Innovation Awards

It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention. With a world struggling to find answers to problems like dwindling supplies of fossil fuels and a changing climate, and with a nation facing one of the toughest economic periods in its history, new inventions have never been more necessary.
 
To reward those who have furthered the University of Idaho’s mission as a land-grant institution to improve the lives of Idahoans and Americans by developing innovative technologies, the university will host the inaugural Innovation Awards. 

In addition, the University of Idaho also will recognize individuals who have completed steps along the process to patenting a technology. These recognitions include 64 disclosures of discovery and 11 patent applications from July 2007 through June 2009.
    
Faculty, staff and students will be recognized Friday Nov. 6, during a public reception at 3 p.m., in the Student Union Building and a private evening celebration. The private dinner awards recognize those individuals who have moved technologies from their research labs into the marketplace or have been issued U. S. patents.

In addition, Russell Strong – the inaugural winner of the Outstanding Alumni Innovator Award, will give a presentation entitled “Mining for Innovation” at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, in the Student Union Building’s Gold Room. The talk will be immediately followed by a reception recognizing innovative faculty, staff and students at 3:00 p.m. in the Appaloosa Lounge.