Two truths of innovation: Michael Lovell at TEDxHarambee

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations) TEDxHarambee - STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Music). Milwaukee's first TEDx event. May 9th 2013 in Harambee — a neighborhood with a rich and diverse history and a thriving arts and cultural center in Milwaukee. Based on 12 years of quantitative research and my experiences as an innovator, I have found two truths of innovation. First: Innovators have a higher aptitude for utilizing analogies, particularly those that cross into other disciplinary domains. Second: Disruptive innovations are most likely to occur when individuals cross disciplinary boundaries and enter domains that are new and often uncomfortable. This is why so many innovations develop when engineers and scientists work collaboratively with artists. They're crossing into each others domains. Creating more pathways for innovators to cross boundaries is critical to the continued economic prosperity of the United States. Michael Lovell is an engineer, educator and administrator. He was named the 8th chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee by the UW System Board of Regents in April 2011. Lovell came to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as its engineering school dean and served as its interim chancellor after the departure of its former chancellor Carlos E. Santiago. Before joining UW-Milwaukee, he had been the Professor & Associate Dean for Research of Swanson School of Engineering at University of Pittsburgh. Lovell received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Pittsburgh.