Final Bicentennial Colloquium 'Campus Of The Future' Event to Focus on U of M Student Innovation

The third University of Michigan President's Bicentennial Colloquium will showcase student innovations that reimagine higher education, teaching and learning at U-M, andthe future university experience.

As the final bicentennial colloquium hosted by President Mark Schlissel during U-M's 200th anniversary, a competition-"Campus of the Future"-will consist of a student project showcase and a finale keynote event.

The project showcase will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Duderstadt Center. The finale event, during which a panel of renowned judges will discuss theprojects with student teams, will begin at 4:30 p.m. the same day in the Power Center. $25,000 in prize money will be given to the winning student projects.

The colloquium is organized by Joanna Millunchick, professor of materials science and engineering and associate dean for undergraduate education at the College ofEngineering, and Mika LaVaque-Manty, associate professor of political science and philosophy. Both are Presidential Bicentennial Professors.

Amazon Vice President and Google Glass creator Babak Parviz, architectural designer Jenny Sabin and Kwame Anthony Appiah, a philosopher, professor and author of thethe New York Times' "The Ethicist" column, will serve as judges during the colloquium.

For their project submissions, students were encouraged to explore a variety of scales and conceptions of the "campus of the future"-from designing the teaching spaces and tools of the future to rethinking pedagogies and departments and disciplines.

Organizers judged each project on its creativity and innovation, conceptual development, coherence and consistency, as well as if it addressed a specific need or challenge within higher education campuses and the extent to which it had the potential to change education.

The approximately 35 student projects selected to compete in the colloquium proposed a variety of academic innovations, including:

- A software system that detects motion and provides audio feedback so conducting students can practice without a live musical ensemble.

- A mobile application for entrepreneurs that allows people to see the ideas, skills and resources around them, making it easier for entrepreneurs from different disciplines to connect and work together.

- A design for a U-M campus on Mars.

- A mobile platform that connects students living with the same chronic illness to facilitate in-person peer support.

In keeping with the theme, LaVaque-Manty said organizers wanted to move away from a more traditional colloquium form-an audience listening to speakers-and instead make the students the focal point. During the finale, the judges will engage in a discussion with student finalists about the projects and the campus of the future.

IF YOU GO:

"CAMPUS OF THE FUTURE"

PLACE: The student showcase is located at the Duderstadt Center, 2281 Bonisteel Blvd. The finale will take place at the Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St.

TICKETS: Although both events are free and open to the public, visitors must obtain a ticket for entry into the finale: Reserve tickets for showcase finale.

INFORMATION: Campus of the Future, Student Projects

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