Southern Oregon Innovation Jam 2023

Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University Team Up to Promote Creativity, Collaboration and Innovation in the Rogue Valley (Again!)

Student innovators at community colleges and universities in Southern Oregon will get together and design solutions to some of the region’s most pressing problems on Saturday, November 4th at CraterWorks Makerspace in Central Point.

Students will meet, form teams, brainstorm and devise solutions in the fast-paced, interactive innovation jam, advised by business leaders, innovators and educators from around the state, and guided by the prototyping methodologies of Design Thinking. “Our innovation jam showcases the strengths of both RCC and SOU,” said Kim Freeze, faculty member in Science, Art & Technology at RCC. “Industrial technology students from RCC bring in expertise in tools, technology and manufacturing, while students from SOU’s courses in Design Thinking and Creative Entrepreneurship bring in the multi-disciplinary communication and collaboration skills needed to launch and scale a 21st-century startup.” Students studying in any discipline at either RCC or SOU are invited to join this event. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks are provided for registered participants, who should RSVP using THIS LINK.

Collaboration will kick-off at 9am at 419 Front Street in Central Point (MAP LINK) . Students will work on prototypes through the day, with a keynote address, final pitches, feedback from local mentors and advisors and networking open to the public starting at 4pm. The Innovation Jam also includes an educators’ huddle at 3pm.

Event organizers invite K-12 teachers in the region, plus faculty in higher education, to connect and discuss further ways to bring the benefits of education and training in entrepreneurship and Design Thinking to support young innovators. Jammers include innovators, entrepreneurs and educators who coach students through the basics of Design Thinking and create connections with the startup ecosystem in the Rogue Valley/photos by Ripley Pierotti “This event continues a tradition that inspires students and promotes big ideas in Southern Oregon,” said Erik Palmer, professor of Media Innovation at SOU. “The beautiful and functional facility at CraterWorks is the perfect launchpad for student entrepreneurship in the region.”
EVENT SCHEDULE 8:30am — 9:00am: Registration and Breakfast 9:00am — 9:30am: Kickoff and Introductions 9:30am — 10:30am: Design Thinking Module 10:30am — 11:30am: Problem Statement Introductions and Customer Interviews 11:30am — 1:30pm: Mentor Guided Team Session 12:00pm: Lunch Delivered 1:30pm — 2:00pm: Pitch Design Module 2:00pm — 3:00pm: Pitch Design 3:00pm — 3:30pm: Pitch Coaching Session 3:00pm — 4:00pm: Final Presentation Prep 3:00pm — 4:00pm: Educators’ Innovation Huddle 4:00pm — 5:30pm: Guest Speaker, Pitch for the Judges and Awards CONTACT INFO Erik Palmer, Southern Oregon University: palmere@sou.edu Kim Freeze, Rogue Community College: KFreeze@roguecc.edu Taneea Browning, CraterWorks: taneea@craterworks.org Kim Andresen, Southern Oregon University: andresenk@sou.edu For more info go to: https://soucommunication.medium.com/rogue-community-college-and-southern-oregon-university-team-up-to-promote-creativity-collaboration-9177661e86d0