March 15, 2012 — You are invited to learn about OpenGrounds at the University of Virginia during a special media event on March 20 from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m.

What is OpenGrounds?

OpenGrounds was conceived as a network for innovative collaboration across the Grounds and beyond. Bill Sherman, founding director, award-winning architect, academic leader and associate vice president for research, describes it as "a bubbling swamp of innovation."

As an initiative of the Office of the Vice President for Research, OpenGrounds connects the entire University with both local and global networks and encourages many forms of experimentation at the boundaries between the basic and applied sciences, the arts, humanities, and the professional schools. (For example, a project to bring clean water to developing countries involves the schools of Architecture, Engineering and Medicine, along with the College of Arts & Sciences\' new humanities institute.)

Tuesday\'s event will be held at the exciting new OpenGrounds Studio in The Corner Building, 1400 W. Main St. Available for interviews will be Sherman and Tom Skalak, vice president for research, along with two special guests:

• John Abele, co-founder and a director of Boston Scientific, a pioneer and leader who has devoted himself to innovation in health care, business, and solving social problems.

• Doug Garland, chief revenue officer of Shazam and former executive at Google.

The OpenGrounds Studio will host gatherings around cross-cutting urgent issues, challenges, competitions, exhibitions and performances. OpenGrounds is also a neural network across the University that, like our own neurons, will spark ideas, new knowledge and solutions to complex problems.

If you would like to join us at this event, contact Marian Anderfuren, 434-243-2293 or manderfuren@virginia.edu by 5 p.m. March 16.

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