KNOXVILLE — The Destination ImagiNation Global Finals are bringing 15,000 people from around the world to Knoxville this week.

Participants will take part in the competitions at the University of Tennessee, the Knoxville Convention Center and the Civic Coliseum. They will also enjoy other activities on campus and in the Knoxville community.

The competitions include creating cartoons, theatrical performances and improvisational skits and solving engineering problems by building structures with wood and glue.

This is the sixth time UT has hosted the conference.

During the year students participate in a Central Team Challenge which involves structurally, technically or theatrically oriented challenges and takes several months to solve. They also practice Instant Challenges which allow only a few minutes to prepare a solution. The tournament score reflects the team’s performance in both the Central Team Challenge and an Instant Challenge.

Destination ImagiNation is one of the world’s largest creativity and problem solving programs for youth of all ages. It is an extension of the curriculum of Destination Imagination, Inc., a non-profit corporation in Glassboro, N.J.

Their curriculum seeks to promote creativity, brainstorming, creative and critical thinking skills, presentation skills, problem solving, project management, knowledge application, confidence, teamwork, time management, collaboration and research skills.

“Destination Imagination is a great organization,” said Emily Thomas, a UT Conference Center planning specialist. “They bring so many creative minds to Knoxville and this is a great way to show off the university.”

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