Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Austin Downey was recently named one of two University of South Carolina faculty members selected as Fulbright scholars. The award, which is administered by the U.S. Department of State and plays a vital role in U.S. public diplomacy, allows faculty to mentor students, conduct research, and build relationships with international partners.
Downey will leave in August and serve as a visiting professor for six months at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. He was selected to work on robotics and edge computing for maritime safety in Sweden. Downey will also mentor and guide student collaborators on senior design robotics projects.
"I am excited for my faculty Fulbright in Sweden, where I look forward to exploring how universities can impact their communities. Chalmers University is known for its strong industry collaborations and has a remarkable reputation for making a positive impact in its community. I am eager to learn from their example,” Downey says.
Downey says that the time was ideal for him to pursue a Fulbright. He is looking forward to collaborating with professors and students, exposing others to American culture, and seeing how Sweden configures their higher education system and how that can be utilized to possibly make improvements to the American system.
“Having Dr. Downey as a Fulbright scholar is a tremendous honor and credit to his dedication to research and mentoring students, says USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri. “This award is a benefit for both Chalmers and USC. Chalmers faculty and students will have the opportunity to learn from Austin’s extensive research experiences. When his Fulbright is complete, he will bring back insights and knowledge that could be implemented here.”
Part of Downey’s work in Sweden will focus on unmanned aerial vehicles for maritime safety. This includes developing algorithms for finding people lost at sea.
“Chalmers does robotics and maritime safety, among other areas. I found a good collaborator who's been helpful and works on novel winged robotic systems, which is something I've always wanted to do,” Downey says.
From a research perspective, Downey is also looking forward to how European universities structure their units and funding mechanisms, something that could possibly be leveraged in the U.S. to build more robust funding streams for universities.
“It might be the boring stuff, but that’s what makes an impact on people's lives. It’s more insightful experiencing a different system and talking with others instead of just visiting for a week.”
According to Downey, universities in Sweden are more connected to industry than in the U.S. Chalmers University is in the industrial city of Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo was founded in the city, and they maintain their headquarters in Gothenburg. Other key industries in the city include pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and telecommunications company Ericsson.
Fulbright scholars gain a unique opportunity to advance professionally while expanding their cultural perspectives and developing partnerships across the globe. Alumni of the program include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners and 80 MacArthur Fellows.