Much like the new spring flowers we see blossoming around our Vanderbilt campus, innovation endeavors are also in full bloom at the Wond’ry. This month I am proud to announce two exciting new workshops: “Building Your Personal Brand” and “Music Creates: The Future of Music.” Where else than at the Wond’ry could you learn the best practices of presenting your unique skills and talents on one day and then later in the week learn how music is being transformed by technology? Truly fascinating, mind expanding programs that get the innovation juices flowing.

This past month we also proudly hosted Dr. Tammy Kernodle, Professor of Musicology at Miami University in Ohio, and her performance “She Sang Freedom: Black Women, Music, and the Struggle for Social Justice.” An inspiring event that brought together many members from around our campus and Nashville community to discuss how music is a key driver in the struggle for equality and social justice.

From an entrepreneurial perspective, it has been exciting to see four new student and faculty teams graduate from the I-Corps National program via the I-Corps Site here at Vanderbilt University. We have now had 10 teams go through the national program in our first year as an I-Corps site with each receiving $50,000 in non-dilutive funding with many planning on pursuing additional grant and venture funding opportunities in the future. To put things in perspective, most universities with established I-Corps sites only send 1-2 teams per year to the national program, so we are greatly exceeding expectations. Also this past month Christal Hector (VU A&S ’19) proudly represented the Wond’ry and her music startup TuneHatch at the Southeastern Entrepreneurship Conference where she was a Top 10 selection. Great job Christal!

Finally, I recommend you all to follow our social media page (@theWONDRY) on Instagram and especially our new “Faces of the Wond’ry” initiative to see all the unique ways our Vanderbilt community is engaging with innovation at our Center.

Come visit the Wond’ry and start your own innovation journey today!

Innovate Onward!

-Robert Grajewski
Evans Family Executive Director of the Wond’ry

Featured Upcoming Events:

Building Your Personal Brand

What’s unique about you? Are you doing a good job of making sure the world knows it? Join VU Professor Patrick Leddin of Managerial Studies to learn best practices for marketing yourself to others; along with professional podcaster & entrepreneur Clark Buckner to learn about S.T.E.P.S.–intentional actions you can take to improve your odds of success.

March 19, from 5:00-6:15 PM, in the Wond’ry 3rd Floor Lounge.

Music Creates: The Future of Music

Video Announcement

On March 25, at 5:00 PM, join Wond’ry Mentor Kane Harrison as he hosts an exciting look into the music industry, featuring a guest panel of Nashville music executivies and performers, as well as live musical performances and refreshments!

Guest Panelists include:

• Mark Montgomery, Founder of IDDO and Flo
• John Ozier, VP of ole
• Randy Wachtler, President of RJW Music Consulting
• Sinead Burgess, Singer/songwriter

Music Creates will take place at Harrison Media Holdings on Cannery Row, 521 8th Avenue South #302, Nashville, TN 37203.  For assistance with transportation arrangements to the venue from Vanderbilt campus, please email thewondry@vanderbilt.edu.

She Sang Freedom

Dr. Tammy Kernodle, Professor of Musicology at Miami University in Ohio, visited the Wond’ry for a performance titled “She Sang Freedom: Black Women, Music, and the Struggle for Social Justice” on February 21.

Highlighting music as early as the 1800s up to modern times, the performance explored how black women musicians have used music as a means of documenting and promoting the struggle for equality and social justice in America.

IBM Quantum Computing Workshop

The Wond’ry was pleased to welcome IBM Quantum Ambassador Robert Loredo on March 14, for a lecture on Qiskit, IBM’s open-source quantum computing platform.  Participants were guided through an introduction to quantum computing concepts and then led through coding activities making use of IBM’s Qiskit resources.

The workshop was just one of several events in which IBM has partnered with the Wond’ry over the past two semesters.  Other events include lectures on Blockchain, workshops to build IBM TJBots, and the opening of the IBM Watson Hub in the Wond’ry’s Emerging Tech Lab.  Additional events for the 2019 Fall semester are planned.

In the News:

• Watch: Provost invites faculty to TIPs Fair and Reception March 21
• Engineering students, doggie day care owner team up to build the better pooper scooper

Our Pillar Programs:

Innovation Garage

In the Innovation Garage, an array of corporate sponsors partner with Vanderbilt student and faculty teams on cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary projects. The goal of this program is to identify disruptive and innovative solutions that improve industry all while providing unique opportunities for students to build their skills via real-world problem solving.

Entrepreneur PreLaunch and PostLaunch

For aspiring Vanderbilt entrepreneurs, the Wond’ry offers a PreLaunch program that provides the foundational knowledge needed to successfully assess an idea, as well as a PostLaunch program aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs that are ready to learn the steps needed to launch a venture. These 7-week programs are now a part of Vanderbilt’s I-Corps Site program for STEM entrepreneurs that provides micro-grant funding from the NSF and access to the National I-Corps program.

Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship

The Social Innovation Program assists students, faculty, and staff with  designing a business model that uses revenue to solve societal issues, from food deserts and poverty to education and affordable housing. Each year, the Wond’ry focuses on partnering with local and regional non-profit and government organizations to lend Vanderbilt’s mental capital in order to develop solutions.

Fostering an Innovation Culture

From artist/music exhibits and speaker series to hackathons and business plan competitions, the Wond’ry hosts workshops, speakers, and events that cater to an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit.

Past Versions of News from the Wond’ry:

To view past versions of News from the Wond’ry, please visit our website:
https://www.vanderbilt.edu/thewondry/newsletter/