Innovation & Engineering Weekend will kick off on Thursday, February 19, with the Museum’s popular “Science Up Close” event series. The evening of casual science conversations will feature Dr. Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean of the University of Miami School of Architecture. Dean el-Khoury is an architect and designer who researches architectural applications for information technology. His goal is to develop enhanced responsiveness and sustainability in buildings and cities with the idea of embedded technologies.

More than ever before, the line between the digital and real worlds is increasingly blurred. Computers and communication devices have functioned as a separate layer within our lives, but they are increasingly becoming integrated into objects and environments. Rodolphe el-Khoury describes a not-too-distant future in which “the internet of things” will become a reality. In this world, our homes, workplaces, and the objects within them will all be wirelessly connected, intelligent, and responsive.

Following a presentation by Dean el-Khoury, enjoy small group discussions led by leaders in innovating the city of the future from a variety of expertise, featuring:

Wifredo Fernandez, MDC Idea Center, CREATE Accelerator
Robert Garfinkle, Science Museum of Minnesota
Dr. Pandwe Gibson, EcoTech Visions
Jane Gilbert, Wells Fargo
Erica Halverson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ric Herrero, MIAMade
Tameka Linnell, The Human Collective
Maria Nardi, MDC Parks
Roberto Rovira, Florida International University College of Architecture + The Arts
Gene Tinnie, Virginia Key Beach Park Trust

Guests will enjoy music by the Frost School of Music along with complimentary beverages by Wynwood Brewing Company

Admission is free to the public, but RVSP is required at http://bit.ly/ScienceUpCloseIE