Category: Outreach

Just one year after its relaunch, The University of Alabama’s Chapter of Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM), led by Jesse Park and advised by Dr. Davami, has achieved remarkable success on the global stage, securing two prestigious global awards at TOM’s Global Innovation Challenge. This international competition inspires participants to design, engineer and create innovative technology…Continue Reading UA TOM Chapter Wins Two Global Prizes at Global Innovation Challenge

Two years ago, Dr. Davami received an unusual request. Could he answer questions about how an alien 3D-printer might function? He enthusiastically agreed to help, and his ideas helped shape a new book for kids and teens that blends a science fiction story with information about real, cutting-edge science and technology.Get ready for The UFO…Continue Reading THE UFO FILES Inspires Kids to Learn About Engineering and Technology

High school students from Tuscaloosa Academy visited the Davami Research Group. Dr. Davami’s students gave them a tour of the labs, teaching them about the research group’s work and the discipline of mechanical engineering….Continue Reading Students From Tuscaloosa Academy Visit Research Group

Tikkun Olam Makers, the student organization for which Dr. Davami is the faculty advisor and Jesse Park is the president, just hosted the first-ever Pitch-a-thon on March 1st, 2025, in collaboration with The Cube, The Kennemer Center, Innovate Alabama, and The Engineering Entrepreneurship Program! Working solo or in up to teams of 5, participants were…Continue Reading Tikkun Olam Makers Hosts Pitch-A-Thon

The UA Tikkun Olam Makers, led by Jesse Park and advised by Dr. Davami, have collaborated with UA’s EcoCAR on their Equity in Mobility Challenge. Together, they developed portable hand controls for automobiles, augmented to allow for integration with complex pedal geometry and enhanced stabilization….Continue Reading Tikkun Olam Makers Collaborate with EcoCAR

Tikkun Olam Makers has recently collaborated with UA’s Adapted Athletics Department to develop solutions for a UA student with a disability.Michael Auprince had previous issues when wearing pants with his prosthetic leg, as the size discrepancy often led to awkward flapping in the wind and excess fabric getting caught and ruining the pants. To combat this issue,…Continue Reading Tikkun Olam Makers Conducts Project with Adapted Athletics

In collaboration with UA’s Adapted Athletics Department, the Tikkun Olam Makers Offroad Team tested a prototype for a treaded wheel cover with Lisa Clary Galibert. The device embodies frugal innovation by resourcing old bike tires.  The straightforward, simplistic design allows for intuitive need-knower installation and removal….Continue Reading Tikkun Olam Makers Develop Treaded Wheel Cover

High school students joined Dr. Davami’s undergraduates to conduct an impact experiment in the advanced manufacturing laboratory….Continue Reading Undergraduate and High School Students Run Experiment

Dr. Davami became the advisor for UA’s Tikkun Olam Makers Medical Engineering Group (TOM), and Jesse Park, one of Dr. Davami’s undergraduate researchers, became the organization’s president. This student organization is aimed at designing low-cost, open-source solutions for those with disabilities. This often includes designing assistive devices and putting them on the TOM repository, so…Continue Reading Dr. Davami and Jesse Park to Lead UA Tikkun Olam Makers

In the summer of 2023, high school students conducted research in Dr. Davami’s lab….Continue Reading High School Students Conduct Research