Fostering innovation is the focus of Big Ideas TXST podcast episode 6

Inside TXST

Jayme Blaschke | June 2, 2020

weigum headshot
Shannon Weigum, associate professor in the Department of Biology and director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Texas State University.

The Big Ideas TXST podcast hosts guest Shannon Weigum, associate professor in the Department of Biology and director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Texas State University, who discusses the environment and mindset necessary to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The full interview may be heard in episode 6 of the Big Ideas TXST podcast.

"Innovation has become a buzzword that everybody uses, often incorrectly," Weigum said. "Often, innovation and entrepreneurship get used interchangeably, and yet they're very distinct processes in themselves but they are closely tied together and linked. 

"Innovation comes from new ideas and developing new devices, processes or scenarios where you can improve upon existing processes. It allows us to be able to do something we weren't able to before. That's an innovation," she said. "Really, it is entrepreneurship that is the act of taking those ideas, those innovations, those inventions and turning them into new businesses and new business concepts and really executing upon that for the benefit of our local and global society."   

Big Ideas TXST is a monthly podcast from Texas State’s Division of University Advancement that goes inside the fascinating minds forging innovation, research and creativity at the university. Hosted by Daniel Seed, a lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, each episode features thoughtful interviews and discussion with the thought leaders developing innovative ideas to make the world a better place. 

Big Ideas TXST can be found at news.txstate.edu/inside-txst/big-ideas-podcast. The podcast may also be listened to or subscribed to at:

For more information, contact University Communications:

Jayme Blaschke, 512-245-2555

Sandy Pantlik, 512-245-2922