Round Table: The Million Dollar Idea, unexpected failures, and re-learning the meaning of innovation

Ms. Elizabeth Cullinan

A pizza lunch will be served at 12:00.

All UNO faculty, staff and students are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

We anticipate that this talk will appeal to those with an interest in information technology, engineering, education, public policy, and international affairs.

Abstract

Even the greatest innovation does not always equate to success. In fact, some of the most innovative ideas never come to fruition for factors outside of creativity or design. The world is at a critical juncture when we face unprecedented social and global issues such as climate change, water and food scarcity, and humanitarian aid; we need innovative minds and ideas to help solve our world’s most difficult problems and their success is gravely needed. Ms. Cullinan will share her experiences on successes, failures, and lesson learned; how success correlates equally among organizational management, community buy-in, implementation, as well as innovative design. She will also share her journey in re-learning the definition of innovation by visiting the eco-village, Las Gaviotas, in Colombia with founder Paolo Lugari, and attended Living University of the Blue Economy hosted on El Hierro Island (Canary Island) with Gunter Pauli.

Bio

A self-described perpetual student, Elizabeth Cullinan continuously seeks out both the quantitative and qualitative ways to solve problems. She received a B.S. in Computer Engineering from West Virginia University and a Master’s in Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Her interdisciplinary background includes professional roles as an engineering team lead; President of the Pittsburgh Professional Chapter of Engineers without Borders; and US Military Service. Most notably, in 2012, her 4-member team won the Hult Global Case Challenge (now named the Hult Prize) ‘Educational Track,’ partnering with One-Laptop-Per-Child to distribute 20 million laptops to children worldwide over five years to help promote education through technology and eradicate poverty.

Funds are generously provided by the University Committee for the Advancement of Teaching.