Spark! Shows How Creative Tech Can Be at First Ever BU Bazaar

Before a record-setting blizzard enveloped Boston on Saturday, BU students took over the Charles River campus for BU Bazaar. Innovate@BU sponsored the first-ever event of its kind, where student creativity and innovation was celebrated in the form of a campus-wide meetup and sale.

Free clothes, art, jewelry, home goods, and more were up for grabs, along with live music and entertainment. Event organizer Janos Stone (CFA’07) created the event to “reduce the stresses caused by nearly two years of social isolation.”

“BU students must reconnect with extracurricular campus life to rebuild relationships with one another,” said Stone.

Spark! was no stranger to Bazaar, and served as one of the nine kiosks, or Centers, where students could score free swag and other goodies. Spark! “led the pack in creating custom Center centric content for Bazaar,” Stone said.

On top of the physical takeaways, Spark! also provided students the opportunity to try a facial recognition app, designed by Spark! Ambassador Raquel Joseph (CAS’23) and Spark! Software Engineering Solutions Engineer, Ian Saucy (CAS’21). Nearly 200 guests tried the app, which detected if a user was correctly wearing a mask, their age, emotion, and more.

In another impressive display of technology, the Oculus AR/VR headset transported students to another reality, whether that be as a gladiator, zombie slayer, or dancer extraordinaire.

“When you think of creativity, you might not think of technology at first,” said Spark! Ambassador Anulika Nnadi (CAS’24). “But having the students try out the Oculus AR/VR headset shows just how creative technology can be, especially to students who aren’t in STEM.”

Spark!’s kiosk saw visitors from an array of majors, including computer science, biochemistry, graphic design, journalism, deaf studies, psychology, and more.

“The time is now for an agile strategy and a unique initiative that alleviates student stress through creative experiences and social interactions,” Stone said, leaving attendees with hope that this will be the first Bazaar of many.