When I joined the Innovation District I was amazed at how many world renowned thought-leaders worked in St. Petersburg, particularly within the District boundaries. They are the keynote speakers at conferences, authors who publish reports that guide innovations in their field, and chairs of national and international committees. To us they are the people we see at the grocery store, the neighbor down the street, or the friend we don't quite understand what they do (even though we ask them to explain it a dozen times).
We recently lost one of those "Rock Stars" of St. Petersburg - Dr. Bill Hogarth. Bill was a guiding force of the marine science community. He played a significant role in the growth of this industry cluster in St. Petersburg, across the nation and internationally. I can't recall when I first met Bill. Maybe it was when they commissioned the Research Vessel Hogarth in his honor. I can share that Bill was always encouraging of new ideas, thoughtful in his analysis, and a great human being. There have been wonderful and more articulate words written about Bill and his accomplishments that I encourage you to read - St. Pete Catalyst article: USF mourns the loss of a marine science legend and the Tampa Bay Times obituary: William Hogarth 1939-2022.
The above picture of Bill was taken at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub Ribbon Cutting in March. He is standing next to the R/V Hogarth image in the mural by St. Pete artist Carrie Jadus.
Join us for a Trolley Tour of the District on Friday, April 18th from 1:30pm-4:30pm. This popular event is offered 2-3 times a year. It begins at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub. You will board a trolley with other Innovation District partners and community members. As we travel throughout the District, you will learn about the history and future plans for the area. We will make several stops for an insider view of the research and collaborations underway. The tour will conclude back at Hub with a networking happy hour.
The Innovation District hosts a quarterly breakfast series called Morning Sparks: Innovation X-change. At each session we explore emerging technologies, invite District partners to share their current related efforts, and engage in thoughtful (and hopefully spirited) discussions that will spark future innovation.
Each month our team confers about what to include in the District newsletter. We lament how to share all the amazing stories while not creating an encyclopedia (yes, I am showing by age with an old school reference). We are fortunate to have so many things going on in the District.