First Professor of Connectivity

Google was lost for words.

No results found for "Professor of Connectivity" on 31 May 2013.  Zero.

Today, 1 June 2013, I am taking up my new position of "Professor of Connectivity" in the Graduate School of Management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

I am grateful for this honour and excited by the notion of being the first person with this title (as far as we know) in  the world.  It is wonderful to be associated with an issue of such relevance for our time.

‘Connectivity’ captures the essence of what it means to be connected on multiple dimensions—from physical space and face-to-face interaction to wired and wireless communication environments.  In short, connectivity incorporates all the ways that we technically, socially and economically engage with others. Historically, this has involved physical travel and trade, but increasingly we ‘travel’ and trade via information and communication technologies, which are rapidly evolving and greatly affecting every layer and level of business and society.

‘The great driver of scientific innovation and technological innovation has been the historic increase in connectivity.’ In short, ‘chance favours the connected mind.’

Steven Johnson, author of Where good ideas come from: The natural history of innovation