Our Crowdfunding Groups
Crowdfund UC Davis thanks all of the donors who gave to this important project in February. This campaign has closed, but we are grateful for your support!
The Biodesign Challenge goal raises support for an interdisciplinary University Honors Program course that ends with a team of UCD students competing in the international Biodesign Challenge competition held in New York City every June.
Biodesign is a new field that joins bioscientists with designers and other majors to solve design problems using biobased materials and processes. Biodesign catalyzes the circular economy because students rely upon local waste streams and invasive species for materials to design products that are intended to biodegrade at the end of their life-cyles.
The course also offers a fast-paced entrepreneurial experience that has resulted in a number of teams continuing their projects beyond the course, working with the Student Start-Up Center to raise money for continued R&D. Examples of these projects include a fully biodegradable diaper and bandaids made from bacterial cellulose, a mica-replacement for glitter in makeup made from bacterial nanocellulose, a 3D-printer filament made from invasive sea-urchins with algae-based binder, and a biodegradable replacement for acrylic nails created from fish-industry waste.
The funds primarily are used to support travel, lodging, and food for a team of UC Davis students, with faculty sponsors, to spend one-week in New York City competing in the Biodesign Challenge. They exhibit their work in a gallery exhibition, where they meet with judges, potential start-up supporters, and teams from around the world, and then present their 10-minute pitch. We have had two finalist teams present on stage at the Museum of Modern Art, and won two prizes (Outstanding Science, and Runner-Up Overall). The funds also allow teams to pursue wide-ranging research ideas that require purchasing materials, and sometimes equipment, to support their research and prototyping, beyond the small materials budget we have for the course already. Two examples from prior teams that traveled to the Bidesign Challenge in NYC are team Bio Bandage that designed the biodegradable bandage described above in 2019 and team Sea Nails that designed biodegradable fake decorative nails from fish skins in 2023.
Almost every student who has taken this course says it is the most unique, best course they have taken at UC Davis, and some go on to double major in design + bioscience and even pursue a career in biodesign. It shows the bioscience students that they can work in the world of design (not just pharmaceuticals, etc.) and designers discover they can collaborate with scientists to arrive at truly innovative design solutions that make positive environmental impact on the world.
Gifts to our crowdfund project support the UC Davis Honors Opportunity Fund including our current priority of competing in the international Biodesign Challenge.
Every BioDesign team in the class needs to purchase materials for their project. Help us stock basic lab supplies and materials for them.
The winning team from the UC Davis class will get to complete at the New York City national Bio Design Challenge. Help us fund their registration fee.
Students accepted into the conference will need support covering the cost of lodging. Help cover their lodging fees.
Students accepted into the conference will need support covering the cost of travel. Help cover their travel costs, including airfare.
