Investment in academic facilities and programming position MSOE as a leader in computer science and artificial intelligence education in Wisconsin with a pipeline towards successful careers in tech

On September 13, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) celebrated the five-year anniversary of Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall. This state-of-the-art facility has become a cornerstone of the university’s commitment to advancing education in computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), offering the only computer science program focused on AI in the state of Wisconsin. The celebration brought together a diverse group of attendees, including donors, corporate partners, industry leaders, alumni, faculty and students to commemorate the transformative impact the $34 million facility has had since its opening.

“Diercks Hall has both elevated our academic programs to lead technology education in Wisconsin and enhanced our ability to collaborate with industry leaders, helping position our students at the forefront of what’s next in technology,” noted MSOE President, Dr. John Walz. “In order for our students to remain competitive in today’s job market, they must become experts in in-demand fields, and there is no better way to do that than with hands-on experiences offered through our one-of-a-kind programs enabled by Diercks Hall.”

Diercks Hall was made possible through the visionary support of Dwight Diercks, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Nvidia, and his wife, Dian. Born and raised on a Minnesota farm, Dwight Diercks graduated from MSOE in 1990 and credits his applied educational experience at the school as transformative in preparing him for success in his technology career. Through his lived experience and long-standing support for MSOE, he paved his way to become a national leader in cutting-edge technology fields and extended a helping hand to students with similar backgrounds. Over the past five years, the 64,000-square-foot facility has provided students with industry-level resources, and fostered an environment where innovative ideas can be directly and immediately applied. From advanced laboratories to the latest technology infrastructure, including an Nvidia GPU-accelerated supercomputer named “Rosie,” Diercks Hall has positioned the university as a Midwest hub for hands-on learning, undergraduate research and a valuable partner for tech companies such as Google and Nvidia.

“When Dian and I partnered with MSOE to make this building a reality, our priority was to put students at the helm of innovation and what was to come in technology,” said Dwight Diercks during his remarks at the celebration. “At Nvidia, we are able to do our best work because we have the best tools and talent available to us, and the resources available for students in Diercks Hall are the best that the Midwest has to offer. MSOE’s hands-on programs and opportunities prepared me to find success in my career, and with cutting-edge technology readily available for students, they too will graduate ready to find their own success.”

Following remarks, the afternoon’s event highlighted MSOE’s trailblazing success in AI education, including information sessions on AI and tech topics led by industry leader alumni from SysLogic, Scot Forge, Google and Northwestern Mutual. Guests were also invited to tours of Diercks Hall Data Center and “Rosie” to experience firsthand the cutting-edge technology and collaborative spaces that have been essential in fostering innovation and creativity among students and community members alike. 

During the celebration, members of the MSOE AI Club featured an array of projects on technological solutions they have been developing using the resources available at Diercks Hall, including:

• “Mind Over (Gray) Matter” - After successfully applying AI to analyze medical imaging helpful in diagnosing prostate cancer students now are applying the same technology to analyze medical imaging of brains for cancer diagnoses.

• “Synergistic Simulations: Multi-Agent Problem Solving with Large Language Models ” - Students induced collaboration between separate AI models to achieve goals and solve problems like room layouts in an apartment or code development to complete programming tasks.

• “NourishNet: Proactive Severity State Forecasting of Food Commodity Prices for Global Warning Systems” - Students leveraged data and AI to predict food commodity pricing, ultimately helping lead to the reduction of food shortages around the world. Insights offered with the project can provide recommendations for smarter food purchasing habits.