iFest 2015: Technology. Entrepreneurship. Creativity.
Mark your calendars! iFest 2015, February 2-7
The iSchool is proud to present iFest 2015: Technology. Entrepreneurship. Creativity. iFest is a weeklong series of events designed to engage students, faculty, employers, and the Pittsburgh community. The week will include design and poster competitions, a networking luncheon for students and industry partners, the annual iSchool Career & Internship Expo, and professional development training with alumni. iFest will culminate on Friday, February 6 with the all-day TEC Conference, which will showcase exciting speakers from across the country. TEC presentations will focus on broad and interdisciplinary areas of technology, entrepreneurship, and creativity.
iFest 2015 also marks an exciting first-time partnership with TechShop Pittsburgh, a community-based workshop and prototyping studio. Working together, the iSchool and TechShop created the iFest|TechShop Game Design Challenge, exclusively available to iSchool students. Three teams were selected to receive free memberships to TechShop, including training in 3D printing and laser cutting, in order to build game prototypes. Teams will present their prototypes at TEC Conference.
Debra Lam, Chief Innovation and Performance Officer for the City of Pittsburgh, to Deliver TEC Keynote
TEC 2015 will feature keynote presenter, Debra Lam, Chief Innovation and Performance Officer for the City of Pittsburgh, Office of the Mayor. As Chief Innovation & Performance Officer, Debra oversees all technology, sustainability, performance, and innovation functions of city government, with responsibilities over City Information Systems, 311, Finance, Act 47, and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.
Prior to joining the Executive Team, Debra worked as a project manager and policy consultant at Arup, a global consulting and design firm. With over a decade of experience, her projects have included strategy work with the World Bank, APEC, and the C40 cities. She has spoken and published numerous articles on sustainable development, climate change, and urban resilience. Debra was amongst the 35 high achievers awarded a place on Management Today’s “35 Women Under 35″ list, and a finalist for Women of the Future, Science and Technology.
