Frontiers in New Manufacturing Symposium Honors Professor Ted de Winter
On May 4, 2026, Boston University College of Engineering hosted Frontiers in New Manufacturing: A Symposium in Honor of Professor Ted de Winter, bringing together faculty, students, alumni, and industry leaders for a morning of presentations, student work, and reflection.
The symposium recognized Professor de Winter’s lasting impact on the College while highlighting how manufacturing continues to evolve through new technologies, integrated systems, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Manufacturing leadership and tribute
Elise Morgan, dean of Boston University College of Engineering, opened the symposium with a tribute to Professor Ted de Winter, reflecting on his influence as an educator and the role of convergence and societal engineering in shaping the future of manufacturing.
Paul Karger (ENG’00) followed with a personal reflection, describing Ted as a father figure who brought humor to the classroom, went above and beyond to support his students even after they graduated, and pushed them to do their best work. He also reflected on Ted’s remarkable strength and determination, which left a lasting impression on those who knew him.
“Ted had an amazing rapport with students, and he was my friend and mentor, not just during my time at BU but for the next 25 years,” said Karger. “I learned a lot about engineering from him, but what he really taught me was how to be a good person in the world.”
Additional tributes from colleagues and former students added to Karger’s reflection.
Perspectives from research and industry
The program continued with a series of faculty and industry talks exploring how manufacturing is changing in practice, from automation and system integration to new approaches in design, materials, and production.
Speakers shared perspectives on manufacturing processes, workplace culture, AI, and robotics, grounding their insights in real-world applications. The talks illustrated how modern manufacturing is shaped by collaboration—across disciplines and between people and machines—and by a process of testing, iterating, and learning from failure.
Showcasing student innovation
A highlight of the symposium was the student capstone presentations, where senior design teams shared projects that reflected both technical depth and practical application.
Projects ranged from manufacturing systems to biomedical and human-centered designs, from tube forming automation to a smart cycling helmet.
Together, these projects demonstrated how students are applying their work to real client needs, delivering practical solutions with measurable impact across industries.
At the conclusion of the session, three teams were recognized for their work:
- 1st Place: Design and Fabrication of SAMURAI for Precision Slicing of Whole Human Lung, a system designed to enable high-resolution, full-organ imaging (Biomedical Engineering).
- 2nd Place: Centerless Grinding Machine, which reimagined a polishing system for medical-grade tubing with improved consistency and quality control (Mechanical Engineering).
- 3rd Place: Braille (ECE), a project focused on developing a more affordable, portable refreshable braille device to improve accessibility (Electrical & Computer Engineering).
Continuing the legacy
From tributes and technical talks to student presentations, the symposium brought together the people and work that reflect Professor Ted de Winter’s impact at BU—grounded in collaboration, iteration, and a focus on real-world application.
The future of manufacturing and engineering is being built today by passionate students, faculty, and industry professionals committed to continuous improvement and societal impact.
Professor de Winter’s legacy lives on through the Theo de Winter Distinguished Faculty Fellowship Fund, which supports faculty dedicated to this work. We invite you to help carry on his legacy.