The St. Pete Innovation District is the professional home to hundreds of scientists, technologist, and doctors. These individuals are leaders in their fields world-wide but are often unknown locally. They are working to solve childhood illnesses, map the ocean, address climate change, and develop new technology. In 2017, the District created a new kind of event to showcase these individuals and their stories - State of Science.
The "State of Science" name is a play on words. Similar to "State of the Union" or "State of the Economy" this is an annual event that highlights accomplishments of the last year. We invite a cross section of speakers to give fast-paced, brief presentations that are sure to pique your curiosity. The past years have highlighted work in healthcare, coastal mapping, research into illegal animal trade, new technologies, and more.
The best part of the event is that participants learn about a topic they never would have expected. They are reminded how cool St. Pete is and the amazing work that is happening here. Mark your calendar for the next District State of Science and Innovation on January 11th at 5pm. Registration RSVP will be coming out soon.
Over the last few months I have used this space in the newsletter to create a picture of what it takes to foster innovation. November 2023 newsletter: Innovation is a team sport. It requires diverse perspectives and experiences to find a creative solutions. It requires courage to try things out and be willing to learn what won’t work as much as what will work. It requires tenacity to keep going and going and going.
Thank you to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHACH) for sponsoring and hosting our inaugural Morning Sparks: Innovation X-change breakfast. The event was kicked off by Alicia Schulhof, President of JHACH, and followed by an overview of the topic - Artificial Intelligence - by Dr. John Licato of USF's Advanced Machine and Human Reasoning Lab.
Kudos to the Volunteers of America Florida, City of St. Petersburg, and Pinellas County for the recent opening of the new downtown apartments, located in the Innovation District called Innovare. Innovare’s 50 apartments provide stable homes for individuals and families who earn 60 percent or less of the Area’s Median Income (AMI), including many who are transitioning from homelessness.