Ideation, Innovation and Invention Course Starts March 22 at UW

University of Wyoming students interested in open innovation to overcome challenges, develop solutions and bring new products to market are invited to enroll in a post-spring break course taught by a consulting inventor and UW Honors College faculty member.

“HP 4151-04: Ideation, Innovation and Invention” will take place 2:45-5:35 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays between March 22-May 5, primarily in the Engineering Education and Research Building’s Innovation Wyrkshop makerspace.

“In this course, we will learn and apply various innovation techniques to develop and refine real potential solutions to real targeted challenges,” says the instructor, Visiting Assistant Professor Chris Rothfuss. “With sufficient skill, determination and some luck, these solutions may result in products, startups or intellectual property.

“This course will be primarily experiential and student interest-driven as we work to implement concepts and best practices for innovation,” he adds. “We will research, we will brainstorm, we will prototype, we will refine, and we will repeat. We will benefit from a broad range of backgrounds and interests -- all majors are welcome.”

Rothfuss has worked as a consulting inventor since 2010, providing technology solutions that have resulted in over 25 patent applications and 15 granted patents ranging from 3D printing to augmented reality and energy storage. A state senator, he co-chairs the Wyoming Blockchain Select Committee and serves as the ranking member of the Education Committee and the Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee.

The course aims to help students identify and define challenges that have the potential for disruptive solutions; learn ideation and open innovation techniques to develop solutions to those challenges; and gain fabrication skills through UW makerspace resources to prototype solutions. It’s part of UW’s emerging initiatives to provide entrepreneurial and innovation skills for students in all disciplines.

For more information or to register, call Rothfuss at (307) 399-3556 or email rothfuss@uwyo.edu.