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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for UNM Rainforest Innovations
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260409T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260410T190000
DTSTAMP:20260918T134146
CREATED:20260127T151226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T134259Z
UID:17747-1775757600-1775847600@innovations.unm.edu
SUMMARY:2026 Lobo Hackathon
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-lobo-hackathon-registration-1980649787833?aff=oddtdtcreator \n\nAbout this event\nThe Lobo Hackathon is an opportunity for people to come together to intensely focus and collaborate on improving or creating an idea. Teams (minimum of 2) can build or refine an idea that sets out to address a problem\, utilize a technology\, or create something new! Teams will be formed at the event based on common interests of idea that is pitched. \nCollaborate on a team or join us for the final pitches where teams will present their ideas to a panel of judges for the chance to win cash prizes! \nOpen to students\, faculty\, staff\, entrepreneurs\, and others in the community. \nThe program will run Thursday\, April 9\, 6:00pm-9:00pm and Friday\, April 10\, 8:00am-7:00pm at the Lobo Rainforest Building. \nThursday\, April 9\, 6pm-9pm: \n\nIntroductions\, pitch an idea\, team formation\n\nFriday\, April 10\, 8am-7pm: \n\nPrototype development\, business model development\, development of pitch\nFinal Event from 5pm-7pm ( 5-minute pitch to a panel of judges)\n\nMore information available at: https://innovations.unm.edu/program-activities/lobo-hackathon/. \nMore detailed agenda will be sent prior to the event. \nInterested in Mentoring? \nMentors and skilled experts from all disciplines are welcome. Mentors can assist teams with their subject matter expertise and experience while enhancing their own skills as leaders\, educators\, and communicators by guiding rising talent. Register here as well to sign-up as a mentor and we will follow-up with more information. \n\nThank you to this year’s sponsors for their generous support!
URL:https://innovations.unm.edu/event/2026-lobo-hackathon/
LOCATION:Lobo Rainforest Building\, 101 Broadway Blvd NE\, Suite 1100\, 87102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://innovations.unm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-Lobo-Hackathon-feature-image.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="UNM Rainforest Innovations":MAILTO:info@innovations.unm.edu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260428T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260428T193000
DTSTAMP:20260918T134146
CREATED:20260317T153458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T153458Z
UID:17937-1777395600-1777404600@innovations.unm.edu
SUMMARY:2026 Innovation Awards
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate with us as we honor UNM inventors who have received issued patents\, registered copyrights or trademarks! \nRegister here: https://2026InnovationAwards.eventbrite.com \nYou are cordially invited to celebrate the innovative UNM faculty\, staff\, and students who have received issued patents or registered copyrights/trademarks from March 1\, 2025 through February 28\, 2026. \nThe 2026 Rainforest Innovation Fellow Award will be presented: \n\n \nA buffet dinner\, along with beer and wine\, will be provided. Casual business attire. \n*For dietary restrictions\, please contact Amber Ortega at aortega@innovations.unm.edu. \nAdditional speakers include: \n \n \n 
URL:https://innovations.unm.edu/event/2026-innovation-awards/
LOCATION:Lobo Rainforest Building\, 101 Broadway Blvd NE\, Suite 1100\, 87102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://innovations.unm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Eventbrite-banner-2026-Innovation-Awards.png
ORGANIZER;CN="UNM Rainforest Innovations":MAILTO:info@innovations.unm.edu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260429T111500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260429T131500
DTSTAMP:20260918T134146
CREATED:20260317T155025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T154324Z
UID:17943-1777461300-1777468500@innovations.unm.edu
SUMMARY:A Legal Guide to Patentability Versus Freedom to Operate
