Division of Research & Innovation
November Events
Technology Serving Humanity
"Ebola in a Stew of Fear" with Gregg Mitman
This talk explores a range of moral tales put forth to account for the origin and spread of the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. These ecological fables told about a virus reveal contested histories, beliefs, fears, values, politics, and rights that have shaped—and continue to shape—access to the natural resources of the Upper Guinean Forests of West Africa in a world increasingly threatened by deforestation, zoonotic disease, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
Gregg MitmanERC Professor / Emeritus Professor
Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Ludwig Maximilian University / University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Nov. 6 | 3 PM (CST)
Methodist Presentation Theatre (103)
2025 City Hackathon: Kick Off and Team Formation
Join the City of Memphis and the tech community for the highly anticipated 2025 City Hackathon! This is the mandatory kickoff session where the challenge topics will be unveiled, teams will form, and the weekend of innovation will officially begin.
What to Expect: Friday's Kickoff Agenda This evening session sets the stage for the entire weekend, focusing on inspiration and collaboration:
- 4:00 PM: Doors Open & Registration (1st Floor Lobby)
- 5:00 PM: Opening Remarks by Mayor Young and an overview of the challenge topics in The Zone auditorium.
- Challenge Overviews include: Blight Analytics, User-Friendly Navigation/Info Tools (for 211, City Hall on the Go), and Supporting Small Business Partnerships.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner and Happy Hour (non-alcoholic drinks available).
- 7:00 – 10:00 PM: Hackers brainstorm ideas and form teams for the weekend's solutions. Brian Swanson will be available to guide team formation.
Who Should Attend? All registered hackers must attend the kickoff to hear the challenges and form their teams. Whether you are a student, developer, designer, data scientist, or community leader, bring your best ideas to address critical city issues.
November 7-9 | Friday, 4-7 PM; Saturday 8 AM-10 PM; Sunday, 8 AM-1 PM
The Zone (102)
MEMSEC - DEFCON901 Memphis InfoSec Social #25
Come join us for the Memphis InfoSec Social for an exciting dive into cryptography!
This session will trace the evolution of secrecy from ancient art to cutting-edge science, covering Caesar’s ciphers, the Enigma machine, and the looming quantum revolution. Whether you're here to learn, experiment, or simply socialize, bring your curiosity and a taste for challenge.
What to Expect:
- Cipher Breaking: We'll break Pigpen ciphers and craft our own codes.
- Forensics: Dissect the tools used by governments, hackers, and criminals worldwide.
- Networking: Connect with fellow security enthusiasts.
- Food: Enjoy Garibaldi's pizza!
As always, MEMSEC is very n00b friendly, and this meetup is FREE and open to the public. Networking begins at 5:30 PM at the FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT) in Room 225.
November 7 | 5:30-7:00 PM
Innovation Classroom 225
Community Mapping and Engagement Showcase: Healthcare Sector
he Division of Research and Innovation is launching this event series to build a collaborative ecosystem that supports our community and region, focusing on applied research, workforce development, and other regional priorities.
The kickoff Showcase focuses on the healthcare sector—from pediatric care to positive aging and all points in between.
What to Expect: Building Collaborative Teams This session is designed to break down barriers to university partnership and build connections between faculty and community leaders:
- Reverse Pitch Presentations: Nonprofits and companies are invited to give five-minute presentations highlighting their organizational pain points and challenges. This gives UofM researchers a chance to hear directly how they can help solve issues through partnership.
- Networking & Collaboration: Following the presentations, a facilitated networking session will focus on building teams and mapping collaborations that can lead to joint grant applications and other mechanisms to support organizational missions.
- Details: Coffee, snacks, and lunch will be provided.
Who Should Attend? Community partners, companies, and nonprofits in the healthcare sector interested in partnering with the University of Memphis, as well as UofM faculty and researchers seeking new collaborative opportunities.
November 13 | 9:00 AM-2:30 PM
Lobby / The Zone (102) / The Fishbowl (203/205)
901 AI Meetup
"AI in Business & Society: Capabilities, Building Systems & Governance" with Dr. Balaji Padmanabhan
This talk will focus on the capabilities of modern AI - what led to the capabilities we are seeing, what are some of the big opportunities and challenges in front of us, and how should we think about managing and governing AI in businesses today. The talk will conclude by examining questions about the future of work for humans in the age of AI and offer some recommendations for individuals, business leaders, policy makers and universities in this context.
Dr. Balaji PadmanabhanProfessor of Decision, Operations & Information Technologies
University of Maryland
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Nov. 13 | 3 PM (CST)
Methodist Presentation Theatre (103)
901 AI Meetup
"The Dark Side of AI: Exploring the Benefits and Risks of a World-Shaping Technology"
Artificial Intelligence is transforming our world. It is enhancing how we work, connect, and protect. But while the spotlight often shines on AI’s potential, its risks are growing just as quickly. From deepfakes and cybercrime to bias, surveillance, and job disruption, this talk explores both sides of the AI revolution. This is a practical, real-world conversation about awareness and responsibility. If we want AI to benefit everyone, we must be intentional about how we build and guide it.
Melanie SuriaCEO & Founder
Memphis Computer Support, LLC
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Nov. 18 | 2 PM (CST)
Methodist Presentation Theatre (103)
Catalyst Conversations
"Quantum Computing for Scientific Discovery" with Dr. Hrant Gharibyan
This talk surveys the state of quantum computing with an eye toward scientific quantum advantage - where quantum computers deliver clear value for scientific discovery. After a brief primer (qubits, gates, circuits), I’ll review recent hardware progress from Google, IBM, Quantinuum, and others, plus advances in error correction and algorithms. I’ll then map these milestones to near-term academic opportunities in many-body simulation, combinatorial optimization, drug discovery, and materials.
Dr. Hrant GharibyanCEO & Founder
BlueQubit
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Nov. 19 | 3 PM (CST)
Methodist Presentation Theatre (103)
"Shortcut to Storytelling: The Fast Lane to Tableau Greatness" with Zach Bowders
If you use Tableau, work with data, or just want to tell better stories with numbers — this is the one you don’t want to miss. We're bringing in one of the biggest names in the Tableau community. Zach’s presentations are packed with energy, creativity, and practical insight.
What to Expect from This Session:
- Learn how to move from just building basic dashboards to crafting experiences that truly make your data come alive.
- Get insights on storytelling with numbers from a 5-Time Tableau Visionary and 6-Time Tableau Ambassador with multiple Viz of the Day Awards.
Come learn, connect, and get inspired—whether you’re a CPA, analyst, student, or leader looking to up your data game.
Zach BowdersHost
Data + Love Podcast
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November 20 | 5:30-7:00 PM
Innovation Classroom 225