Student Innovators Demonstrate USC’s “Creative Campus” During Trojan Parents Weekend 2009

October 29, 2009

By Elisa Wiefel Schreiber

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 of this is possible because of the creativity and pragmatism of USC students at the 2009 USC Student Innovator Showcase.

These student ideas, along with the 41 others presented during Trojan Parents Weekend have the potential to dramatically change the way we live, work, and play.

Spring boarding on the theme, “The Creative Campus,” the university-wide USC Student Innovator Showcase, presented by the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, gave parents and students a highly interactive glimpse into the imaginations of USC student innovators, and a sneak peak at tomorrow's world.

“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,” said Krisztina “Z” Holly, Vice Provost for Innovation and the Executive Director of the USC Stevens Institute. “Like Neil Armstrong, Frank Gehry, George Lucas, Mike Markkula, and other prominent Trojan pioneers before them, USC students are going to change the world. And we have the privilege of preparing them for a lifetime of innovation.”

Some of the 44 student presentations at the event included new approach for architectural building using flexible concrete molds, an iPhone citizen engagement app (DIY Democracy), a new technology for delivering rockets into space, an 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 a cure for disease.

The 2009 program included a twist: 10 student finalists were selected from the showcase and had to give a two-minute “fast pitch” presentation about their ideas before the judges made their final decisions. Under Tommy Trojan in Hahn Plaza, the finalists provided an audience of more than 75 parents and students an overview of their ideas, discussed potential for societal impact, and shared their progress to date.

In all, more than 100 students from 13 schools participated in the 2009 showcase. 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.” The Singularity supports, nurtures, and empowers bright young minds in the independent game space through a hybrid development and publishing model that allows designers to keep their intellectual property, but still ensure their games reach the mass audience dominated by large publishers. The team members were Jesse Vigil, Diana Hughes, Mike Rossmassler, and other Trojan game designers from the USC School of Cinematic Arts Interactive Media Division.

One runner-up was Do it Yourself (DIY) Democracy. As the ultimate civic engagement iPhone application, DIY Democracy has the ability to connect all citizens with all three levels of government. With DIY Democracy, people can do everything from report a pothole, to email your Congress member, and everything in between.

The other runner-up was Half-Cycle™, a ”triple bottom line product” – it benefits people, helps the planet, and can be built at a profit in the U.S. The designers explain that Half-Cycle’s striking design aesthetic and manufacturing simplicity has the capability to revolutionize the way bicycle frames are manufactured.

Judges looked for the potential for tangible societal impact, novelty, demonstrated risk-taking, enthusiasm and commitment of students, diversity, understanding of the marketplace and sustainability.

The winning teams split $1500 in prizes. Winners also received custom, limited-edition USC Stevens Institute skateboards, manufactured by Unlimited Fix Designs, a startup founded by USC Viterbi student, Daniel Singleton.

Added Holly, “USC is truly a creative campus. Where else could you see the kind of imaginative and innovative spirit in so many flavors as this?”