DESCRIPTION:Innovators want answers to two important questions: “Can I get a patent?” and “Can I take my technology to market?” The analysis for each question is very similar\, but the difference in the question being asked that can produce different\, and sometimes surprising\, answers. \nThis HYBRID event is offered in-person at the Lobo Rainforest Building and virtually via Zoom. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. \nRegister and learn more here: https://LegalGuidetoPatentability.eventbrite.com \nAbout the Presenters:\nChristopher D. Gram\, M.S.\, J.D. \n\n\nChris is a patent attorney with 27 years of experience practicing in the areas of biotechnology\, pharmaceuticals\, immunology\, peptide and nucleic acid technologies\, regenerative medicine\, and medical devices. Prior to joining MRG\, Chris was in-house intellectual property counsel for 3M supporting 3M’s pharmaceuticals business where he had oversight of a portion of 3M’s immune response modifier (IRM) portfolio and was involved in developing best practices for preparing and prosecuting pharmaceutical patent applications. Christopher has been with MRG for 18 years and has extensive experience serving university tech transfer offices\, start-ups that have been spun out of university intellectual property\, and working with university licensees. \nKaren H. Ohlfest\, PhD\, J.D. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nKaren is a patent attorney specializing in the life sciences\, with a focus on biotechnology\, pharmaceuticals\, cellular therapeutics\, and peptide and nucleic acid technologies. Prior to joining Mueting Raasch Group\, Karen was a Technology Portfolio Manager and Intellectual Property Officer at the University of Minnesota’s Technology Commercialization office for twelve years\, and previously worked as a life science patent attorney for seven years. \n\n\n\n\nAlfoso Garcia Chan\, M.S.E.\, J.D. \n \nAlfonso Garcia Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities\, research institutes\, and technology companies. \nHis matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters\, as well as biomaterials and medical devices. Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. \nHe is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China\, Taiwan\, Japan\, Korea\, and Europe. \nAlfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University\, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law\, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters \nHope Shimabuku\, J.D. \nAs the Regional Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO’s) Southwest Regional Outreach Office\, Hope Shimabuku carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO\, and is responsible for leading the Southwest Office. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community\, Ms. Shimabuku ensures the USPTO’s initiatives and programs are tailored to the region’s unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders. Ms. Shimabuku brings to the USPTO nearly three decades of experience as an engineer and intellectual property attorney. Prior to the USPTO\, Ms. Shimabuku was part of the Office of General Counsel at Xerox Corporation serving as Vice President and Corporate Counsel and also worked for BlackBerry Corporation. She has received numerous professional honors\, including being honored as Hero of Innovation by the Center for American and International Law\, Women’s Leadership Award recipient by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association\, and the Distinguished Alumni Award for Government Services by the SMU Dedman School of Law.
URL:https://innovations.unm.edu/event/a-legal-guide-to-patentability-versus-freedom-to-operate/
LOCATION:Lobo Rainforest Building\, 101 Broadway Blvd NE\, Suite 1100\, 87102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://innovations.unm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/feature-image-the-creative-process-and-copyright.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="UNM Rainforest Innovations":MAILTO:info@innovations.unm.edu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260518
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261220
DTSTAMP:20260918T134146
CREATED:20260109T142715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T212459Z
UID:17697-1779062400-1797724799@innovations.unm.edu
SUMMARY:SCORE Mentor Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Meet with SCORE mentors at the Lobo Rainforest Building or on Zoom! Mentors are available for one-on-one\, confidential discussions and mentoring to inventors\, students\, and start-up companies. \nSCORE mentors are successful business people and entrepreneurs who want to give back to the community by helping other entrepreneurs become and stay successful. SCORE has been helping small businesses start and grow in the Albuquerque area for over 50 years through mentoring and workshops and seminars. SCORE is the largest National resource partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA) with about 11\,000 SCORE volunteers sharing their time and talents to help America’s small businesses. \nInterested? Contact Cara Michaliszyn to cmichaliszyn@innovations.unm.edu to arrange a time to meet.
