State of Science spotlights health, oceans and AI

The ballroom at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s University Student Center was full Jan. 28 as more than 200 people gathered for the St. Petersburg Innovation District’s 8th Annual State of Science and Innovation. More joined online. The event marked a milestone year, as the District celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026.

Alison Barlow, CEO of the St. Petersburg Innovation District, opened the program by reflecting on a decade of growth built on research, talent and collaboration. She was joined by Mayor Ken Welch, City Councilmember Gina Driscoll and USF St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Dr. Thomas Smith, each underscoring the city’s emergence as a nationally recognized hub for science and innovation.

Welch framed innovation as both an economic engine and a civic responsibility. He emphasized inclusive progress, equitable access to technology and the role of education and entrepreneurship in shaping St. Petersburg’s future. Driscoll highlighted the city’s strength in marine science and the ocean economy, calling the annual event a rare chance to “peek behind the curtain” at work happening across air, land and sea. Smith pointed to USF St. Petersburg’s expanding research footprint, including a new Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences building and growing applications of artificial intelligence in education and community-focused research.

The program’s six lightning talks moved quickly across disciplines, but shared a common theme: translating research into real-world impact.

Dr. Cassandra Josephson, director of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, opened the speaker series. Photo provided.

Dr. Cassandra Josephson, director of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, opened the speaker series with a look at CAR T-cell therapy, an approach that reprograms a patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Josephson described the treatment as turning the immune system into a “living drug,” highlighting its success in pediatric leukemia and the hospital’s role in bringing the therapy to Florida shortly after federal approval. She also outlined a new, state-funded pediatric cancer incubator designed to expand access to advanced therapies without families leaving Florida.

The focus on cancer care continued with Dr. Nina Johnson of the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, who detailed the opening of a new, 113,000-square-foot cancer center in St. Petersburg. Johnson described how consolidating diagnosis, treatment and support services under one roof improves both precision and patient experience. Advances in radiation oncology, motion tracking and stereotactic treatments, she said, are allowing clinicians to target tumors more accurately while minimizing harm to healthy tissue.

From human health, the conversation turned to ocean health. Dr. Steven Murawski of USF’s College of Marine Science presented findings from the Tampa Bay Surveillance Project, a multi-year effort examining contaminants in fish, sediments and shellfish throughout the bay. Murawski explained how “forever chemicals,” pharmaceuticals and legacy pollutants accumulate in the ecosystem and what that means for subsistence fishers and public health. The work, he noted, has implications far beyond Tampa Bay as communities worldwide grapple with similar environmental challenges.

Economic resilience and national security anchored the next talk. Scott Pickens, affiliated with Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute, argued that shipbuilding and maritime technology are poised for a resurgence in the region. He described Tampa Bay’s ports, advanced manufacturing base and research capacity as key assets in rebuilding the nation’s maritime industrial base, particularly as the Navy explores autonomous and AI-driven vessels.

That future came into sharper focus with Andy Bennett of SubUAS, a company based at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub. Bennett showcased hybrid drones capable of operating underwater and in the air, with applications ranging from search and rescue to port security and infrastructure inspection. Manufacturing these systems locally, he said, supports high-wage jobs and positions St. Petersburg at the center of next-generation maritime technology.

The evening closed with Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise at the Poynter Institute, who tackled the complex relationship between generative AI, journalism and misinformation. Mahadevan outlined how AI is disrupting news distribution, creating ethical pitfalls and opening new opportunities for reporting and audience engagement. He highlighted MediaWise’s work training students, journalists and older adults to navigate an information landscape increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.