Failure, failure, failure, success! One scientist shares his journey from invention to product at Beer with a Scientist, Nov. 6

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – While basic science is still very much alive, academic researchers are also recognizing the importance of translational research, in which projects are developed with the idea of solving a specific public need.

At the next Beer with a Scientist event, Tommy Roussel, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Louisville, will explain how scientists take their inventions from the lab to the marketplace.

Roussel is an academic scientist who is always trying to bring his work to market. He is involved in research and development using microfabricated sensor technologies and custom instrumentation in support of the development of biomedical and diagnostic applications. He worked with Andrea Behrman, Ph.D., P.T., of UofL in the development of a specialized pediatric treadmill to improve therapy for children with spinal cord injuries.

"The journey from invention to product: A scientist's tale of failure, failure, failure, success!" will cover intellectual property (why bother?), the lean startup methodology (who's your customer and where is the market?) and a few projects that didn’t quite make it outside the laboratory walls.

Roussel’s talk begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Holsopple Brewing, 8023 Catherine Lane. A 30-minute presentation will be followed by an informal Q&A session.

Admission is free. Purchase of beer or other items is not required but is encouraged. Organizers encourage Beer with a Scientist patrons to drink responsibly.

UofL cancer researcher Levi Beverly, Ph.D., created the Beer with a Scientist program in 2014 as a way to bring science to the public in an informal setting. At these events, the public is invited to enjoy exactly what the title promises:  beer and science.

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