URL:https://innovations.unm.edu/event/score-mentor-office-hours/
LOCATION:Lobo Rainforest Building\, 101 Broadway Blvd NE\, Suite 1100\, 87102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://innovations.unm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/score-logo-1200x628-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="UNM Rainforest Innovations":MAILTO:info@innovations.unm.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260910T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260910T130000
DTSTAMP:20260918T134146
CREATED:20260720T194207Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260720T194359Z
UID:18525-1789041600-1789045200@innovations.unm.edu
SUMMARY:Creative People\, Creative Places - Creative Technologies on the Mother Road (September)
DESCRIPTION:Sign up to attend here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-people-creative-places-creative-technologies-on-the-mother-road-tickets-1993560945453?aff=ebdsoporgprofile \n\n\n\n\n\n\nA seminar series in honor of the Route 66 Centennial showcasing areas where technology and creativity meet. \n\n\n\n\nUNM Rainforest Innovations is hosting a Creativity and Technology on the Mother Road Seminar Series in honor of the Route 66 Centennial. This seminar series brings together panels of creative people in science\, technology\, and the arts\, highlighting STEAM and showcasing areas where technology and creativity meet. \nNew Mexico is full of Creative People and Creative Places at the University of New Mexico and beyond. This series serves to build connections and bridges amongst players in the Albuquerque and New Mexico creative ecosystem and engage communities of technologists and creatives whose work and mission build towards entrepreneurial economic development for the state of New Mexico. \nThis panel focuses on creative people and creative places at the University of New Mexico and in the community. The September event will feature museums in Albuquerque on and around NM Route 66. Panelists include: \n\nLeba Freed\, President\, WHEELS Museum\, Inc.\nAlicia Romero\, Head Curator\, Albuquerque Museum\nSheldon Hamilton\, Director X Studio\, Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum\n\nLunch will be provided. \nFree\, no cite parking available for this event. \nAbout the Panelists: \nLeba Freed\, President\, WHEELS Museum\, Inc. \nLeba Freed was born in Albuquerque and is a graduate of the University of New Mexico. She is a member of many boards\, including the legislative railyards advisory board. She ran her family business for decades and began the effort to save the Rail Yards in 1994. She has worked full-time as a volunteer for 31 years with elected officials\, volunteers\, corporations\, schools\, film and many others to create the WHEELS Museum and other projects on the iconic Rail Yards. The WHEELS Museum has now served over 300\,000 people from around the world\, won 30 awards and has more than 10\,000 rare exhibit items of historical importance. \nAlicia Romero\, Head Curator\, Albuquerque Museum \nAlicia Romero was born and raise in Albuquerque. She graduated with a BA in History and Art History and an MA in History from UNM. Romero graduated from the University of California\, Santa Cruz with a PhD in History following the completion of her dissertation on Albuquerque’s Barelas community. She returned to UNM in 2015 and served as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Equity and Inclusion. From 2018-2023\, Romero was Curator and later Head Curator at the New Mexico History Museum and Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe. In 2023\, she became Curator of History at the Albuquerque Museum and was recently promoted to Head Curator and Curator of History there in 2025. She has curated over eighteen exhibitions on Albuquerque and New Mexico history and is currently celebrating the opening of The Other Route 66: 100 Years of People\, Identity\, and Place in Albuquerque. \nSheldon Hamilton\, Director X Studio\, Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum \nSheldon Hamilton is the Director of X Studio\, Explora’s teen workforce development center\, where he has worked in the informal education and museum fields for seven years. He believes that when young people are given space to explore both creative and technical skills\, they develop a fuller picture of what a future in STEAM can look like for them\, and has built programs that reflect that belief\, centering access and equity for underrepresented teens in Albuquerque. Sheldon is a two-time recipient of the Association of Children’s Museums Diversity in Action Fellowship and has also participated in the NMOST Out-of-School Time Leadership Institute and the Association of Science and Technology Centers New Leaders Fellowship.
