This fall, as a way to encourage dialogue about the most critical issues facing Florida and the nation, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida launched an interactive civil debate wall.

Known as “The Wall,” the series of interconnected touch-screen panels allow students to share ideas and present solutions to pressing civic questions.

The photo gallery below shows the wall in action.

It is also accessible online via www.civildebatewall.com, where users can join the debate via their Facebook accounts, see other students’ responses, suggest a question of their own, check debate stats, view past debates and more.

The project, funded by Knight, is designed to engage young people in civic issues. 

The University of Florida News recently profiled the launch of wall, citing it as a “cutting-edge tool for civil debate”:

“The wall operates in real time and can be synchronized to smart phones and its own website. Visitors can think of it as social media in a public space. Comprised of five 46-by-26-inch touch-screen flat panels, the wall allows users to post their opinions or join an existing debate on questions that deal with the economy, politics, and domestic and foreign policy.”

The wall was created by Jake Barton, founder and principal of Local Projects, an award-winning media design firm for museums and public spaces.