UPDATE:
More than 300 FSU students successfully formed the world’s largest human “FSU Torch” on campus on April 6. It stretched across Landis Green from near Strozier Library to Landis Hall.
A camera-equipped drone flying 400 feet overhead captured the unique moment. The historic photo will become part of a student-produced video spotlighting FSU’s innovators and their commitment to teaching new technologies. FSU President John Thrasher joined the effort. He stood at the center of the FSU Torch of Innovation, waved to the high-flying drone and praised students for pursuing innovative ideas.
The event was part of the two-week long Innovation Celebration, which included eight events to highlight university research and the creativity of Florida State students.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FSU wants you!
Preparations are underway to “Torch the Green” by creating the world’s largest human FSU Torch on Landis Green as part of the university’s Innovation Celebration.
That’s where you come in.
Florida State University Professor Paul Marty and his Emerging Technologies students are dreaming big, again, and when that happens you can expect to witness something fascinating and thoroughly fun. Last year, they launched a 3D-printed copy of the FSU Torches 12 miles into space. This year, they’re recruiting students, staff, faculty and friends to join a flash mob and form a carefully measured “FSU Torch of Innovation” that stretches from Strozier Library to Landis Hall.
The flash mob will take place Thursday, April 6, at 2 p.m. on FSU’s Landis Green. The event will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/CCIFSU/.
We are really, really excited,” said Marty, professor in FSU’s School of Information, who teaches project-based, hands-on classes designed to help students learn different technologies. The theme of this year’s innovation project is, “Light Your Torch.”
“The students have been working very hard to pull it off,” Marty said. “A lot of people have been stepping up to help them.”
One of the folks stepping up to help is FSU President John Thrasher. He’s excited, too, and you can understand why. Thrasher will stand at Legacy Fountain, the heart of the Torch of Innovation, when it takes shape
Thursday afternoon. Participants will only have to set aside about 5 to 10 minutes to make history that day.
Students in Marty’s “IFS 2097: Exploring Emerging Technologies” class will be busy that morning setting up Landis Green with 1,000 sheets of gold poster board that will create the shape of the giant torch. Cameras will record the history-making spectacle from every possible angle, including overhead shots from drone cameras, ground-level shots with 360-degree cameras and wide shots taken on top of Strozier Library.
“People need to show up just before 2 o’clock on April 6, find a spot, make the torch and wave at the camera,” Marty said. “Most students will probably jump on board during that class change between 1:45 and 2 p.m. Just grab a poster board and at 2, everybody will lift their poster boards above their heads, wave at the drone, we’ll take the picture and be done.”
The historic photo will become part of a student-produced video spotlighting FSU’s innovators and their commitment to teaching new technologies designed to help “Light Your Torch.”
For more information, follow #torchthegreen on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.