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Philly daily roundup: Creative engineering; $900K for the University City Science Center; Wistar Institute’s new location

Plus, recap on Vice President Kamala Harris's "Startup Economy Manifesto" from last night's local debate.

Artist Stephen Wright will have an exhibition at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens starting Sept. 20 (Michael Vaughn/Philadelphia Magic Gardens)

What creativity can do for technology

Jaylen Sanders, full stack engineer at Comcast, prefers a different title: creative engineer. He says human ingenuity is crucial to tech — and staving off AI’s takeover.

Sanders discussed his career journey and why he believes that creativity is an irreplaceable skill in tech, on Technical.ly Speaking, a monthly segment on WURD Radio’s “Reality Check,” hosted by Tonya Pendleton. 

➡️ Read more about Sanders’s tech philosophy

One of the industry’s most impactful events

Tens of thousands of women and nonbinary technologists will convene in Philly for the annual Grace Hopper Celebration this October.

Named after Rear Admiral Grace Hopper — one of the first women to receive a doctorate in mathematics — GHC 24 brings together technologists for networking and professional development, and to recognize the work women and nonbinary people are doing in the industry. With a stacked lineup of speakers and sessions, it’s a place to hear from like-minded professionals and uncover insights into the next big trends.

This sponsored blurb supports our journalism. Want to see your message here? Find out more.

➡️ Join the community in Philly and virtually, Oct. 8-11

News Incubator: What else to know today

• Gloria Bell, founder of the Women in Tech Summit and longtime Philly tech leader, announced her new role as Head of Pathways and Communities at AntiaB.org.   [LinkedIn]

•  The US Department of Commerce awarded the University City Science Center $900,000 to support its Capital Readiness Program, which invites founders from around the world for a weeklong program to learn about effective fundraising. [US Economic Development Administration/Technical.ly]
 
• Life Sciences PA is hosting its conference, Life Sciences Future, on Sept. 18 and 19 in King of Prussia. The event will feature founders, funders and other stakeholders from across the state. [Life Sciences PA]
 
• The Wistar Institute announced it’s expanding to a new location at 3675 Market Street in University City. The 25,000 square foot space will provide additional lab space for biomedical research. [Email]
 
• Politicos swarmed Philly yesterday for last night’s presidential debate — and heard Vice President Kamala Harris’s “Startup Economy Manifesto.” The plan? A $50,000 tax cut for small businesses. [Inc]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Venture Cafe is back on Thursday with sessions about community needs and healthcare innovation. [Details here]

• Service Design Philadelphia is hosting a symposium called “Healthy Aging, AI Technology and Hope” on Sept. 12. [Details here]

• Partner event: Calling all Phounders, Phunders and Phans! Connect with fellow climate tech enthusiasts, eat some vegan food and maybe even sign up to table and promote your own venture. [Sign up]

Sarah Huffman is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.

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