Breaking News: We are launching a new website this year!
The Wond'ry website will be getting a new look at the end of the year, and we cannot wait for you to see it! This new site will include an all new calendaring system as well as a much more in-depthly organized mentor network layout.
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The 6th Annual TOM Make-a-thon: Open House, Tours, and Public Showcase
TOM, Tikkun Olam Majors, is a global movement of communities that creates and disseminates affordable solutions to neglected challenges of people living with disabilities. The TOM: Vanderbilt Make-a-thon is an annual event that pairs teams of Makers with Need-Knowers to build these solutions.
On Saturday, November 4th, we will be hosting guided tours of the Make-a-thon for any interested Alumni at 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM. You will get to see the TOM teams working through the prototyping process as well as receive a tour of the Wond’ry Makerspaces and technologies.
On Sunday, November 5th, the TOM Make-a-thon comes to an end with the Public Showcase. Everyone is welcome to stop by as teams present their final projects beginning at noon on Sunday!
If you are interested in attending the tours or public showcase, please RSVP here.
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Give to the Wond’ry by November 6th to get exclusive Vandy gear!
When you make a gift to The Wond'ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center before Nov. 6th, we’ll thank you with a limited-edition item of your choice from the Vanderbilt 1873 Collection!
At The Wond'ry, we offer state-of-the-art makerspaces, workshops, training opportunities, and programs designed to support anyone from budding entrepreneurs to community changemakers. Your contribution not only celebrates Vanderbilt's 150 years of excellence but also fuels our mission to empower students from all backgrounds, disciplines, and abilities. By supporting The Wond'ry, you're helping individuals develop innovative and creative solutions that change the world.
· Choose from limited-edition Vandy socks or a VU branded belt bag with a gift of $35 or more.
· Choose from a Vanderbilt license plate frame or last year’s most popular item, the Vandy beanie with a gift of $50 or more.
Click here to make your donation.
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Help us come up with creative ideas!
What do you think we should do with this Nissan Ariya, all electric vehicle? Submit your idea and why we should do it by clicking this form.
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Programs: Check out all of the exciting initiatives in the Wond'ry areas!
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Climate Innovation Accelerator
The Wond’ry’s social innovation team’s Climate Innovation Accelerator is accepting applications! This is a 10-week, no-cost program exclusively for minority-led small businesses and nonprofits. These clients are then paired with a student team and skilled mentor to help identify, scope, and analyze a climate innovation within their mission or business model to advance their sustainability goals. The application deadline is November 27th. Program runs from early February to mid-April. Contact Jaclyn Mothupi with any inquiries at Jaclyn.R.Mothupi@Vanderbilt.edu. See program webpage here for all key information.
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Entrepreneurship Programs: 2024 Cohort Registration is about to begin!
The Sullivan Family Ideator Program, Builder Program , and Founder Program at the Wond’ry provide university-affiliated innovators the tools and resources to evaluate ideas and launch an entrepreneurial venture or nonprofit. Our no-cost programs are open to students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Participants can expect to engage with other innovators, mentors, and instructors to get feedback and to refine their projects during the programs. Microgrant funding and pitch opportunities are available. Inquire to learn more.
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Social Changemakers Program Application Coming Soon!
Social Changemakers (SC) is a rigorous 10-week program in which students learn and apply human-centered design to co-create new tools and capabilities that fulfill needs of organizations working at the front lines of social, economic and environmental change. As project consultants for a non-profit organization, students also work in small teams and have the opportunity to strengthen skills, from collaboration and leadership to project design and management.
Social Changemakers will be happening every Tuesday 4:30 - 6pm starting on Jan 30th and ending on April 23rd.
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Social Innovation Bootcamp at the Turner Family Center Annual Summit
On November 10th, The Wond’ry will craft a special boot camp session tailored for Vanderbilt undergraduates and graduates at the Turner Family Center Annual Summit. It’s a hands-on day of learning where you’ll cultivate an innovator’s mindset and master the tools of systems mapping and the Social Innovator Model Canvas. Click here to get tickets.
Schedule:
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Lunch
12:30 PM - 5:30 PM Bootcamp
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Happy Hour
November 10th, Owen Graduate School of Management
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Notable Highlights: We love getting to celebrate the success of our ventures, students, staff, faculty, and alumni.
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In it for the ‘Long run: John Wilcox and Diatech Diabetes, Inc.
John Wilcox is the founder and CEO of Diatech Diabetes, Inc. a medical technology startup led by people impacted by diabetes whose mission is to develop innovative solutions that address the issues people experience when using diabetes care technology. Diatech is pursuing an innovative set of solutions as one of four medical device start-ups in the Wond’ry’s Founder Program at the Launch incubator.
