Do you remember the scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow sang about "lions and tigers and bears, oh my!"? That came to mind as I was reflecting on the past month in the Innovation District. There have been gatherings of dozens, hundreds and thousands of people to celebrate the phenomenal science and technology ecosystem in St. Pete.
Earlier this week several dozen attended the 1st Anniversary of the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub. Hundreds were in attendance at the beginning of February when I had the opportunity to share our work at a national summit in Washington DC on Digital Transformation hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce. And over 12,000 attendees came to the St. Petersburg Science Festival and MarineQuest on Saturday, February 18th.
Its great to see the different ways that science and technology is flourishing in St. Pete and the engagement of all ages in these efforts.
(This article was first featured in our February newsletter -to subscribe to our monthly newsletter click here)
Last month, the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub kicked off the school year with a lively Retro Back-to-School themed Happy Hour. Tenants brought their families, and the space was filled with throwback snacks, classic laser backdrop photo ops, and plenty of nostalgic fun.
Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay's 3DE initiative connects high school students with local and national businesses, giving them hands-on experience in problem-solving.
October always feels like conference season — a time when professionals from around the world gather to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and strengthen collaborations. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the OCEANS 2025 Conference in Chicago, a global gathering for those advancing ocean science and maritime technology.