The work of three UT researchers was recently featured at the inaugural Tennessee Innovation Conference, sponsored by the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation (TTDC) in Nashville. Dayakar Penumadu, professor and interim head of the Civil & Environmental Engineering department; Jimmy Mays, professor and distinguished scientist in the Chemistry department; and Bill Hamel, professor and head of the Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering department, each demonstrated research projects with great potential for commercialization. The conference highlighted the value of state support of technology-based economic development initiatives.