Students Thinking Big showcase highlights the next generation of innovators at the Cade Museum
Press release from the Cade Museum
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention will host Students Thinking Big, a two-day showcase celebrating student creativity, research, and entrepreneurship on April 10–11, 2026. The event brings together students, alumni, families, and the local innovation ecosystem to explore new ideas at the intersection of arts, the humanities, science, engineering, technology, business, and more.
Presented by the University of Florida’s Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship (CAME) and the IGNITE Innovation Gator Network within the UF College of Engineering, Students Thinking Big highlights the work of emerging innovators. The two-day program features a Friday evening of dynamic student pitch presentations and networking followed on Saturday with a community day featuring interactive exhibits and hands-on demonstrations for all ages. Students will practice sharing their ideas with new audiences, engage with community partners and mentors, and inspire young innovators to address real-world challenges and imagine future possibilities.
Friday, April 10 | Student Innovation Spotlight Night
5:30–9:00 PM | Ticketed Event
The program begins with Student Innovation Spotlight Night, an evening of networking and presentations platforming student innovators as they pitch their creative ventures and research. Student teams will present their ideas employing emerging technologies, sustainability solutions, and creative problem-solving to an audience of alumni, faculty, industry partners, creative professionals, and community supporters. Appetizers and refreshments will be served.
Tickets can be purchased through the Cade Museum event page.
Saturday, April 11 | Community Innovation Day
10:00 AM–2:00 PM | Free and Open to the Public
On Saturday, the museum opens its doors for Community Innovation Day, a free public showcase featuring student exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on installations. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore unique projects across AI, medical innovation, automotive design, sustainability, and creative production and meet the students behind the next generation of innovation.
Designed to be interactive and family-friendly, the showcase encourages young innovators to present and discuss their ideas with the wider Gainesville community. Students Thinking Big offers students a valuable opportunity to gain feedback outside of the classroom and to build critical collaboration and leadership skills.
Supported by a unique partnership among the Cade Museum, CAME, and the College of Engineering’s IGNITE program, the event strengthens Gainesville’s role as a hub for creative problem-solving and cross-disciplinary innovation. For the community, it offers a chance to discover the ideas and inventions being developed by the region’s next generation of creators.
Event Details:
Information and tickets for the Student Spotlight Night, Friday, April 10, are available at:
https://cademuseum.org/event/students-thinking-big/
Details about Community Innovation Day, Saturday, April 11, can be found at:
https://cademuseum.org/event/community-innovation-day/