Mount Mercy University held a grand opening last Thursday for its new CRST Data Intelligence Lab, paid for with a $1.25 million gift from CRST.
The lab—located on the top floor of Mount Mercy’s Basile Hall—includes a virtual reality area, robotics equipment, 3D printers and other new technology.
The money from CRST also will support Mount Mercy’s computer science and data science programs through student scholarships and a new faculty position. Mount Mercy President Todd Olson said more information about the new position will be released later. He hopes to have the position filled by next summer.
“CRST is committed to strengthening the technology workforce in the Cedar Rapids area,” said Jerry Kilgore, chief information officer at CRST in a news release. “We’re proud to support Mount Mercy in their effort to attract, educate and graduate students who are prepared and ready to tackle the complex problems of the modern business environment. We believe they can be an important source of technological talent in our community.”
Mount Mercy’s data science major launched earlier this year and focuses on mathematical foundations, algorithms, ethics, programming and communication skills, according to Mount Mercy.