Distinguished professor to deliver inaugural lecture on ‘innovation hypercycles’

LAWRENCE — Andrew Torrance, a renowned scholar in intellectual property, patent law, biotechnology, food and drug law, biodiversity law and environmental law, will present his inaugural lecture as a Paul E. Wilson Distinguished Professor of Law. The lecture, “Innovation Hypercycles: The Rise and Fall of Technology Hotspots,” will take place at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 in the Beren Petroleum Conference Center of G192 Slawson Hall.

In his presentation, Torrance will explore the concept of innovation hypercycles, also known as “technology hotspots.” He will examine historical instances of innovation hypercycles and share factors that foster and hinder such cycles. With an understanding of key factors in innovation hypercycles, the lecture will provide insights into how societies can create and sustain them.

Individuals can register to attend the lecture, and a recording of the lecture will be posted afterward on the Office of Faculty Affairs website.

Torrance’s scholarship is extensive. He has delivered more than 100 scholarly presentations at numerous universities, research organizations, governments and intergovernmental agencies in seven countries. His work has been featured in media outlets such as NPR, Forbes, the Seattle Times and the San Francisco Chronicle. Additionally, Torrance founded the annual Biolaw Conference and co-founded the leading annual patent conference, PatCon. 

Torrance joined the KU Law faculty in 2005. Prior to his arrival at KU, Torrance taught at Harvard University as an Eliot House Resident Tutor in Biology and Law, tutor in biology and Hrdy Visiting Professor of Conservation Biology. In addition, he has been a fellow in law, innovation and growth at the Searle Center at Northwestern University's law school, a Manza Scholar at the DePaul University College of Law, a visiting professor at the University of Washington School of Law, a visiting distinguished professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and is a visiting scholar in behavioral and policy sciences at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

In 2008, Torrance served on then-presidential candidate Barack Obama’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications Committee as a policy adviser. Torrance was elected to the American Law Institute in 2022, the leading independent organization in the United States that produces scholarly work to clarify, modernize and improve the law.

“I arrived at KU Law a young, inexperienced scholar with little inkling of how I should proceed,” Torrance said. “Generous and brilliant family members — especially my wife, Wendy; my children, Honor, Darwin and Ellesmere; my parents and my amazing dog, Freyja — friends, colleagues, both at KU and around the world, and students helped me find my path as a professor through encouragement, guidance, inclusion and collaboration.  

“I’m delighted to receive this distinguished professorship, but I want to be clear that it’s their achievement more than mine. I owe them all my heartfelt gratitude.”

The first distinguished professorships were established at KU in 1958. A university distinguished professorship is awarded wholly based on merit, following exacting criteria. A complete list is available on the Distinguished Professor website.