News by Topic: Interdisciplinary Studies

At RIT, combining aspects from different fields of study is the best way to make world-changing discoveries and find creative ways to solve problems. RIT encouraged collaboration across academic programs and departments to encourage creative thinking and innovation.

  • March 1, 2021

    artist's rendering of a theater and maker space on the RIT campus.

    RIT holds student contest to name the Innovative Maker and Learning Complex

    The Innovative Maker and Learning Complex will be a building like no other on the RIT campus, and an alumnus who is helping make it possible wants RIT students to give it a name to remember. A contest to name the building is for current RIT undergraduate and graduate students in good standing. Deadline for submission is March 13. Voting will begin March 18.

  • February 3, 2021

    side-by-side portraits of Nicholas Conn and Austin McChord.

    This smart toilet seat might save your life one day 

    Forbes features Nicholas Conn '11, '13 MS (electrical engineering) and RIT trustee and 2009 alumnus Austin McChord as they team up to create Casana, formerly Heart Health Intelligence, which produces a toilet-seat based cardiovascular monitoring system.

  • January 27, 2021

    researcher examining row of books in a library.

    RIT’s Image Permanence Institute receives $350,000 grant from NEH

    Research activities for the three-year, field-based research project will be organized and led by Kelly McCauley Krish, IPI preventive conservation specialist. The study will apply data from temperature, relative humidity, and pollutant monitoring to comprehensively balance these known risks to collections when implementing energy-saving mechanical system operations.

  • January 15, 2021

    researcher setting up a drone on a roadway.

    Research takes flight at Tait Preserve

    Scientists began conducting research at the Tait Preserve of RIT for the first time this summer. Researchers from the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory were the first to use the site, collecting data using imaging technology flown on unmanned aerial systems, or drones.

  • January 15, 2021

    researchers wearing clean suits analyzing a magnified view of an integrated circuit.

    New economy majors connect with emerging careers

    Analytical thinking, complex problem solving, creativity, resiliency, and flexibility are among the top skills needed for emerging careers by 2025. Anticipating these rapid changes in the workplace—further accelerated by lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic—RIT is seizing on the opportunity to guide students to “new economy majors” that are multi­disciplinary, transformative, and future-focused.

  • January 15, 2021

    artist's rendering of courtyard bound by two bridges and a glass building.

    Creative complex coming to campus in 2023

    Design work on the multipurpose Innovative Maker and Learning Complex continued after the COVID-19 pandemic closed the campus in March. The current plan is for work on the foundation to start in spring 2021, and the building to open in fall 2023.

  • January 15, 2021

    exterior of three-story black building with glass window front.

    New institute helps RIT attack cyber threats

    For too long, cybersecurity has been an afterthought. In a preemptive strike on cyber­security threats across the world, RIT has created the Global Cybersecurity Institute (GCI). Late last fall, the GCI opened the doors to its 52,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility on campus. With the institute, RIT is on its way to becoming one of the best places in the world for cybersecurity education, training, and research.