World's leading innovators to meet at UF for engineering summit
September 17, 2013
WHAT: The Engineering Innovation Institute at the University of Florida will host its biennial Gator Engineering Innovation Summit at the Reitz Student Union Sept. 19-20. This year’s theme is “Transforming Engineering Education & Research to Unleash the Creative Spirit.” The event will kick off the College of Engineering’s reunion weekend.
World-class thought leaders will engage the audience in discussions on the role of creativity, design and entrepreneurship in enhancing innovation and driving the economy. Alumni, faculty and students will gain exposure to new ways to add value to engineering education, technology development and commercialization the Gator Engineering way, also known as “Powering the New Engineer.”
WHO: Keynote speaker: Jim Plummer, dean of the School of Engineering, Stanford University.
Speakers (in order of appearance): Chris Malachowsky, co-founder of NVIDIA; Trey Lauderdale, president of Voalté; Randy Glein, managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson.
Panelists: Scott Staples, co-founder of Mindtree; Josh Walden, corporate vice president of Intel; Bob Klein, vice president at Northrup Grumman; Augi Lye, founder Trendy Entertainment; Amir Rubin, co-founder of Prioria Robotics; and more.
The media are welcome to interview summit speakers after the sessions.
WHY: This event offers Gator Engineering alumni and educators an opportunity to meet in one place and participate in a dynamic discussion about innovation and engineering, including interdisciplinary research, the role of technology in instruction, the role of leadership in engineering, and the importance of maintaining a human-centered approach.
WHEN: Sept. 19, 1:15 to 4:30 p.m.; Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to noon
WHERE: Reitz Student Union Grand Ballroom, UF campus.
RECEPTION: A reception, featuring Gator Engineering startups, student entrepreneurs and innovators, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Harn Museum of Art, UF campus. Representatives from Altavian, Eatable, Feathr, Fracture, Grooveshark, ParaCosm, Spin Chill and Trendy Entertainment will demonstrate their products and explain how they got their start through Gator Engineering. The reception is closed to the public but open to the media.
BACKGROUND: For more information, go to http://www.eng.ufl.edu/reunion2013/
CONTACT: Erik Sander, director of Engineering Innovation Institute, esander@eng.ufl.edu
352-392-8049