Harvard bioengineer to give presentations

The campus community and members of the public are invited to hear presentations from a bioengineer who is dedicated to connecting science and technology with art and social issues.

Grand Rapids native David Edwards, who holds an endowed professorship at Harvard University, will visit Grand Valley on Thursday, October 15. His visit is hosted by the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing.

Edwards is a biomedical engineer and writer. His latest research includes developing new antibiotic therapies for tuberculosis and needle-free childhood vaccines. He founded Le Laboratoire, in Paris, where artists and scientists perform collaborative experiments.

He will give two presentations on innovation: "Learning, Inventing and Creating Value" is set for 2 p.m. in the DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium; and "Inventing the Day After Tomorrow" at 6 p.m. in the DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium. The afternoon presentation is geared toward students, faculty and staff members.

The evening presentation is free and open to the campus community and members of the public. Edwards will describe how communities can perform technological experiments in long-term positive change that begin in classrooms, evolve through cultural public discourse, and translate into beneficial social and commercial innovations.

Linda Chamberlain, Frederik Meijer Endowed Honors Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, called Edwards a "consummate renaissance man."

"As a result of his integrative thinking, Dr. Edwards is a master at translating research from the bench to the market," Chamberlain said. "His seminars will be based on sharing his stories of starting something new, and managing the change required to drive transformation."