Title:

Failure Optional: Uncovering the Power of Risk Taking in Engineering Design

Speaker:

Dr. Scarlett Miller

Affiliation:

Pennsylvania State University

When:

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 11:00:00 AM   Add to Calendar

Where:

MRDC Building, Room 4211

Host:

Dr. Carolyn Seepersad
carolyn.seepersad@me.gatech.edu

Abstract

IDEO founder Tom Kelley famously said that in design we need to Fail faster to succeed sooner. Yet, engineers often harbor a strong aversion to risk, striving to avoid failure at all costs. This paradox raises a fundamental question: If risk-taking and the embrace of 'failure' are essential for design success, how can we empower engineers to fail faster in their pursuit of success, and what role does technology play in catalyzing this transformative process? This talk will dive into the multifaceted role of risk-taking within the engineering design process, offering insights that apply to both students and professionals. Risk-taking is examined through the lenses of individual, interpersonal, and technological perspectives, shedding light on their critical influence. The presentation will conclude with a reflection of the validity of methodologies used to study engineering success or failure and how Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence can help push the boundaries of our understanding in this dynamic field.

Biography

Scarlett Miller is a Professor of Engineering Design, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering and is the Director of the Center for Research in Design and Innovation at Penn State (www.design.psu.edu). She is currently serving as a selected Administrative Fellow for the Provost and Executive Vice President at Penn State and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Administrative Leadership Program (ALP). Previously, she was a selected fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program at Drexel University. Professor Miller is an interdisciplinary and highly collaborative researcher focused in engineering design, VR/AR, AI/ ML, robotics, and simulation technology. Her work includes collaboration across academic boundaries, working with colleagues across engineering disciplines, as well as in psychology, health and human development, information sciences, and medicine. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation (including CAREER), the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of State, and the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center. Professor Miller has been recognized for her work in several ways including most recently the Penn State College of Engineering Premier Research Award, awarded to one faculty member annually. Dr. Miller is also heavily engaged in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) currently serving as an elected member of the Design Engineering Division (DED) executive committee. She is an associate editor for the Journal of Mechanical Design and was awarded an Associate Editor of the year award in 2020.

Notes

Refreshments will be served.