Immersive Generation Passing Millennials Soon

My youngest kids are part of the generation some are calling "Generation Z."  I call them the Immersive Generation, because I see my kids demanding experiences that are more immersive than any generation before them.

Bloomberg reports "Gen Z to Outnumber Millennials Within a Year" caught my eye.

That fact, passing the Millennials, won't be quite true in the U.S. for a few more years, but it's noteworthy nonetheless.  It's especially noteworthy since the last of that generation hasn't yet been born and a pretty large recession bit into the population a few years too.

The article doesn't conclude much about what this means except to predict less selfishness and more gadgetry.  I won't comment so much on that.

I'll surmise that we'll hear less about millennials' supposed influence on housing choices (urban vs. suburban) with this next emerging, larger generation.  I also suppose we'll be justified in moving more and more to digital tools.  And immersion.

Immersive digital experiences are what this generation wants.  Take it from their Dad.

When a Plan Comes Together

Our local science museum planned a "SciDome" to engage with the Immersive Generation.  It's being done in partnership with Ohio State - Newark.  See my latest piece.

When we visited the Spitz office, I saw an image of one place's dome.  I snapped this picture in their conference room and used it to keep making the pitch locally.

Later, The Works took that vision to a teaser of what was to come.

Here's what it looks like at the 98% of readiness phase and it's taking shape.

It's great when a plan comes together.

Changing to Reach the Immersive Generation

A March 2018 preview of the dome being installed at The Works.

The Works science museum in Newark, Ohio recognizes the need to keep changing and has, for years now, been adapting how it brings STEM learning to its core audience.

The Pre-K to Grade 6 audience is from a yet-unnamed generation I call the "immersive generation."  It's an audience that demands more than multi-media and a digital form of hands-on interaction.  The are growing up playing Minecraft and want immersed in an environment that they control.

When Ohio State - Newark offered to team up and move its astronomy classes and astrophysicist downtown, The Works seized the opportunity.  The immersive generation is reaching colleges and high schools now too.

The community responded with major philanthropic funding to build a SciDome, add programming, and maintain it.

It opens to the public on June 9.  Get ready for change!

A Dome That Immerses The Immersive Generation Into a STEM Future

Convincing parents and kids that there is a reason to care about gaining science, technology, engineering, and math skills is a never-ending job.  The Works does STEM better than most and is a national-model for a STEM experience hub.

That hub will get even better, Newark-style.

Yesterday, I was pleased to serve in my role as Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Works and share the stage with an amazing Managing Director, Marcia Downes, and our partners at Ohio State University Newark in announcing the SciDome that will open next Summer in Newark.

Yes, it's a planetarium.  It's more though than meets the eye.

I predict this dome will greatly appeal to the "Immersive Generation" that comes through the doors of The Works right now.   When the kids can experience things happening all around them and control the environment they are in, the wants of this new generation are best met.  No app can do that.  No computer screen.  No VR goggles. Nothing found in 99.99% of homes can give the experience that this dome can do with the right programming.

The dome is the key to opening an even greater STEM future for the Immersive Generation.

Stay tuned.  It's coming soon!

Seven Years of Triplets

My kids were born on this date in the wee hours of the morning in 2003.  On top is their photo from shortly after they entered this World.  The lower one is from yesterday in downtown Cincinnati.

Seven years old.  Seven years of triplets.

It's also seven years of the Immersive Generation.