If you are a student, faculty member, alumnus, parent, or in any way associated with RIT, then you should be aware of the Imagine RIT festival next week. The much-anticipated festival has been discussed and planned for several months. However, there will be so much activity going on that day, that it is hard to keep track of it all. The festival will take place on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00AM to 4:00PM at several venues all across campus.

RIT has long been acclaimed as an excellent technological and innovative institute of higher learning. RIT has also been known for having a diverse selection of programs ranging from engineering to photography to liberal arts. These programs are divided into colleges, but they may overlap occasionally. The first annual Imagine RIT festival plans to bring together technology and artistic creativity, or in President Bill Destler’s words “a collision of the right brain and the left brain.”

Exhibits at the festival will showcase the work of students, faculty, and staff. Each event falls under themes such as alternative energy, healthy living, interactive activities, and live performances. In all, more than 400 different exhibits and displays will be featured.

One of the main attractions of the Imagine RIT festival will be the Xerox WOW! Center, also known as the Gordon Field House. It will feature many cross-disciplinary exhibits from each of RIT’s eight colleges. One of the projects, entitled “Innovations in Publishing” will include “The Innovation News”, a real-time web and print based newspaper that will be published during the festival. Another activity is a virtual social networking game developed by the Open Publishing Lab.

The festival will be open to the public, and Dr. Destler hopes to attract around 30,000 guests. Imagine RIT will undoubtedly be a great, unforgettable celebration of RIT’s unique creativity and innovation.

Additional information can be found at http://www.rit.edu/imagine/