Grad students hear from innovators at University of Delaware

The Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (DESCA) last week joined forces with the University of Delaware’s Colburn Club to present Innovation Night. This TedX-style event sought to bring the world of corporate innovation into the university campus.

Innovation Night brought together over 130 graduate students from throughout the University of Delaware with innovators and business developers from companies such as Air Liquide, Ashland, Chemours, Croda, DuPont, Gore, FMC, Incyte, Merck and Solenis.

Topics of discussion included innovation in large companies, macro trends, and new technologies in their respective industries and market places. Early in the evening, Chemours announced that its seeking to hire 150 scientists.

“I personally am thrilled at the level of interest and enthusiasm graduate students displayed both during and after the event,” said Colburn Club member and co-organizer Eleanor Oates. “In my book, this event was a home run and delivered exactly what the graduate students in our department were looking for.”

Business representatives had similarly positive feedback.

“This was an incredible illustration of the chemical, advanced material, agriscience, industrial biotech and life science companies of Delaware showing that another 100 years of high-tech legacy will be invented and executed in our small wonder state!” said Dr. Bryan Tracy, DESCA Chair and CEO of White Dog Labs.

“Through effective collaboration, DESCA and the Colburn Club are inspiring and recruiting the next generation of graduate level technical talent, particularly by connecting them to the immediate and medium term commercial interests of these modernizing industries.”