[220] MTSU to offer free workshops, lectures during Global Entrepreneurship Week

Eye surgeon Ming Wang to give Nov. 16 keynote address

MURFREESBORO — MTSU students and the wider community have an opportunity to be immersed in entrepreneurial ideas and strategies Nov. 16-20 during the university’s Global Entrepreneurship Week activities.

Throughout the week, free lectures, workshops and panel discussions will be held, all aimed at providing students and aspiring entrepreneurs with useful information on topics ranging from intellectual property rights to 3D printing to presentation skills. For the full list of events, visit http://mtsu.edu/wrightchair/gew.php.

“This is a designed time to promote entrepreneurship and innovative ideas across the campus, regardless of disciplines and backgrounds,” said Bill McDowell, holder of the Wright Travel Chair of Entrepreneurship in the Jones College of Business. “We’re trying to get individuals to think about entrepreneurship and provide them with resources to stir their own innovative thinking.”

Highlighting the week will be a keynote address by renowned eye surgeon Dr. Ming Wang of Nashville. Wang escaped China’s Cultural Revolution as a teen to reach America with only $50 to his name, before going on to earn his doctorate in laser physics, graduating with highest honors from Harvard Medical School and MIT.

Founding director of the Vanderbilt Laser Sight Center, Wang has performed over 55,000 eye procedures on patients from over 55 countries, has published eight textbooks, holds several patents and performed the world’s first laser artificial cornea implantation.

His MTSU talk, titled “From Darkness to Sight: A Story of Opportunity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship,” will take place from 7-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, in the State Farm Lecture Hall, Room S102 of the Business and Aerospace Building. It is free and open to the public.

McDowell will be hosting workshops to teach MTSU students how to win a business plan competition and also overseeing Wednesday’s entrepreneurship fair for area high school students. New this year, the invitation-only fair will feature participating students making elevator pitches and creating trade show displays to be judged by a panel of experts.

Other events for the week:

• The week kicks off during the day Monday, Nov. 16, with Dr. Warren Gill of MTSU and Dr. James West of Vanderbilt University discussing their genetic research aimed at creating an Angus cow that can better withstand warm climates. Entitled “The Quest for a White Angus: Modifying Cattle to Cope with Climate Change,” their talk will be held from 12:40-2:05 p.m. Monday in Room 119N of the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building room 119N.

• On Tuesday, Nov. 17, a panel discussion titled “Globalizing Tennessee: Role of Immigrant Entrepreneurs” will be held by the Tennessee Immigrant and Minority Business Group from 6-7:30 p.m. in Room S277 of the Business and Aerospace Building.

• On Wednesday, Nov. 18, a panel discussion on commercializing intellectual property will be held from 4-5 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. Moderated by Leroy Cunningham of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, the panel includes: Lindsey Cox, Launch Tennessee; Elliott Dawson, BioVentures; Dr. Jody Hankins, Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer; and Dan Marcum, executive director, Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Center.

• On Thursday, Nov. 19, Dr. Nathan Gold of the Marion Ewing Kauffman Foundation will give a presentation on speaking skills titled “Captivate Any Audience in 30 Seconds.” His workshop will be held from 9:40-11:05 a.m. in the State Farm Lecture Hall, Room S102 of the Business and Aerospace Building. Registration is required by contacting Dr. Murat Arik at murat.arik@mtsu.edu or calling 615-898-5424.

• Also Thursday, Melissa Hawkins with Nova Copy will give a talk on “The State of 3D Printing in Entrepreneurship and Industry,” including hands-on interaction with 3D printers and scanners. The lecture will take place from 1:15-2:15 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.

The week’s events are being sponsored by the Wright Travel Chair of Entrepreneurship, the Jones College of Business, and the Business and Economic Research Center. The event is being held in conjunction with the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week, an international celebration of innovators and job creators held each November.

Off-campus visitors attending the event should obtain a special one-day permit from MTSU’s Office of Parking and Transportation at http://www.mtsu.edu/parking/visit.php. A searchable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParking2015-16.

For more information on the event, contact the Wright Travel Chair of Entrepreneurship at 615-898-2785 or email Stacy.Aaron@mtsu.edu. To learn more about MTSU entrepreneurship program, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/programs/entrepreneurship/.