Making his first appearance at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers will make the case on Saturday, March 9, for the research institution as a partner and driver of innovation in this transitioning economy.
In his seven years as the leader of one of the largest research institutions in the country, Powers rejects the notion that large institutions stifle innovation, and instead embraces the idea that research universities nurture and provide the building blocks for our economic and scientific future.
He will make the case in his solo talk “Innovation U. Getting Great Ideas Out the Door” for the symbiotic relationship between innovation and higher education and the consequences of undervaluing the research mission.
For a comprehensive listing of SXSW festival events featuring faculty, staff and students from The University of Texas at Austin, go to www.utexas.edu/sxsw or follow #utatsxsw on Twitter.
Event: “Innovation U. Getting Great Ideas Out the Door” at the SXSW Interactive Festival 2013. Open to SXSW Interactive badge holders and credentialed media.
When: 12:301:30 p.m., Saturday, March 9
Where: Capital Ballroom, Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
700 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, Texas
Additional Information:
As president of The University of Texas at Austin, Bill Powers is leading a national movement to transform undergraduate education. During his seven years in office, the nation’s fifth-largest university has reformed its curriculum to focus more on critical thinking, writing, ethics, diversity, and global issues and cultures.
Powers is overseeing a transformation of large undergraduate courses that dramatically increases the amount of student-teacher interaction through novel educational technology and advances in cognitive science. The results have energized students and faculty members. President Powers also fosters innovation and entrepreneurship by encouraging programs that give students early experience with starting their own companies. A top legal scholar, Navy veteran and former law school dean who still teaches philosophy to freshmen, President Powers was recently elected by his national peers to be the next chair of the Association of American Universities.
