First-ever Gen-Z Insights event hosted by UC NEXT Innovation Scholars
Partnering with industry, reshaping engagement norms
In academia, the intersection of innovation, collaboration and the fresh perspectives of the University of Cincinnati NEXT Innovation Scholars (NIS) holds immense promise.
As a multi-disciplinary student group of innovators, the program balances university, corporate and non-profit partners. NIS students are driven by curiosity, passion, future creation and pursuing innovation, fostering a community of forward-thinkers poised to tackle tomorrow's challenges today.
Recently, these young visionaries hosted an inaugural Gen-Z Insights showcase event at the UC 1819 Innovation Hub. The packed room of attendees included 1819 corporate partners such as Kao and Main Street Ventures and distinguished faculty and staff members. All were eager to hear and learn more from NIS scholars and the industry projects they worked on throughout the year.
The Gen-Z event is a great example of the potential unleashed by applying human-centered approaches to innovation and collaborating across disciplines.
Aaron Bradley Director, UC NEXT Innovation Scholars Program
Showcasing talent
Next Innovation Scholars serve as panelists at the Gen-Z event. Photo/Erin Seccia
Director of UC NEXT Innovation Scholars Program, Aaron Bradley, led the event, posing questions to a group of NIS panelists.
“Every semester, the students in our program participate in a variety of team-based innovation consulting projects that all include significant research and insight development," Bradley said. "These insights inform our project work, but we also saw an opportunity to share some of the larger macro themes and thought-provoking findings with a broader audience. I think it’s particularly interesting to hear the insights of future leaders who will play a critical role in the creating the future we’ll all live in.”
The NIS program is a testament to UC's commitment to nurturing innovation. It empowers students to engage in real-world projects spanning industry partnerships, community initiatives and campus collaborations. Under this program, students delve into diverse fields, applying cutting-edge technologies and novel approaches to solve complex problems.
At the Gen-Z Insights event, the following six NIS students served as panelists: Yatra Patel, Eliza Angelo, Sophia Lammi, Max Kemats, Jonathan Raj and Faith Rider. Representing five colleges and nine unique majors, the scholars detailed their research-derived insights, creative concepts, exploration of future trends and teaching and training methodologies used to unlock innovative and new strategic tactics to empower others.
Real-world impact
Director of the NIS program, Aaron Bradley, mingles with corporate leaders and students prior to panelist discussions. Photo/Erin Seccia
One example shared by NIS students included work with one of the largest privately held companies in the world. Under a non-disclosure agreement, they couldn't share specific details of the project they were commissioned to carry out.
However, students did impart aspects of the process they used to pull off 50 consumer interviews within a two-week timeframe, leading to a presentation of insights and recommendations at the company’s headquarters in California. Compiling their consumer research and presenting it to the company’s insights and innovation teams provided the company with multiple concepts informing the development of new brands that will be brought to market in 2024 and 2025.
Attendees of the Gen-Z event gained a significant understanding of the transformative power of the NIS program as scholars shared unique applications of generative AI across various domains, such as education, sustainability, medicine, business and design, to name a few.
NIS panelist Sophia Lammi is a student at the UC College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning and the College of Arts and Sciences. Lammi disclosed a collective perspective on education on behalf of the Gen-Z generation.
"I'm currently leading a team with UC's Arts and Sciences College to explore what the future of humanities education could look like," Lammi said. "Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha have grown up as technology natives, but the connection to technology isn’t necessarily related to computer science or learning to code. There’s still a need for human connection, even in a highly digital world.”
Embracing human-centered innovation
NIS students answer questions from 1819 corporate partners, Procter & Gamble. Photo/Erin Seccia
Corporate leaders posed questions to the panelists to better understand what matters most to Gen-Zers as future consumers. Panelists acknowledged their generation's influence and expressed feeling overwhelmed at times due to their over-awareness of climate change and a sense that they are helpless to reverse its effects. On the flip side, they embrace being the torchbearers of tomorrow.
This generation possesses a unique blend of digital fluency, social consciousness and entrepreneurial spirit, which are instrumental in driving innovation and advancing positive transformation. In addition to showcasing the outcomes of their projects, NIS scholars reflected on the program's intangible benefits, including enhanced critical thinking, problem-solving skills and collaboration abilities with others from diverse backgrounds, disciplines and cultures.
“The Gen-Z event is a great example of the potential unleashed by applying human-centered approaches to innovation and collaborating across disciplines," Bradley said. "It highlights the potential of our students, and we’re thankful for the platform that 1819 and the Cincinnati Innovation District have given our scholars to explore and excel.”
Featured image at top: NEXT Innovation Scholars hosted a Gen-Z Insights showcase event at the UC 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/Erin Seccia
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The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
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