URL:https://innovations.unm.edu/event/creative-people-creative-places-creative-technologies-on-the-mother-road-september/
LOCATION:Lobo Rainforest Building\, 101 Broadway Blvd NE\, Suite 1100\, 87102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://innovations.unm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/creative-people-creative-places-feature-image.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="UNM Rainforest Innovations":MAILTO:info@innovations.unm.edu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260915T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260915T130000
DTSTAMP:20260918T134146
CREATED:20260901T144745Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T144745Z
UID:18748-1789471800-1789477200@innovations.unm.edu
SUMMARY:Rainforest Forum - Newly Emerging Start-ups from UNM
DESCRIPTION:Learn more and register on Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unm-rainforest-forum-newly-emerging-start-ups-from-unm-registration-1998966101420?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true \nHear from UNM innovators that have formed a start-up company\, what they are working\, and what’s next \n\n\nThe UNM Rainforest Forum was created by the UNM Rainforest Innovations Board of Directors to bring together UNM and business community members to enhance and strengthen UNM’s role in economic development. \nAgenda: \n\n11:30am Networking & Lunch\n12:00pm Program begins (Panel discussion moderated by UNMRI CEO\, Lisa Kuuttila)\n\n\n\nThis event is open to Rainforest Forum members and the community. \n\n\nFree parking is available on the west side of the building\, in the shaded areas\, except where indicated\, on the Parking Map.
URL:https://innovations.unm.edu/event/rainforest-forum-newly-emerging-start-ups-from-unm/
LOCATION:Lobo Rainforest Building\, 101 Broadway Blvd NE\, Suite 1100\, 87102\, United States
CATEGORIES:UNM Rainforest Forum
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://innovations.unm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/UNM-Rainforest-Forum-eventbrite-banner.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="UNM Rainforest Innovations":MAILTO:info@innovations.unm.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261015T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261015T130000
DTSTAMP:20260918T134146
CREATED:20260720T194941Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260720T195442Z
UID:18534-1792065600-1792069200@innovations.unm.edu
SUMMARY:Creative People\, Creative Places - Creative Technologies on the Mother Road (October)
DESCRIPTION:Sign up to attend here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-people-creative-places-creative-technologies-on-the-mother-road-tickets-1993614178675 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA seminar series in honor of the Route 66 Centennial showcasing areas where technology and creativity meet. \n\n\n\n\nUNM Rainforest Innovations is hosting a Creativity and Technology on the Mother Road Seminar Series in honor of the Route 66 Centennial. This seminar series brings together panels of creative people in science\, technology\, and the arts\, highlighting STEAM and showcasing areas where technology and creativity meet. \nNew Mexico is full of Creative People and Creative Places at the University of New Mexico and beyond. This series serves to build connections and bridges amongst players in the Albuquerque and New Mexico creative ecosystem and engage communities of technologists and creatives whose work and mission build towards entrepreneurial economic development for the state of New Mexico. \nThis panel focuses on creative people and creative places at the University of New Mexico and in the community. October panelists include: \n\nCameron Ward\, Founder & Creative Director\, Art Off the Rails\nDonatella Davanzo\, Ph.D.\nSandy Johnson\, Architect\, Designer\, Mixed-Media Artist\n\nLunch will be provided. \nFree\, no cite parking available for this event. \n\n\n\n\nAbout the Panelists: \n \nCameron Ward\, Founder & Creative Director\, Art Off the Rails \nCameron Ward is a producer\, media host\, and creative entrepreneur building infrastructure for Indigenous and emerging voices across the American Southwest and beyond. She is a proud member of the Pueblo of Isleta and a graduate student from the University of Southern California\, she works at the intersection of media\, cultural production\, and economic community development within contemporary Indigenous expression. \nShe is the Founder and Creative Director of Art Off the Rails\, a cultural production and strategy company that develops exhibitions\, magazine and editorial initiatives\, marketing campaigns\, and public activations across film\, fashion\, music\, and contemporary art. Operating across New Mexico and California\, the company partners with artists\, institutions\, and creative entrepreneurs to expand