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Raising Kellan Podcast: Adaptive Fashion at the Wond’ry
They discuss their work in adaptive fashion and the impact it has on the disability community and beyond. The students share their experiences and the skills they have gained through their work at the Wond’ry, highlighting the importance of collaboration and problem-solving.
They also discuss the future of adaptive fashion and its potential to create a more inclusive world. The episode concludes with closing remarks from the students, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Wond’ry and their excitement for the future of their work.
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Quantum Computing Workshop as part of the IBM Qiskit Fall Fest event at the VandyHacks Hackathon.
Quantum computing is undoubtedly one of the most cutting-edge fields in technology, and the Quantum Studio Team got the chance to introduce participants to its basics and hands-on applications during the annual VandyHacks Hackathon.
During the workshop, participants:
-Explored the fascinating world of quantum computing and the underlying principles that make it so powerful.
-Dived into the Qiskit framework, IBM's open-source quantum development platform, and learned how to harness its capabilities.
-Solved Quantum Labs and participated in a giveaway challenge to win a projector
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Second City Works Improv Group Workshop Session Leads to Skill Building Fun
The Vanderbilt Career Center, the Wond’ry, and the Office of Development & Alumni Relations partnered to host an exclusive workshop with the legendary Second City Improv Group. Second City is the world’s premier school of comedy, where stars like Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler launched their careers. Participants enjoyed a session filled with both humor and entrepreneurial skill development as they learned how to pitch, pivot, and improvise like a pro!
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TuneHatch, Inc. Wins Startup Award from the Next Awards
Special shoutout to the Wond'ry Founder venture, TuneHatch, Inc. for taking home the Startup Award in the Next Award Music, Sports and Entertainment category at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center Next awards. View their interview below!
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Yesenia Sevilla - TEDx Talk -
How Might We Ignite an Innovation Ecosystem?
In this TEDxOldHickory talk, Yesenia Sevilla explores how to start an innovation fire within ourselves, why the practice of inclusion is key and how we might apply that framework outwards into our business community and beyond.
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‘Creativity and curiosity’: the Wond’ry hosts fifth annual TN Maker Fest
The TN Maker Fest welcomed over 1,800 people from the Nashville community to learn about the work of 61 exhibits of makers in the area. Held every year, the goal of TN Maker Fest is to celebrate creativity and spark curiosity. Vanderbilt students and organizations also presented several exhibits. Vandy Vanity set up a booth upstairs among the other artisans and crafters, and the Fiber Arts Build Lab was staffed with students sharing their custom, adaptive designs. The Vanderbilt Design Studio also distributed 3D printed bowls on the first floor.
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HOD Capstone Coffee Chat with the Wond'ry Social Innovation team
The interview covers a typical day for them, what HOD is, how to access an internship, and tips and advice for HOD Capstone students. To hear the full chat, click here or to review a recap of the interview, you can click here.
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Venture Spotlight: Baseline
Baseline is a journaling and mood tracking platform designed to assist the user to better understand their brains and improve their mental health. Read their article, written on Why Nonprofit Tech is Vital in the Mental Health Space and about Baseline.
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Imagining America Conference
Last weekend, Dr. Jyoti Gupta, Dr. Hasina Mohyuddin, and Jackie Hansom presented at the Imagining America conference. Their presentation was on “Invoking the Elements Together: Co-creating the Capacity for Transformation through Consultancy Protocols”!
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Upcoming Events: Our events are not only area-focused but also collaborative efforts with both campus-led and community partner initiatives.
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Basic Electronics for Student Researchers: Nov. 7thLearn all the basics you need to be successful for electronics related research work! Recommended for electronics, biomedical, and mechatronics engineering students! Click here to register.
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Electric Greetings: Nov. 8th
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Make Cozy Fleece Pajamas Workshop: Nov. 9thCome to the Wond’ry Fiber Arts Lab and make some super soft and cozy fleece pajamas with Maker Tech, Brinda Ambal!
Note: Fundamentals of Sewing workshop is required to take this workshop. Click here to register.
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Intel Quantum Software Kit: Nov. 9th via Zoom
Come join us virtually to learn about Intel’s Quantum Computing Software Development Kit, in a discussion led by Dr. Kevin Rasch, Research Scientist at Intel. Variational algorithms are some of the most promising workloads for early quantum computing systems. The Intel Quantum SDK targets these “hybrid” algorithms by utilizing its Quantum Runtime to coordinate the flow of data between the classical and quantum logic.
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Altium PCB Design Workshop: Nov. 9thPlanning a career using electronics? Get industry ready with this basic introduction to Altium Designer. Click here to register.
