CREST initiative gets grant to energize workforce development, economic growth through regional cross-sector collaborations
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Wond’ry Commodore Cup Unleashes Student Innovation for Sustainable Campus Transformation
This year, the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Center for Innovation, launched their first ever Commodore Cup, a design thinking challenge that was funded through one of Vanderbilt’s Sesquicentennial Grants, which resulted in teams showcasing their ingenuity with proposed sustainability improvements for Vanderbilt’s campus.
Two standout teams emerged as the victors in the Commodore Cup on Sustainability, earning a prestigious $2500 cash prize each. In addition to receiving a financial award, their proposed ideas will help to contribute to the university’s commitment to sustainable practices.
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Help us come up with creative ideas and join a fun and interactive feedback session on January 11th.
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. Also, do you drive an electric vehicle (EV), or would you like to provide feedback on electric vehicles over a cup fo coffee and donuts? On January 11th, between 10 AM and 2 PM, the Wond'ry Innovation and Design Strategy team, and the Nissan Ariya car will be outside of the Wond'ry for an fun and interactive feedback session. Click here to register, and you can email Eva Cheraisi with any questions.
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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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Sullivan Family Ideator Program Spring Dates
Noticed a problem or challenge you think you could solve? Have an idea for a new product, service, technology, research tool, or process that’s been keeping you up at night Think you have an idea that has the potential to lead to a new venture, nonprofit, or licensing deal? Or you’re unsure how your idea or research could deliver value in the market, but want to take steps to find out. Don’t know where to start?
The Sullivan Family Ideator Program at the Wond’ry is for you!
Sullivan Family Ideator Full Program:
Saturdays January 20th, January 27, February 3, February 10 | 11am-1pm CT
Pitch Day - February 24
Sullivan Ideator I-Corps Bootcamp:
Tuesdays February 6, February 13, February 20 | 4pm-6pm CT
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Accepting Applications for Builder now!
Have you already completed the Wond’ry’s Ideator Program?Have you found problem-solution fit for your idea (there is an identified value proposition for a defined customer segment supported by evidence from customer discovery)? Are you ready to learn what it takes to launch a new venture or pursue licensing? Click here to register. Applications close 1/14/24 at 11:59 PM
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IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Course
Are you eager to revolutionize your problem-solving skills and drive better business outcomes? Do you want to get hands-on experience with Design Thinking practices and boost your professional toolkit? Apply to the Spring 2024 cohort of IBM Enterprise Design Thinking today!
This 10-week program follows a hands-on learning approach with 30% lectures and 70% group activities. Through engaging activities such as user research simulations, ideation sessions, and prototyping exercises, you will gain a deep understanding of the design thinking framework and its practical applications, empowering you to solve real-world industry challenges effectively. You won't just learn theory; you'll get to apply your newly acquired knowledge in a real-world setting. Working alongside a community partner organization, you'll apply design thinking solutions to help tackle challenges within their organization.
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Social Changemakers Program
Social Changemakers (SC) is a 12-week immersive program in which students learn and apply human-centered design to co-create new capabilities addressing a specific need of a community partner working on complex social, economic and environmental challenges. Community partners are student-driven, through either a student-led nonprofit (established for at least a year) or a pre-existing student engagement with a local nonprofit. Students work in small teams and have the opportunity to strengthen skills, from collaboration and leadership to project design and management.
Applications for 2024 are open!
- Team Lead Application for students interested in leading a student team (Deadline: Jan. 14th) Click here to apply.
- Student Application for students to apply solo or be matched with a team; students can indicate who they already want to be paired with (Deadline: Jan. 14th) Click here to apply.
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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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New Media class uses emerging tech VR headsets to explore race and social differences in immersive modalities
Assistant Professor of English, Huan He, used the Wond'ry to host his New Media: Race and the Technological Imagination (ENGL 3762) class. They used VR headsets and gaming consoles from the Emerging Tech Lab to think about how race and social difference is represented through immersive modalities, as well as the possibilities and limitations these new media technologies bring forth.
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We are so grateful for our HOD Capstone students!
The Wond'ry was lucky to work alongside HOD Capstone students again this semester and would like to thank the following for their contributions: - Ryan Bauman with Dr. Ryan Buckley in MID
- Ariel Yu with Alex Sargent-Capps in the Fiber Arts Lab
- Tobi Akisanya with Alex Sargent-Capps in the Fiber Arts Lab
- Triston Jensen with Dan Drogosh in Social Innovation
- Ellie Zimmerman with Jackie Hansom in Social Innovation
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Fathom Partners with the Department of Labor and National Science Foundation on Pioneering Analytics for Equity Initiative
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Empowering Innovation: Highlights from Professor Kevin Galloway’s Course, 'How to Make (Almost) Anything and Make it Matter
Professor Kevin Galloway’s course, "How to Make (Almost) Anything and Make it Matter", wrapped up another semester combining maker skill building and human-centered design, and using these superpowers with external clients. This year student teams worked on a variety of projects, including flag football improvements for the Titans, an accessible and calming reading nook for the Susan Gray School, and even a locally sourced and more sustainable casket for Larkspur Conservation. Stay tuned in the new year, as we showcase some of their incredible work!
