Vice President Joe Biden focused on American’s innovation and the goal to “insource” at his speech at Howe Hall on Thursday.

Biden stepped up to the podium just before noon in the Howe Hall Atrium after introductions from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and John Solomon, senior in materials engineering.

“The generation of students at this university are not going to hear much about outsourcing anymore,” Biden said. “I promise you, you’re going to be hearing a word that we didn’t hear in the last 25, 30 years … ‘insourcing.'”

Biden did not go into specifics of President Barack Obama’s proposals to give tax breaks to businesses that keep manufacturing jobs in America and raise taxes for those that choose to outsource, but discussed the importance of manufacturing jobs to the structure of the middle class and bringing those jobs back to U.S. soil.

“Our single greatest advantage, the reason [manufacturers are] coming home … every one of [the manufacturers] said America has the most productive, highly skilled, innovative workers and engineers in the world,” Biden said after stating that the work and research done at Iowa State “benefits all of America and has a rippling effect.”

Biden was given a private tour of Howe Hall before giving his speech, which included presentations from four ISU students.

“Exciting is the world I’ve been using a lot,” said Thomas Naert to describe his personal presentation with Biden.

Naert is a senior in agriculture engineering who presented work from a senior design project that improves the flow of fluid in agriculture sprayers through manufacturing, which in turn minimizes the amount of chemicals used on crops.

“It was an honorable opportunity to represent Iowa State,” said Jared Juel, junior in aerospace engineering,”and demonstrate what we’re doing here.”

Juel gave a presentation on rapid prototyping to the vice president with fellow student Shannon Krogmeier, freshman in agriculture engineering. Katie Goebel, senior in mechanical engineering, presented on industrial technology and the hands-on experience offered to ISU students in the engineering college.

ISU President Steven Leath felt that the vice president was “pleased” with what he saw on the private tour.

“I am thrilled that the vice president came to Iowa State University,” Leath said.

Leath said he feels this will raise the profile of Iowa State and help show what the university is accomplishing.

Innovation was just as prevalent a subject in the nearly hour long speech.

“It’s impossible to think differently in a country where you can’t speak freely. … It’s impossible to think differently where orthodoxy remains,” Biden said in describing why the United States continues to remain innovative while other countries do not. “We understand that change only comes through challenging.”

Biden explained that “skeptics” may miss the innovative nature of the United States.

“The American people are tired of being told they have to lower their expectations, they’re tired of being told that they can’t compete, they’re tired of being told that we’re not going to be the leading economy in the world,” Biden said, his voice growing louder. “They know better … more innovation means more jobs.”

Biden explained that he is not an “optimist” as he is often described but a “realist” who believes in the potential of America.

“We have the greatest research universities in the world … it’s the freedom we have to discover, the freedom to pursue ideas,” Biden said, who explained that he chose to come to Iowa State because the quality of the university’s programs.

“The fundamental message I want to leave with you is, believe … believe in this country,” Biden said in closing.

Biden opened the room to questions, addressing topics from aerospace funding, biofuel research and the conscientious clause.

Rob Schweers, director of the engineering college relations, said that nearly 700 tickets were given to the public with three-quarters of them going to students.

Biden also hosted a private event, closed to the press, at the ISU Alumni Center for volunteers and Iowa Democrats. This event required a special invitation.