Ian Roy

Background

About Ian Roy

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, education, and innovation, I am passionate about leveraging emerging technologies to create transformative learning experiences and unlock new possibilities in research. As the Executive Director of Design and Innovation at Brandeis University, I lead a dedicated team managing multiple maker spaces, including the MakerLab, Automation Lab, Digital Scholarship Lab, 3D Printer Farm, and Engineering Classroom. Our mission is to integrate cutting-edge technologies into the curriculum and across the research enterprise, fostering an environment of experiential learning and digital literacy. In addition to my staff role, I have an endowed faculty appointment as the Robert I. Mallet Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Business to teach 3 courses per year. My courses focus on human-centered design, rapid prototyping, and the ethical implications of technology in a social context. I am committed to guiding students through hands-on projects that emphasize mistake-driven learning, the iterative design process, and rapid prototyping. I believe in the mantra:"No prototype, no meeting." Throughout my career, I have given talks and published extensively on topics such as 3D scanning, drone racing, and the role of emerging technologies in higher education. My technical expertise spans the makerspace toolsets of CAD/CAM and fabrication, electronics prototyping, design and entrepreneurship methodology, computer hardware, research technologies, and public speaking, with certifications ranging from FAA sUAS Remote Pilot to Apple Certified Macintosh Technician. My work extends beyond academia. As a board member of Racial Justice x Tech Policy and the Weston Art & Innovation Center, I advocate for equitable access to technology and innovative solutions to societal challenges. I also contribute to e-NABLE, promoting the use of open-source hardware in education. I am driven by the belief that technology can empower individuals and communities to create a more equitable and sustainable future for everyone driven by non-zero sum thinking. I believe that diversity is the solution to complexity and that it will take the myriad of human experience to see around corners and solve the problems of the next century. My approach is to "make to think, and think to make," ensuring that every step taken, even with failures, is a calculated move towards improvement. I advocate for a work environment where fun is not the opposite of work. Work should be enjoyable-and the best reward for good work is more, better work.