Project M: Doing things together and for others

When I saw this inspiration on the OpenIDEO current challeng, it made me think of how a campus, especially in the city like NYU-Poly, should be open on the outside world. It also reminded me that what makes a place attractive is people, common goals and activities:

http://www.openideo.com/open/web-start-up/inspiration/project-m-think-wrong-to-do-right/

Check out the ProjectM platform: http://www.projectmlab.com/

Ideapaint rocks! by Yael Brodsky Levine

It transforms any wall into a whiteboard... At Poly, there are so many creative, interesting people, but everyone is sequestered away doing their own thing. Ideapaint is a way for students to get a sense of what other students at poly are thinking and dreaming about, even if they never meet face to face. having a central location covered in ideapaint would be a great way for people to have an open, shared, collaborative space.

Tmol Shilshom by Yael Brodsky Levine

This is my favorite Jerusalem cafe, Tmol Shilshom. It's a second-hand bookstore as well, and the menu is literary-themed. Everything is very worn-in and inviting. Books and good food, what more do you need? :) 

Bookie?

All my life I have been quite a book junkie. Books imbibe knowledge and imagination and take you places far and wide.Surrounded by a gazillion books gives me solitude and calm. Strand Book store is one such place where I can plonk myself in a corner with a cup of chai and establish my place of zen.. The atmosphere is homey and vintage.

Center for students innovation at RIT: "where we embrace problem seekers"

An interesting concept and space at Rochester Institute of technology: The center for students innovation.
Their Vision:An Innovation University characterized by innovating students and student innovations.
Their mission: The Center for Student Innovation will recruit, foster, celebrate, and support student innovators and student Innovations through extra-curricular and curricular opportunities, facilities, events, training, and mentorship.

About the process

How interests become ideas
and ideas become projects.
(and how to get space)

Discovery

Students come in with an idea, or an interest, or they're just curious.
They get coaching, advice, offers of support and help making connections by Center staff and fellows help. They join the community and find collaborators talking to people, and by creating personal and project pages in the NOVA site at nova.innovation.rit.edu.
Eventually, they have an idea they want to pursue. Sometimes it's an idea they walked in with. More often, its one that develops through conversation and interaction.

Focus

For projects or ideas in which goals are not clear or focused, more 
meetings are required to determine scopes and expected outcomes. A vision of the ultimate goal and a sketch or description of a worthwhile near-term objective is invaluable. A sketch or a paragraph on your project page is often enough to define a project, give you a mission, and give the Center an idea of what you'll need to succeed. If you think you may patent your idea or want to keep it a trade secret, do not disclose it on the NOVA site. See http://nova.innovation.rit.edu/csi2/main/node/IP

Collaboration

Innovation is a team sport, even if you're a lone inventor. Ideas become projects with help from students, faculty departments, alumni, and businesses. We help fill holes, help you connect to resources, help you develop your project. As the project warrants, concept sketches,
renderings, methods of manufacture, software, development plans or 
marketing plans will be developed.

Planning

Planning is always good, even though plans are usually wrong. A plan is just a list or a diagram of actions assigned to people in time. It helps you and your collaborators "pull in the same direction", and be accountable for what needs to be done.
A tentative plan is required if you seek financial support or space in the Innovation Center.
It lets us all know what you are going to need, and when, and what can be expected if you succeed.

Dedicated Prototyping Space

To build physical prototypes, dedicated space may be needed. CSI DOES NOT OFFER DEDICATED CLUB SPACE, but rather dedicated project space for students, groups, and clubs.
If your project gets dedicated space, you must:

• put a printed project page with contact information at your space
• label any work-in-progress that is left (temporarily!) on a common work surface
• blog your project's progress on a regular basis

Any unmarked objects may be discarded, dismantled, or re-purposed (after two weeks in "Purgatory").
When necessary, new and promising projects will displace older inactive projects.

Funding

Mini-grants are sometimes available for projects in good standing. The project must have a Faculty Advisor, and a Student Project Manager manages each project.
You can request funds using the form at http://goo.gl/DA2tH
A faculty advisor or the Center Director can help you formulate a good request.

The innovationspace at Virginia Tech

I was thinking of how the campus seems sometime closed with many people not knowing that there is a campus and that there are students.

I read about this innovation space at Virginia Tech:
"The InnovationSpace is a multimedia computer lab open to the students, faculty, and staff of Virginia Tech, as well as the local general public, with the mission of providing assistance through free and open access to software, hardware, and specially-trained staff"

I like the idea that its a space open to all within the university but also to the local general public.
They even have students led workshops: http://spacecamp.is.vt.edu/!

National weeks

Image from http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/08/0816_insead_virtual_tour/9.htm


When I was faculty at INSEAD, one of my favorite events was the National Week organized by the students.

"National Weeks take place throughout the year and are an INSEAD tradition on both campuses. Arranged by participants of a particular nationality, they showcase the country's culture, business, music, food, and national pastimes. As these events are often sponsored by a variety of companies from the country represented, they also provide valuable networking opportunities for MBA participants."

Students will decorate the campus, share with other students and with faculty, different aspects of their culture. There is not more than 20% of any nationalities represented at INSEAD so there were opportunities for many different national weeks!

It was a great way to learn about other cultures and those organizing to share about their cultures...

What would be your national week? How would you plan it? What would you want to share?

PS:Sorry I could not find any other photos... 

Flash mob at Copenhagen train station

"Not to be missed! On May 2, 2011, the Copenhagen Philharmonic amazed commuters at the Copenhagen Central Train Station, as they created a kind of orchestral "flash mob" – performing Ravel's famed Bolero, with the musicians gradually assembling in place as the work progresses. The video – which shows not only the assembling orchestra, but also the delighted faces of the commuters – has generated overwhelming interest, and indeed has exceeded the orchestra’s expectations. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do! "
Check the video at: http://www.classicalarchives.com/feature/dont_miss_this.html

What I find inspiring here for this challenge is how the experience of the train station  and the commute associated with it (which is not necessarily positive and / or exciting) is transformed by the performance of Ravel's Bolero by the musicians. The space here is inhabited by the performers but also create a new environment and experience to the commuters. What kind of activities (not necessarily performance, but art could be an option to explore) can create this new experience of the space?
One can think of the jazz concerts sponsored by BAM in summer at MetroTech: I am always amazed by the crowd that suddenly emerged (not that many NYU-Poly people - students, staff or faculty - though) and how the plaza can become lively...

Metrotech - By Laura Lee

This inspiration explores the space surrounding our own campus. In the hurrying hours of our own day, we fail to see the beauty that is so imminent, yet unnoticed. We can also notice that when a new installation is unveiled, it has a draw for the first few days. So how do we retain the interest? Thank you Laura, for this wonderful inspiration.

-Laura Lee
Mother of Nick Lee , Class of 2015

Papa Palheta, Singapore by Nicole Huang

It serves good coffee

It plays nice jazz music

It has an interesting proposition (you pay as much as you think the coffee is worth)

It has a unique and original design (mix of old and new, blending the traditional Peranankan and modern designs)

It is full of interesting people

It's a lovely place to be :)

- Nicole