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EndoShunt wins 1st place at the NEMERA Healthcare Insight Startup Competition
Congratulations to EndoShunt (Founder venture) for their recent award at the NEMERA Healthcare Insight Startup Competition this month.
The Insight Innovation Labs Startup Competition is a yearly event held to celebrate the top digital health, drug delivery and medical device innovations. EndoShunt competed against ten great finalist startup companies and presented to an audience of 100+ people, taking home the $20,000 first place prize.
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Thank you to each of our incredible Wond'ry mentors for lending your time, insight, and talents to our ecosystem.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional individuals who make up the Wond'ry Mentor Network. Your unwavering commitment to giving back, sharing your invaluable time, and imparting your wealth of knowledge have truly enriched the Wond'ry ecosystem. Your dedication to providing one-on-one, personalized guidance has been instrumental in shaping the journeys of participants, offering them access to years of expertise in their desired fields. Your generosity in sharing insights and experiences has not only empowered those seeking guidance but has also fostered a culture of collaboration and growth within our community. Thank you for your selfless contributions and for being the driving force behind the success stories that continue to emerge from the Wond'ry. Your impact resonates far beyond the mentorship sessions, leaving an indelible mark on the aspiring minds you've so generously invested in.
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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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Celebrate the end of the semester with us, and take a quick break!
Come celebrate the end of the semester and take a break with the Wond'ry! We will have free donut holes and hot chocolate from Dunkin while supplies last. Look for us on Friday, from 10-11 AM at the courtyard outside of Stevenson and Featherghill Hall and on Monday in the lobby right outside of the Wond'ry.
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Make a Tote Bag: Dec. 8th
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Social Innovation Lunch and Learn: January 9th
What’s social innovation? Come find out and enjoy some free food! Register here to learn more. You’ll also learn about upcoming spring programs like:
-Climate Innovation Accelerator
-Social Innovation Bootcamp
-Social Changemakers
-Team Lead Training for our Programs
-And more!
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Save the Date for Map the System Presentations!
Vanderbilt Map the System competition is underway and students are working on diving deeper into complex societal problems. The competition presentations will be hosted at the Wond’ry, on the evening of January 24th, 2024.
Join the Map the System Reminder List
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Social Innovation Bootcamp: March 1st
Social Innovation Bootcamp gives Vanderbilt and Nashville community Partners the opportunity to explore social innovation through an introduction to the social innovation landscape from design thinking to field application.
Participants will engage in a 4-session, half-day, crash course where they will experience hands on learning and expand their social innovation network to become equipped with the necessary tools and skills to drive social change.
Click here to apply.
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Save the Date for the next annual Renaissance Women's Summit: Feb. 24th
The Renaissance Women’s Summit is a day of empowering women entrepreneurs to rise, thrive, and create their renaissance.
With an overarching mission to build and strengthen creativity and increase the economic footprint of women, the Renaissance Women’s Summit will empower women to find community and achieve goals that once seemed impossible.
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Challenges and Opportunities:
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LaunchTN hiring: Technology Advancement Fellows
Launch Tennessee is piloting an effort to create a statewide technology transfer office through the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) to stimulate innovation and increase the diversity of the Tennessee intellectual property landscape.LaunchTN is seeking up to three highly motivated and innovative students to join our efforts.As a Technology Advancement Fellow, you will contribute to the development of high impact resources to be utilized throughout the TTAC pilot initiative, provide supplemental reviews for technologies submitted to TTAC, and create support materials such as technology pitch decks. Click here to apply!
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Join the Wond'ry Internship Network:
The Wond’ry Internship Network (WIN) provides a platform for undergraduate and graduate students from Tennessee-based institutions of higher learning to reach their inner innovator. Students can explore their passions by choosing between a variety of opportunities within one of the many Wond’ry practice areas (Biomedical Innovation, Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Innovation Research & Design, Making, the Launch Incubator, and the Wond’ry itself). Through each project, interns not only learn relevant skills but also make an impact by assisting in trailblazing work. Click here to sign up for the newsletter and receive opportunities to apply.
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More Opportunities:
- Sanofi iDEA-iTECH Awards- Learn More
October 2024 | Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023 - LaunchTN Fellows Program- Learn More
Spring 2024 | Deadline: Dec. 22, 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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