During Case Western Reserve University’s upcoming Innovation Week 2024—set to take place Monday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Nov. 1—faculty researchers will have the chance to compete for the best “failed experiment.”
Inspired by the history of the Michelson Morley experiment, the “Serendipitous Epiphany through Efforts to gain Knowledge” (SEEK) Award will be awarded to the researcher whose persistence through research setbacks led to the best unintended and unexpected results.
The award honors the week’s theme of “Failure and Persistence in Innovation,” which acknowledges many important and valuable discoveries come not because we are looking specifically for them, but because as we work, we observe, and many of these unexpected observations—even when they do not confirm our hypothesis, or are not even related to the hypothesis we intended to test—can have great impact.
Physics Emeritus Professor Phil Taylor will lead the event, and audience votes will determine the winners. Finalists will win $500 while the top award winner will receive $1,000.
The award ceremony will take place Wednesday, Oct. 30, at noon, and lunch will be provided. Learn more and register to attend.
How to Apply for the SEEK Award
Faculty should upload applications to this box folder by Thursday, Oct. 24.
Qualifying applications will have the following elements:
- Must describe an UNINTENDED discovery
- Must include the following sections:
- The discovery, meaning what the discovery was and how the discovery was made;
- The significance and impact of the discovery; and
- Plans and next steps related to the discovery.
- Must be limited to one page of text (11 point font) and up to one figure (separate from the text).