Inventor of the Post-it note and Imperial alumnus discusses the importance of inventing - <em>News</em>
Monday 19 February 2007
By Naomi Weston
Inventor of the Post-it note and alumnus of the College, Dr Geoff Nicholson will kick start the Department of Chemistry’s Centenary celebrations with a special lecture entitled, 'Innovation: A Survival Issue', on Thursday 22 February.
The Post-it note was discovered by accident but has become a popular invention used all over the world. The adhesive for the product was first discovered in 1968 and then the Post-it note was introduced in 1975.
Dr Nicholson will discuss the importance of innovation in his lecture. "Innovation is a critical need for any company that wishes to survive and provide meaningful employment for the workforce," he says. "If one considers that research is the transformation of money into knowledge, and innovation is the transformation of knowledge into money, then it is reasonable to see the interdependency," he adds.
In 1963 Dr Nicholson joined 3M after obtaining a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Imperial College London. After several years in 3M's Central Research Laboratories, he was appointed to positions in the company's Visual Products and Commercial Tape Divisions. He was instrumental in the development of 3M's highly successful Post-it notes and the subsequent line of Post-it products.
This lecture is open to all staff and students. It will take place at 4pm in the Sir Alexander Fleming Building, lecture theatre G16. For more information please contact Catherine Oriel, 020 7594 5855, c.oriel@imperial.ac.uk.
To watch this lecture online please visit the website www.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial/events/onlinelectures.
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