Inside OSUIT’s New IT Lab: Micro-computing, robotics, and a state-of-the-art Faraday room
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Media Contact: Josh Gammon | Integrated Marketing Specialist | 918-293-5034 | josh.gammon@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology will host a grand opening for its newly renovated IT Innovations Lab on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The open house will showcase how OSUIT students are developing hands-on projects in micro-computing and robotics while exploring emerging technologies in a collaborative, creative environment.
The event will also feature demonstrations inside the lab’s new Faraday Room, a specially designed enclosure that blocks wireless signals like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular networks. The room gives students and law enforcement partners a secure environment for studying wireless communication and digital forensics. In many police departments, this capability exists in the form of a small Faraday box used during criminal investigations to protect and analyze cell phones, tablets or laptops without the risk of data being changed or erased. It is a critical tool in preserving digital evidence for court proceedings.
The Faraday Room in the IT Innovations Lab is notably larger, offering space for multiple users and more complex forensic or cybersecurity activities. This expanded setup allows the lab to support hands-on training for students preparing for careers in information security and digital forensics. It also creates meaningful opportunities for collaboration with local law enforcement, industry partners and community organizations.
"The IT Innovations Lab isn’t an average classroom; it’s a playground for tech. Students build gaming systems, control LEDs and sensors, tinker with AI projects, and collaborate in meeting spaces. This is where OSUIT students make cool stuff happen," said Dr. Kathleen Olivieri, assistant dean of OSUIT’s School of Technology, Arts, Sciences and Health.
Through partnerships with agencies at the local, state and federal levels, OSUIT’s Information Technologies program continues to provide students with opportunities in cybersecurity, digital forensics and emerging tech fields. Courses have even featured instruction from a current FBI agent and collaboration with the Tulsa Police Department during the university’s summer Digital Discoveries outreach program.
Members of the media are invited to attend for interviews and footage of students working in the lab. Demonstrations can include signal-blocking tests inside the Faraday Room, giving visitors a first-hand look at the technology’s real-world applications.
Who:
- Howard Licht, lab coordinator, instructor of hardware and cybersecurity
- Dr. Kathleen Olivieri, assistant dean, School of Technology Arts, Sciences and Health
- OSUIT Information Technologies students
When: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Where: IT Innovations Lab, OSUIT Campus, 1801 E 4th St, Okmulgee, OK 74447
Visuals: Media will be able to shoot inside the lab, including the copper-mesh-lined Faraday Room used to block radio signals. Demonstrations showing “signal” and “no-signal” conditions can be arranged on-site.
For additional access, interviews, or B-roll opportunities, email josh.gammon@okstate.edu.