INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana's celebration of its upcoming bicentennial will include a push to identify “big ideas'' the project's organizers hope can drive change in the state over the next 50 years.

Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann and former congressman Lee Hamilton announced the “Bicentennial Visioning Project'' during a Friday news conference at the Statehouse.

Hamilton came up with the idea. The 84-year-old Democrat says Indiana needs to use next year's 200th anniversary of its 1816 elevation to statehood to “look ahead to our future.''

Ellspermann, a Republican, says five bicentennial scholars will join civic leaders and others in coming up with those “big ideas.''

She says participants will hold sessions this fall focusing on eight to 10 subject areas. A report summarizing their ideas should be released in July 2016.