WELCOME TO INNOVATE BREW!
Do you have 30 minutes to talk, one-on-one, with a random U-M colleague? Sign up and the Faculty Senate Office will pair you with a different research-active colleague from outside of your field, once a month for six months.
Innovate Brew, originally created by Ross Professor Bill Lovejoy, is based on studies showing that innovation happens when people at a distance get together, such as an economist speaking with an art historian or an engineer talking with a Classics professor. The premise is that, when people are relaxed and in uncompetitive environments, they tend to have conversations that stimulate new ideas. The tricky part is: even at U-M, we tend to stay in familiar networks and are less likely to run into people from different walks of life, practices, and lenses on the world.
The Faculty Senate Office and the Office of the Provost are delighted to announce the revival of the Innovate Brew program. This simple 30-minute coffee might lead to new collaboration. At the least, you’ll meet passionate people, sharing what they care about, and will discover the breadth and diversity of the university.
HOW CAN I JOIN?
Interested in meeting faculty? Click the REGISTER button on the right side of this page or shoot us an email at [email protected].
The deadlines for registering is September 23, 2024. You’ll be assigned a faculty match on October 1.
FAQs
Q: How does Innovate Brew Work?
A: Sign up. Then, once a month, the Faculty Senate Office will randomly pair all registered faculty members. On the first Monday of the month, you’ll receive an email from us introducing you to your Innovate Brew match for the month. Just contact your partner and arrange to have a 30-minute coffee together sometime that month.
Q: Where should we go for coffee?
A: The location is for you to choose, but meetings should be in an environment where participants can speak freely and openly.
Q: Are we limited to 30 minutes?
A: 30 minutes is the maximal commitment for each conversation. Conversations may run over time if both participants wish it to and their discretionary time allows, but in general participants should plan for at most 30 minutes.
Q: What am I supposed to get out of this? How will I know if a meeting is “successful”?
A: Just enjoy your conversation! There’s no pressure to achieve any particular “take-away” in any one meeting. It’s the accumulated impact of many meetings that should have an effect. Progress of any sort may not be apparent after any single meeting.
Q: Can we meet again?
A: Yes, by mutual consent, but you are not obligated to. Recognizing how busy everyone is, another meeting is not to be expected. People should go in with that understanding so that there is no obligatory claim on anybody’s time beyond this meeting. Whether or not the participants choose to meet again is entirely voluntary. For your future matches, you’ll be paired with someone new.
Q: What happens if I will be traveling for a month?
A: Let us know at [email protected] and we can remove your name from that month and re-add you for the following month.
Q: How can I opt out for good, if I signed up but don’t want to do this any more?
Let us know at [email protected] and we can remove your name.
Q: Are coffee costs reimbursed?
Coffee costs are not reimbursed and must be paid by the participants themselves.
