NEENAH, WI -- Plexus is contributing $200,000 to support a new, innovative learning space in Engineering Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison called the "Plexus Collaboratory."

The goal of the Plexus Collaboratory is to break down barriers between classroom and lab study by providing an open, interactive learning environment for students. The room is made up of over 90 workstations allowing students to actively work on projects while benefiting from increased interactions with peers, instructors and teaching assistants.

In this "blended" class style, students have access to a variety of the latest technology for instruction and design projects.  The layout of the laboratory allows for more hands-on learning than a traditional classroom by providing students electrical engineering devices and systems to test their new skills.  In addition, the students have the opportunity to develop essential mentoring skills by teaching one another through sharing their ideas.

Mike Running, vice president of global engineering solutions and an alumnus from the UW-Madison Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said, "At Plexus, it is vital that our engineers are able to collaborate with their peers, whether in the workstation next to them or at a site on the other side of the world.  By working as a team, our engineers can use their collective knowledge and experience to provide the best possible solutions for our customers.  The Plexus Collaboratory helps prepare UW-Madison students for situations like this by developing their teamwork and mentoring skills while learning essential engineering concepts."

John Booske, professor and ECE Chair, added, "In the 21st century, Wisconsin, the nation and the world will need highly-educated engineering leaders who will provide the technology solutions for society's big emerging challenges.  The UW-Madison College of Engineering is renowned for developing talented, successful engineers.  The Plexus Collaboratory is important because it helps ensure that UW-Madison ECE students will continue to receive a premier, world-class engineering education."

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