The University of the Fraser Valley is highlighting research in two upcoming public lectures in November.

The Research Encounters series will feature one UFV faculty member and one guest lecturer from India.

Dr. Jon Thomas, who holds the BC Regional Chair in Canada-India Partnership Development at UFV and is a faculty member in the School of Business, will speak on Tues, Nov 20, from 4 to 6 pm, in University House (Room F124) on the UFV Abbotsford campus.

Dr. Thomas will speak on the topic of Building an Innovation Ecosystem.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship are increasingly important in a rapidly changing world,” he notes “The Fourth Industrial Revolution will transform existing industries and create new ones. How can universities, firms, governments, and individuals be better prepared to benefit from this transformation?”

Join Dr. Thomas as he discusses the need to build an innovation ecosystem to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in the Fraser Valley.

Dr. Arjun Kalyanpur, a visiting lecturer from India, will speak on Thurs, Nov 29 from 4 to 6 pm, also in University House (Room F124) on the UFV Abbotsford campus.

His topic will be Teleradiology: options for Canada and the story of a start-up.

Dr. Kalyanpur is CEO and founder of Teleradiology Solutions, a global health-care company headquartered in Bangalore that reports radiology scans for over 150 hospitals worldwide. The organization was showcased to former U.S. President Barack Obama on his visit to India in 2010.

He will speak on teleradiology and its relevance to Canada (particularly in remote locations and for First Nations). The talk will also cover the business aspects of scaling this tech start-up in India.

The series is co-presented by the UFV offices of Advancement and Research, Engagement and Graduate Studies.