Dr. Martin Tadlock, USF St. Petersburg campus, recently completed his time on the Innovation District Board of Directors. During his tenure as the Board President and then member, the District developed several new programs including the Innovation Scholars - pairing incoming USF freshmen with mentors from the District/downtown business community, and four Smart City pilots - using technology to address issues like pedestrian and bike safety. Dr. Tadlock received the District's 2022 Innovator Award as recognition for his incredible service. In addition to a plaque, the award included a commissioned piece of art by local artist: Andrea Pawlisz (located at the Warehouse Arts District ArtsXchange).To read an interview with Dr. Tadlock about his legacy in higher education click here.
The graduation of the CodeBoxx AI Literacy and Applications Bootcamp was held on Saturday, August 9th at the ARK Innovation Center. The celebration included a tour of the ARK building, a sneak peek at the Vu Studio, and a hackathon. This bootcamp is designed to give participants a competitive edge in the job market by teaching practical ways to use AI. AI literacy and tech communication are more important than ever, and we're incredibly proud of this graduating class for taking that step forward.
Our summer youth tours are in full swing, and the learning hasn’t stopped. So far, we’ve hosted students ranging from elementary school to college age, with over 60 individuals touring the Innovation District. They’ve explored the world of phytoplankton with scientists from FWC and learned the basics of flight from the team at St. Pete Air.
Join a professor, a student, and a quirky robot for a lively, unscripted conversation about AI, its promises, pitfalls, and everything in between. From ai-generated art to robot rebellions, this interactive talk will spark debate, challenge perspectives, and leave you wondering if your new robot friend is secretly plotting world domination.