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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - Hundreds of people assembled in the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Wednesday for the 2025 Motor, Drive Systems & Magnetics (MDSM) Conference, the largest of its kind in the world.

A major highlight of the two-day event was the unveiling of the largest magnetically levitating sculpture in the world. The anticipated reveal was followed by cheers and applauds, recognizing the science and research involved in creating the magnetic work.

The 2025 Motor, Drive Systems & Magnetics Conference kicked off in Tallahassee for the first time and may strengthen the city's emerging magnetic technology ecosystem.

This year, the 22nd annual conference spans Feb. 18 through Feb. 20. It's historically taken place in Orlando but local efforts to designate Tallahassee as the "Magnetic Capital of the World" prompted a push to bring the conference here.

Tallahassee's "magnetic" reputation is getting a boost this week. The reason is the city is hosting a big international conference on electric motors and magnets.

The world's largest electro-magnets are found at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Innovation Park. So Michael Tetrowsky with the Office of Business and Industry Solutions at Florida State said it just makes sense for a conference on magnetism and electric motor drives should be held in Tallahassee, where so much cutting-edge research happens.

"It keeps evolving and certainly the electrified ships in the Navy in particular - but all of DOD is looking at electrification - and so a lot of that is going to be the Mag Lab's type of magnet."