500 in prize money and a chance to have their ideas funded by the center.
?With a faculty advisor, a graduate student will present a research idea to Nokia,? said Larry Howell, chair for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. ?We will send them our PowerPoint presentations, and Nokia will choose 10 finalists from BYU.?
The deadline for research proposals is Jan. 11. Students in a variety of technological fields of study have been working on their proposals since May.
?It?s exciting as a student because it?s more than just turning in an assignment,? said Joey Jacobson, a BYU student majoring in mechanical engineering. ?It?s the opportunity to be involved in your current homework because you?re actually applying your homework.?
In the past, Nokia has extended the offer to other universities. But this year, the offer is exclusively for BYU in hopes to get better ideas about products or improvements to their current products.
? sees a potential that a lot of good ideas will come out of BYU,? said Jacobson. ?How BYU is set up, and especially this department, it fosters a lot of creative design and innovation.?
Student presentations include a variety of technologies including multimedia, nano and radio technology. Criteria for the proposals include content and scope of research, research approach and methodology, an application for research or business in Nokia and presentation skills.
The 10 finalists chosen by six managers and principal scientists from the Nokia Research Center will present their presentations at the Nokia Research Center-BYU Seminar this February at Nokia in Dallas, all expenses paid.
Cash prizes awarded to the top three finalists in February include a first-place prize of $500, a second-place prize of $300 and a third-place prize of $200. Presenters will also have the opportunity for some of the proposals to be funded by Nokia.
Because of the contract the Department of Mechanical Engineering has with Nokia, the company funds research for the department?s students and their advisors. Howell, department chair, said many faculty and students are currently working on patents and will be identified as co-inventors on the patents and published research papers.
?Nokia has had good experiences working with BYU,? Howell said.