many of today’s science students still use the tried-and-true methods of beakers and laboratories to study the molecules that make up our planet.
But new technology is enabling them to physically create three-dimensional models they would otherwise only be able to study in a textbook.
And with the help of Kroot Corp., a Columbus-based scrap metal company, students in the IUPUC science program are getting their hands on the newest technology available.
Art Kroot, owner of Kroot Corp., made a $25,000 donation to IUPUC’s biology and chemistry programs after visiting the campus last fall.
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Kroot’s family has always taken an interest in education, he said. His son, Josh, has a particular interest in math and science, he said.
IUPUC’s science students study methods and concepts that could have an impact on the global economy, and they need high quality equipment to support those studies, Kroot said.
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- Students design the model they want to create — it could be a molecule, a key chain or even a miniature version of the human skeleton.
- Students input their designs into the computer using special coding skills learned in their classes. This process can take one to two hours.
- The design is transferred from the computer to the 3D printer, either through a USB or a cord.
- The computer begins creating the model based on the design it receives from the computer. The process can take 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the intricacy of the design.
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