TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Blackburn Institute and the Office of Community Affairs at The University of Alabama will host a statewide forum for Alabama youth on “Innovation and Technology: Making Choices for Alabama” Friday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Ferguson Center ballroom on campus.

The event is part of the larger Southern Growth Policies Board’s Innovation and Technology Citizens’ Forums, designed to gather information on the ideas and priorities of the South. The UA event is unique because high school and University students are presenting their views in this campus forum.

Dr. Keith McDowell, vice president for research at UA, will serve as the keynote speaker at noon. Community and state leaders have also been invited to attend.

A student panel will present their individual stories based on their education and work experiences. Discussion of innovation and technology issues will also be generated by student members of UA’s Blackburn Institute and high school students from the West Alabama area.

The Southern Growth Policies Board is a nonpartisan public policy think tank based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Formed by the region’s governors in 1971, Southern Growth develops and advances economic development policies by providing a forum for collaboration.

The UA Innovation and Technology forum will be delayed broadcast in Tuscaloosa by WVUA and formatted for presentation at the regional Southern Growth Summit in June.

The UA forum schedule includes:

• 10-10:30 a.m. – Welcome, Dr. Samory Pruitt, UA vice president for community affairs, followed by SGPB Overview by Jim Clinton, SGPB executive director
• 10:30-11 a.m. – Trends and Strategies for Alabama, Curtis Palmer, president of Tech Birmingham
• 11 a.m.-noon – Perspectives on Innovation and Technology, student panel, Blackburn Institute Fellows
• Noon-1 p.m. – Keynote speaker Dr. Keith McDowell, UA vice president for research, luncheon, Ferguson Center Heritage Room
• 1-2:30 p.m. - Deliberative Forum on Innovation and Technology, moderated by Jim Clinton, SGPB
• 2:30-3 p.m.- Closing comments

The event is free of charge and those interested in attending should make a reservation with Laura Bundrick at gradasst2@sa.ua.edu or at 205/348-3277. For more information and to view findings from past forums visit www.southern.org. For information on UA’s Blackburn Institute go to http://blackburninstitute.ua.edu/.