Celebrating ingenuity and creativity

Innovation can lead to interesting places. University of Delaware plant biologist Harsh Bais never imagined that a beneficial bacteria he and his colleagues found over a decade ago would result in a line of sustainable agricultural products being made today by the global company BASF. That initial work has also led to patented applications for improving moisture retention in plants, disarming fungal pathogens that affect turf grass, and even improving the ability to grow plants in space.

Bais was among those honored at UD's Roselle Center for the Arts as part of its annual Inventors Recognition on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Miguel Garcia-Diaz, UD vice president for research, scholarship and innovation, welcomed event attendees, highlighting the important role inventiveness and creativity play in fostering an innovative community.

Garcia-Diaz spoke about a few of the more than 450 inventions UD's researchers have generated over the past decade, from vehicle-to-grid technology to magnetic microrobots for delivering medication to cells in the human body. He noted that 14 faculty have been inducted into the National Academy of Inventors since 2012, including Joe Fox, UD chemistry and biochemistry professor, who was named an NAI fellow in 2023.

"Since I joined the University this May, I've really been impressed by the ingenuity and spirit of collaboration of all our researchers," Garcia-Diaz said. "Truly, innovation happens in many places … UD students creating new music, innovative financial technology, creating new materials, developing new approaches to communication, or perhaps making new discoveries in quantum science. The University honors and cherishes all of these accomplishments."