The Creative Campus

In the not-so-distant future, we may have a new model for carbon offsetting, inexpensive emergency shelters based on the principles of origami, and robotic assistants for people with disabilities. All this possible because of the creativity and pragmatism of USC students at the 2009 USC Student Innovator Showcase.

As a judge for the competition this year, I was blown away by our students. Presentations included a new approach for architectural building using flexible concrete molds, an iPhone citizen engagement app (Democracy DIY, from Prometheus Institute), a collaborative video editing site for journalists (Stroome), an online clearing house for copyrighted material (PeerDeal.com), and a new way for scientists to share research findings to more quickly find the cure for disease.

Can you believe what USC students come up with in their free time? Where else but USC can you find that sort of creativity and diversity? More than 100 students from 13 different schools participated.

USC, with its depth and breadth of academic programs, its talented community, and special events like this, is creating a whole new generation of innovator. Like Neil Armstrong, Frank Gehry, George Lucas, Mike Markkula, and other prominent Trojan pioneers before them, I am more than ever convinced that USC students are going to change the world. And we have the privilege of preparing them for a lifetime of innovation.

The first place winner was “The Singularity,” a team of game designers from the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ Interactive Media Division who describe their game publishing company model as the “Motown Records for indie games.” Winners Jesse Vigil, Diana Hughes, Mike Rossmassler, and other Trojan game designers from the USC School of Cinematic Arts Interactive Media Division took home $1000 and custom designed skateboards.

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