visibility and build sustainable creative economies rooted in community. \n  \n \nDonatella Davanzo\, Ph.D. \nItalian American anthropologist and photo ethnographer\, Dr. Donatella Davanzo focuses her documentary work on traditional communities and sites in Italy and New Mexico to preserve their historic\, social\, and cultural aspects. Donatella is widely recognized for her in-depth exploration and lectures centering on the acequias – centuries-old\, communally managed crop irrigation systems in New Mexico. In urban contexts\, her recent photographic project “Route 66 Connected” (2022-2026) centers on a documentation of the original properties along Route 66 in New Mexico. Donatella holds a doctorate in American Studies at University of New Mexico and currently leads the Albuquerque Italian Language and Culture Group. Drawing from photographic and anthropological experiences in Italy and in the US\, she also carries out didactic and training teachings about visual ethnographic methodologies. \n  \n \nSandy Johnson\, Architect\, Designer\, Mixed-Media Artist \nSandy is an Albuquerque native who ventured to the West Coast\, only to find her way back home to the Land of Enchantment. She is deeply tied to her roots here in New Mexico and has been indulging in her architectural and design ambitions with rigor and enthusiasm for over twenty years. She flourishes in exploring new design approaches but stays grounded to the original principles of architecture: form vs. function and point\, line\, plane. From the first sketch to final completion\, it’s the diligently crafted details that make each architecture and art piece unique. \nBy day\, Sandy is a practicing architect and healthcare facilities planner for the University of New Mexico Hospital\, managing new ground-up facilities from first concepts\, through design and construction\, to final move-in day and first-patient. In her spare time\, she explores digital mixed-media art\, showcasing architectural depictions of the Southwest Landscape\, biophilic themes\, and human form. Through her unique artistic approach\, architectural lines are choreographed to generate volume\, depth\, and dynamic movement of light and shadow within the offset of varied materials. \n 
URL:https://innovations.unm.edu/event/creative-people-creative-places-creative-technologies-on-the-mother-road-october/
LOCATION:Lobo Rainforest Building\, 101 Broadway Blvd NE\, Suite 1100\, 87102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://innovations.unm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/creative-people-creative-places-feature-image.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="UNM Rainforest Innovations":MAILTO:info@innovations.unm.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261203T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261203T153000
DTSTAMP:20260918T134146
CREATED:20260901T145106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T154143Z
UID:18750-1796311800-1796311800@innovations.unm.edu
SUMMARY:2026 Pitch Deck Competition
DESCRIPTION:Register and learn more here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-pitch-deck-competition-registration-1998995261639?aff=erelpanelorg \n\n\nHosted by the UNM Innovation Academy and UNM Rainforest Innovations \n\n\n\n\nFamily\, Friends and supporters are invited to attend the final round of the 2026 Pitch Deck Competition at the Lobo Rainforest Building on Thursday\, December 3\, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. to hear the five finalists pitch to investor judges. \nFinalists will present a 10 minute pitch deck with 5 additional minutes of question and answer in front of a panel of judges. \nThe 2026 Pitch Deck Competition is an early-stage pitch competition bringing together university entrepreneurs from all over New Mexico for chance to win $20\,000 (sponsored by UNM Rainforest Innovations) in cash prizes for promising business models. The cash prizes are: winning team\, $10\,000\, second place team\, $5\,000\, and third place\, $2\,500 and 2 finalists\, $1\,250 each. \n\n\nAgenda \n3:30 PM Networking \n4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Finals \nParking Map – Lobo Rainforest Building 2024 \nAre you interested in applying to Pitch Deck Competition? Go to https://innovations.unm.edu/program-activities/pitch-deck/. The deadline to apply is November 15\, 2026 @ 11:59 pm.
URL:https://innovations.unm.edu/event/2026-pitch-deck-competition/
LOCATION:Lobo Rainforest Building\, 101 Broadway Blvd NE\, Suite 1100\, 87102\, United States
CATEGORIES:Pitch Competition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://innovations.unm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-pitch-deck-comp-all-finalists.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="UNM Rainforest Innovations":MAILTO:info@innovations.unm.edu
END:VEVENT
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