Posted October 1, 2026 by Cheyenne Rowe
Diffusion of innovation expert James Dearing will visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Oct. 12 for a guest presentation co-hosted by the College of Engineering and NUtech Ventures.
This presentation is free and open to the university community. Registration is required. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m.- 12 p.m., with remarks starting promptly at noon. The event is at the Willa Cather Dining Complex, Red Cloud Suite.
Dearing, the Brandt Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication at Michigan State University, will address questions such as:
- “What factors explain the diffusion of innovations?”
- “How and why do new practices, programs, technologies and policies spread?” and
- “What factors are important for faculty and student entrepreneurs to consider during innovation development so that an innovation will be positively perceived, seriously assessed, adopted and then implemented to good effect?”
During his talk, Dearing will also review lessons learned by diffusion researchers across many topical fields including engineering, healthcare, public health, business, psychology and the environment. The diffusion of innovation research and practice paradigm forms much of the basis for what is now considered dissemination and implementation science.
Investigators and teams who are interested in meeting one-on-one with Dearing should contact Joy Eakin, assistant director of entrepreneurship and operations, NUtech Ventures.
This event is co-hosted by the College of Engineering and NUtech with support from an anonymous donor.
