The GCI is a unique two-year project that is part of the curriculum for all incoming first-year students in Fowler School of Engineering and Schmid College of Science and Technology majors. You’ll work with a small team of 4-6 fellow students and a research mentor to take on one of our most pressing problems, from reversing climate change to improving data security to developing new health technology—and many more.
Students from a variety of STEM majors work together, in and outside class, on their GCI projects. On a given team, you might find data science, chemistry and physics majors (and maybe even film students) collaborating on solutions to their challenge.
Through this interdisciplinary work, you’ll get exposure to different subject areas. Your project will also benefit from the perspectives of various teammates, which spurs exciting new ideas and solutions.
Grand Challenges Initiative is a required part of the curriculum for Fowler Engineering and Schmid College students. It is also open to students from all majors, including undeclared students with an interest in STEM.
What You'll Do
Since we want you to focus on what you’re passionate about, you’ll play a direct role in shaping your project.
In the first semester of your first year, you’ll take a First-year Foundations course called Grand Challenges in Science and Engineering, where you’ll select the challenge your group will take on. You’ll also develop plans to move forward with smaller goals and milestones that build toward the grand challenge.
Here are just a few sample GCI projects completed by past teams:
- Designing and Building an Affordable Insulin Pump with 3D printing
- Juju: an iOS App to Improve Social and Educational Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Killing the Plastic Problem: Biochemical Plastic Degradation
- Simulating the Terraformation of Mars Using Virtual Reality