November 9th, 5:15 - 7:00 PM CT, the Wond'ry Electrical Makerspace
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UX Speaker Series: The Role of Design in the Future of AI: Nov. 13th
Curious about user experience (UX) design and where it could take you? Join the Wond'ry for the final event in our UX Speaker Series, featuring keynote speaker and hands on workshop with Jodi Forlizzi.
Jodi is a Herbert A. Simon Professor in Computer Science and HCII, and Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Carnegie Mellon University.
Click here to register.
November 13th, 4:30 PM CT, the Wond'ry, 3rd Floor Lounge
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I-Corps Info Session: Nov. 16th
Nov. 16th, 12:00 - 1:00 PM via Zoom
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Lab-to-Table special event: Hollywood Reimagined with AI: Nov. 10th
Artificial intelligence is changing the film industry in the digital age. From scriptwriting to pre- and post-production, AI is becoming a tool and source of inspiration for filmmakers and the stories they tell. It has also been a driving factor in the recently ended 148-day writers’ strike that was partially over concerns about the use of AI and its potential to take an already-limited number of jobs from screenwriters.
Partnering with ArtLab and Grand Challenge Initiative, the next Basic Sciences Lab-to-Table Conversation, “Hollywood Reimagined with AI” will be Friday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. CT at Sarratt Cinema.
This event marks the first in-person Lab to Table event. It will include a screening of the undergraduate student-produced film On the Dying Grass, which was produced during their summer ArtLab internship. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
November 10th, 2:00 PM CT, Sarratt Cinema
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Shooting for Change: Armed with Data University Pitch Competition: Nov. 10th
We are proud to partner with Blacks in Technology, Fisk University, Vanderbilt University, and Civic Hacker to present "Shooting For Change: Armed With Data" a University Pitch Competition!
On November 10th from 8am-3pm, we will be at the Wond'ry with 50+ Computer Science and Social Justice students from Fisk and Vanderbilt Universities will be challenged to develop a gun detection system that would notify law enforcement if a concealed weapon comes within 50 feet of a school.
Students will use a slew of data sets — such as the success rates/accuracy of detecting different tags, cost of tags, demographics of gun owners, etc — to help them determine the most feasible tagging method and postulate their plans.
Each team will present their system and an implementation plan to a panel of policy makers and professors.
We are looking for sponsors and volunteers for this event!
To volunteer: Click here
To sponsor: Email pres@bitnash.org
November 10th, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM, the Wond'ry
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2023 Brock Family Center Innovator of the Year Award Presentation: Nov. 8th
On November 8th at 2:00 PM in Light Hall 214, Dr. Keith Obstein will be presented with the inaugural 2023 Brock Family Center Innovator of the Year award. Dr. Obstein will provide a seminar sharing his entrepreneurial journey with the medical device, magnetic flexible endoscope. This is an in-person event only.
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November 8
Software Engineering with AI
Programming and software engineering has been revolutionized with the advent of generative AI and tools such as Code Interpreter. Learn how to harness capabilities, speed your programming, refactor code easily, and follow best practice software engineering.
November 15
Generative AI Update: What You Need to Know
The pace of developments in Generative AI is staggering. Get up-to-date on what new and most important!
November 29
Image Generation and Editing with AI
Overview of prompting, and various services. Include /describe to get started with an image
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Challenges and Opportunities:
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VINES needs judges and sponsors for 1,000 Pitches Competition
VINES would like to invite you to serve as a judge for our signature, campus-wide, asynchronous 1,000 Pitches competition, in which undergraduate, graduate, and professional students will pitch their early-stage ideas or actual products. As a judge, we hope you would be able to critique several 30-second to 2-minute-long pitch videos in your area(s) of interest. You will have a two-week window beginning November 20th to watch about 10 videos.
We also hope that you would sponsor a prize, which can be of any monetary value you are willing to contribute or non-monetary (e.g., an internship, mentoring, a tour of your office, etc.). Judges are welcome to use their own criteria to critique the videos and choose what prize they'd like to offer. Feedback is not required, but always greatly appreciated for our pitches. There is no rubric, we just ask that you pick the best pitch or pitches to win your prize! Please let us know who your winner(s) is/are by Dec 4th at the latest. Please email aditya.h.bhatt@vanderbilt.edu if you are interested in judging and if you have any questions.
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More Opportunities:
- LaunchTN Community Partner Program- Learn More
2024 | Deadline: Nov. 22nd, 2023
- EnergyTech University Prize, 2024- Learn More
Apr. 19th, 2024 | Deadline: Feb. 1st, 2024
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Support Our StudentsBy making your tax-deductible gift to our Wond’ry Student Project Fund, you help us award students with the funding they need to turn their ideas into reality. Donate here.
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