Lecture Asks, “What Is Innovation?”

Dr. Salomon Amar, associate dean for research, and the Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology October 23 welcomed Dr. Alain Carpentier, professor at Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou in France, to present his lecture, "What Is Innovation?"

"He is the father of the cardiac valve and I’m honored to have him here at Boston University," Amar said.

Carpentier explained his seven steps of innovation — trigger, problem, idea, experimentation, validation, development, and transfer — using his work with cardiac valves as an example.

He concluded by acknowledging the school’s outstanding support of research. "This university is known worldwide to provide the environment required for innovation," he said.

Carpentier is the founder and director of the Laboratoire d’Etude des Greffes et Prothèses Cardiaques at the University of Paris and a visiting professor at several schools worldwide.