Last week, students in the Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree program gathered on campus to put innovation into practice during the semester's Capstone retreat.
Toward the end of their degree, MBS students enroll in the course “Science and Technology Management Capstone,” where they work in teams to select a science-based intellectual property and develop a business plan to bring it to market.
As part of the course, students participate in a two-day retreat designed to foster collaboration, strengthen business skills, and build connections with classmates, instructors, and coaches.
The weekend opened with remarks from lead instructor Tom Bryant, PhD. He provided students with an overview of Rutgers University, noting Rutgers’ rich history as one of nine colonial colleges established before the American Revolution.
Innovation in Action
After enjoying breakfast at the Lifelong Learning Center, Prof. Bryant led students in a hands-on activity designed to foster innovation.
He introduced the Jellybean Workshop, a skunkworks project designed to help students generate innovative product ideas quickly.
Students were instructed to take “research materials” from a collection of food items and brainstorm new product ideas in teams. The goal was to generate 50 new product ideas in five minutes. The students repeated this for an additional two rounds, generating more and more ideas each time and eventually pitching their best ideas to the class. Online students took part in groups over Zoom.
The workshop highlighted the need for a high volume of ideas at the start of the innovation funnel that can then be refined.
The retreat also included a variety of workshops for students covering project management, finance, marketing, and design—equipping them with skills they can use to grow a business.
Trip to Thomas Edison National Historical Park
On Saturday morning, students took a bus trip to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. Located in West Orange, New Jersey, the historic site preserves Edison's home and laboratory, offering visitors a glimpse into the life and work of one of America's most influential inventors. During the visit, students heard from Paul Israel, Director and General Editor of the Thomas A. Edison Papers at Rutgers, about the journey, impact, and lasting legacy of famed inventor and innovator Thomas Edison.
Good luck to all MBS Capstone students! The MBS team looks forward to seeing your innovative ideas at the end of the semester. To learn more about our Capstone course, read about last semester’s presentations.
