Biohealth hub placed in spotlight
The city of Mason Innovation Week joins the city with local businesses to shine a spotlight on Mason’s rapidly growing biohealth hub and promote next generation public-private partnerships that feed connectivity and engage scientific talent in the region. Now in its third year, Innovation Week — presented in partnership with Assurex Health, Festo and Rhinestahl — features events designed to highlight Mason’s strong commitment to community collaboration and promote breakthrough ideas in Mason’s schools, community and beyond.
Highlights of the week include school tours of Festo’s Mobile Mechatronics Lab; the capstone event in the Mason and Assurex Research & Science Series, featuring Dr. Neil Lamb of the prestigious HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology; a scientific poster presentation for local high school students; and a panel discussion hosted by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association about how diversity can drive innovation in the workplace.
Innovation Week kicked off on Oct. 6, with local celebrations of World Manufacturing Day. Manufacturing companies across Mason hosted a variety of events in coordination with the city and schools. Proclamations were delivered and tours scheduled at several locations, including Ashley Ward, Festo and Rhinestahl, and followed by Makino later this month.
On Oct. 12, the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) hosted the panel discussion, “Women in the Workplace: How Diversity Drives Innovation.” During the HBA panel, the city displayed finalists in its poster presentation, “In the Year 3000,” open to local high school students from Mason High School and Kings High School. Students were invited to submit ideas of innovations they envision for the future in one of several science categories: medicine and biotechnology, healthcare, engineering sciences, or arts and design in science. Winners received a cash award and professional print of their innovation ideas.
Finally, the week culminated Oct. 12 with the capstone event in the Mason and Assurex Research & Science Series, a free presentation by Dr. Neil Lamb of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology titled “The Science of Genomics: Why It Matters to You.”