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2025 Innovative Technologies Symposium

UT Innovative Technologies Symposium

ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN, ENJOY AT THE UT IT SYMPOSIUM

The Office of Innovative Technologies is excited to announce its 2025 IT Symposium at the Knoxville Convention Center. This two-day symposium will focus on our everyday IT challenges, shared interests, honed skills, and newfound passions. Together, we aim to foster innovative IT solutions, expand knowledge, and form strategic collaborations that can significantly impact the University of Tennessee system. We encourage anyone from the entire UT System to participate.

January 28-29, 2025

Register for this special event!

The call for proposals is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal!!

Join us for the UT IT Symposium as one of the presenters. Bring your unique perspective and expertise and share your experiences with your innovative IT solutions, collaborations, research, education, and more. We encourage anyone from the entire UT System to participate.

Look for presenter information on the Symposium App.

If you are part of the UT System, we want you to participate, present, and attend!

  • UT Chattanooga
  • UT Extension and Research offices
  • UT Health Science Center
  • UT Institutes
  • UT Knoxville
  • UT Martin
  • UT Southern
  • UT System

Symposium areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): how has AI changed the IT landscape? What new AI tools are making your life easier/harder? What is your AI wish list?
  • Security, Cloud, Networking, and Infrastructure: Tell us about new developments in security, cloud use, networking  and IT infrastructure. What has changed in this space?
  • Workforce Development and Training: How are you using IT resources for workforce development and training? How do you recruit and train the new generation of IT professionals? How have the requirements for an IT profession changed in this day and age?
  • Life Skills and Well-Being in IT: How do you manage time, stress, and work-life balance in IT? What strategies help set boundaries and prevent burnout? Share HR-related insights, soft skills, and techniques for staying productive in a fast-paced environment.
  • Technology in Higher Education: How do you use IT in your classrooms and in your research groups? What tools have accelerated your research? What is your wish list for tools that will lessen your time-to-science? How has the use of AI teaching tools in the classroom assisted in providing an accessible teaching space?
  • Technology in Research: How has the landscape changed for managing research computing and data environments? What does democratizing access look like?

Session Formats

We appreciate the vast array of talents within our community and are eager to learn from you—whether that is through a presentation, a hands-on workshop, a lively panel discussion, an interactive birds-of-a-feather, a casual poster chat, or a quick-fire lightning talk. Name what works best for you. Presentations, workshops, birds-of-a-feather, and panel discussions will be set up in 45-minute blocks with the option to request a two-part block for in-depth sessions, dependent on availability.

If your proposal is accepted you agree to register for the conference.

The deadline for proposals, October 31, 2024, is now closed.

Plan to Attend

The UT IT Symposium invites you to a dynamic convergence of ideas, expertise, and innovation. Prepare for two days of topics where the latest IT developments take center stage, presented through a mix of formats designed to foster interaction, collaboration, and community.  

As the symposium unfolds, it’s not just about the discussions you’ll witness, but the community you’ll become a part of. Prepare for an experience where every conversation could lead to new insights, every encounter could spark a future collaboration, and every moment is an opportunity to broaden your IT horizons.

We hope that you will spend these days learning, sharing, and connecting with colleagues from across the state in an exchange focused on the innovative uses and practices of technology at UT.

Register for the Symposium

Who Should Attend

This is a UT system-wide event. All full- or part-time staff, faculty, and graduate students involved in information technology work, learning, or research are eligible to attend. We are encouraging presenters and attendee participation from the entire UT System.

  • UT Chattanooga
  • UT Extension and Research offices
  • UT Health Science Center
  • UT Institutes
  • UT Knoxville
  • UT Martin
  • UT Southern
  • UT System

Schedule

Day 1, Tuesday, January 28

  • Event check-in will begin at 10:00 a.m.
  • Concurrent afternoon sessions from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Fun networking activities and visits with vendors throughout the afternoon
  • Special opening welcome and networking reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a cash bar and light hors d’oeuvres

Day 2, Wednesday, January 29

  • Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
  • Special keynote speakers at 8:30 a.m.
  • Multiple concurrent sessions from 9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • More fun networking activities and visits with vendors throughout the day
  • Closing remarks and raffle from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

While the final agenda is a canvas still being painted, anticipate a selection of sessions that will range from technical deep-dives to explorations of the human elements in IT. Stay tuned as we shape an experience that caters to a variety of interests and fosters every attendee’s professional growth.

Location

Knoxville Convention Center | Facility Map
701 Henley Street
Knoxville, TN 37902

Cost to Attend the Symposium

Admission and lunch are free to current UT faculty, staff, researchers, and graduate students.

Lodging Information

For those who are traveling from other campuses, you have many hotel options in the downtown Knoxville area that offer state rates during the symposium! 

  • Marriott Knoxville Downtown 
    Located directly across the street from the Knoxville Convention Center.
  • $169 per night
  • For UT Employees, to reserve a room at this price, you will need to contact World Travel at 865-777-1600 or (877) 210-8189.  

Additional area hotels: 

Parking & Transportation

Attendees will be responsible for transportation to and from the conference, hotel, and dinner. There are several parking options near the conference center.

Catering & Accommodations

We’re planning to provide nourishment to keep you energized throughout the day. Expect convenient and tasty meal options to complement your symposium experience. Selections will be offered in the registration form, ensuring we cater to a variety of tastes and dietary needs.

Questions?

For questions about this exciting symposium, please email the IT Symposium Committee at utitsymposium@utk.edu.

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