I am thrilled to announce the rebirth of our beloved St. Petersburg Science Center. For nearly 60 years, the Science Center sparked countless young minds. Those sparks sometimes illuminated a previously unseen world of learning and possibility that led to lifelong passions and meaningful careers. It is as true now as it was then – you cannot reach for what you cannot see.

The reimagined Science Center will again illuminate young minds, and it will also serve our community in many new ways.

In two parts, I’ll lay out a vision for an expanded Science Center. In this article, I’ll share our core mission as a driver for education, economic development and regional competitiveness. In Part Two we’ll explore the many other wonderful features that will serve and delight our community.

Core mission:

Today, we stand at the threshold of a great leap forward for humanity. Artificial intelligence is transforming our world. In the coming years it will permeate our lives, our careers and our community, so we’re building the Science Center to capitalize on this once-in-a-generation opportunity. Our strategy is to create a fertile environment – a docking station – where people, companies and organizations plug in to collaborate and cross-pollinate. At the heart of our mission lies an unwavering commitment to preparing our region for an AI-infused future.

The Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AICOE) will serve as a nexus for research, education and innovation, acting as a beacon for AI talent, companies and investment in the Tampa Bay region. AICOE will develop resources for students, professionals, government leaders, businesses and nonprofits to proactively achieve a command of AI.

AICOE will house myriad initiatives, the biggest of which is the AI Village – a dedicated space where the next generation of thinkers and innovators will receive hands-on training and inspiration. Each year, thousands of students will engage with interactive programs and immersive learning experiences. The AI Village will demystify complex AI concepts and ignite passion for technology at an early age. By nurturing young minds today, we are laying the groundwork for a prosperous, tech-driven future.

Complementing the AI Village is LaunchAI, a shared-services hub for AI-centric startups. Housed in a stunning two-story workspace, punctuated by the sky conference room, LaunchAI is designed to envelop our very best startups in an experience rich environment with fractional executive services, connections and essential resources. We believe that regions are built on successes and that there is an opportunity to augment our region’s existing cohort-based models with a center of excellence that provides focused and long-term support for our highest potential young companies.

The third floor of the new Science Center will provide secure high-tech office space for companies and organizations in the emerging technology space. We’ll recruit larger AI companies to establish “outpost” offices at our facility where they’ll have access to amenities, community and programming that drives AI excellence in ways that benefit them and our region.

Most importantly, AICOE will serve the community. It will offer free in-person and remote classes, programming, meetups, content and tools so that everyone can make AI work for them.

In Part Two, we explore the many other community-focused elements of the St Petersburg Science Center. Read it here.

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