Innovation can change or even save lives.
Stuart Churchill, a professor in the department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, presented a lecture yesterday that explored that very topic.
Touching upon examples ranging from reducing the noise pollution of jet engines to how removing carpeting from the World Trade Center might have prevented the spread of fire during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Churchill urged students to think of new approaches to engineering.
About 35 people attended the lecture, which was held yesterday in the Towne Building as part of the third Anthony Bartolomeo Lecture Series on Creativity in Design.
The lecture, entitled "Can Innovation be Taught?" discussed the importance of original thinking and efforts in the field of science.
"Innovation is taking a new concept and putting it into practice," Churchill said.
He said that in order for science -- or indeed any field -- to progress, people must strive to think outside the box.
"For philosophical reasons, as well as practical, I ask students to be innovative," he said.
Churchill listed the qualities that he feels are essential for innovation, especially highlighting self-confidence.
An individual has to have the "confidence of convictions," he said. "You have to challenge common wisdom. I believe everyone in this room is capable of doing innovative work."
But people must temper their self-confidence by realizing their own fallibility and being open to new possibilities, he explained.
"To get past a mistake, you have to acknowledge the error," Churchill said. "Convictions are a problem, if you already know the answer, you can't be innovative."
In much of his lecture, Churchill pointed to the inspirational examples provided by the "great masters" of science, art and music, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo and Newton. He encouraged students to also seek the wisdom of the experienced.
"You should reach out to people on campus," he said. "If you don't expose yourself to new ideas and new people, you're going to miss them."
While mostly extolling the virtues of innovation, Churchill also examined the difficulties the inventive mind can encounter.
"The concept of innovation is highly esteemed, but not given much direct attention," he said. He added that companies often viewed innovation as risky and not financially viable.
And sometimes, the great new idea just will not work.
"Innovation, it ain't always fun... you're gonna fail sometimes, probably more often than you succeed," Churchill said.
Student reaction to the lecture was mixed.
"I thought it was excellent," Engineering senior Ankit Shah said. He added that Churchill provided an ideological basis to engineering.
Engineering and Wharton senior Kunal Gupta was less enthusiastic, though, saying he does not totally agree with pursuing innovation for its own sake.
"If you're going to innovate, there has to be an added benefit, and that's often financial," he said.
