From advancing deep-water cave exploration to helping with extraterrestrial plant growth, Florida Tech’s undergraduate scholars reached new horizons in their student design projects. After countless hours of research, problem-solving, data analysis, hands-on learning and teamwork, they are prepared to showcase their findings and creations to judges, industry partners, the community and their peers.
The university’s annual Northrop Grumman Engineering & Science Student Design Showcase will be held Friday and Saturday at the Clemente Center on campus. More than 100 projects will be on display, representing the culmination of years of work for graduating seniors.
Media are invited to attend between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday. The showcase is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
In 2009, a $1 million endowment gift from Northrop Grumman Corporation provided ongoing support for students’ hands-on work, the powerful, experiential learning Florida Tech is known for. Sponsorships from other local and national companies also assist. These gifts reflect a commitment to boosting interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs and the value of learning beyond the classroom.
Projects hail primarily from the College of Engineering and Science but there are four from the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, as well. They represent the following programs: aerospace, physics and space sciences; biology and biomedical engineering; chemistry and chemical engineering; electrical engineering and computer science; mechanical and civil engineering; ocean engineering and marine sciences; and psychology.
Here’s a closer look at a few of the projects featured in the 2025 showcase:
Project: P.E.A.N.U.T.S. (Promoting Extraterrestrial Agriculture through Novel Utilization Techniques for Sustainability)
Area: Astrobiology
What it is: A novel soil mixture made of peanuts and simulated lunar and Martian regolith. It aims to enhance plant growth in regolith by breaking up the compacted soil and increasing water and air flow to plant roots.
Why it matters: Crops struggle to grow in regolith in part because the soil becomes compact when watered. This mixture opens the door for space crop production, which will be essential for feeding astronauts on long-term missions to space.
Project: TEC-V (Topographic Exploration Cave Vehicle)
Area: Ocean Engineering
What it is: A remotely-operated vehicle, shaped like a scuba tank, designed to map underwater caves. It is equipped with sonar technology that can capture images up to 100 meters away at up to 100 meters deep.
Why it matters: Some underwater environments, such as enclosed caves, can be dangerous for humans to survey. TEC-V can relieve scuba divers from the hazardous environments while documenting otherwise difficult-to-gather data.
Project: SmartStride
Area: Biomedical Engineering
What it is: A wearable rehabilitation device – in the form of a compression sock – equipped with sensors that collect and transmit data to physicians treating patients with Idiopathic Toe Walking (ITW). ITW affects up to 24% of children who habitually walk on their toes without a clear neurological or orthopedic cause, triggering foot muscle weakness, knee instability and other issues.Why it matters: The device allows clinicians to monitor patient progress remotely, which provides a more accessible and personalized approach to ITW rehabilitation.
Project: Bug brains: Are discoid cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis) substrate preferences fixed or plastic?Area: Psychology
What it is: An exploration of discoid cockroach behavior; specifically, how they choose their habitats. This study examined substrate preference in the species, commonly found in leaf litter, to determine whether its preferences are fixed or shaped by rearing history.
Why it matters: Understanding how this species of cockroach chooses its environment will contribute to an overall deeper understanding of habitat selection in invertebrates.
EDITORS/PRODUCERS: To ensure access to Friday’s media day, please RSVP to Adam Lowenstein at adam@fit.edu or 321-674-8964.
