(Photos above: Nov 2, 2024 Pilot Design Challenge, hosted at the Social Innovation Hub)
#data #visualization #design-thinking #prototyping #social-impact
Hey there, Computer Science and Nursing Students!
My name is Helen, I’m an assistant professor in the Computer Science department at the University of Calgary. We are hosting a pilot grassroots initiative for a “Social Innovation Design Challenge” in collaboration with the Social Innovation Hub and Mitacs that aims to connect University of Calgary students to the amazing local industry here in Calgary, particularly industry focused on social good and community impact.
Each of our social enterprise industry partners has a real-world, transdisciplinary tech challenge they need help with. In each challenge, you will engage deeply with the problem, and learn how to use design thinking techniques to brainstorm various tech-oriented solutions. In a workshop of ~30 students, you’ll get to know our industry partner and their team, and work in small groups (of 3-4) with like-minded students interested in social good and community impact. (Coding and design experience is helpful but not required!) Just come with an open mind, and a desire to learn and contribute. Keen students whose skills and interests are well-matched with the goals of our industry partner will have the opportunity for a fully funded Mitacs Business Strategy Internship at the end of this design challenge series.
Our first social enterprise partner is the inspiring Bill Zheng, co-founder of RadiCare Ventures, a Buy Social Canada Certified Social Enterprise that aims to address some of Calgary’s most visible challenges surrounding social disorder. Such challenges include graffiti, vandalism, open drug use, and the mental health crisis. RadiCare does this by partnering with local non-profit organizations including Mustard Seed, Prospect Human Services, and Alpha House to hire people who experience employment barriers like homelessness, addiction, criminal justice involvement, disability, and poverty. Through equitable employment, RadiCare Ventures provides staff with professional development and career growth opportunities. RadiCare Ventures currently has 12 staff members, with this number projected to go up to 20 by the end of 2024.
Hey students, did I mention that Bill is a full-time nursing student and only 20 years old?! To learn more about RadiCare and the inspiring work Bill does with his team, check out our interview with Bill below!
The design challenge is a dual-event series: The first challenge will take place in November, and the second in the Winter 2025 semester. Both challenges involve themes of #Data, #Design, and #Visualization. Students are asked to work on the design challenge independently with their small teams in between the two events, with support from us on Discord. Following the design challenges, there are opportunities for MITACS-funded Business Strategy Internships at Bill’s company. Check out the UCalgary News article here!
Unlike large-scale industry days, in this grassroots initiative, we are aiming for quality over quantity – that is, we are designing for a meaningful and intimate gathering where students and our industry partner will get to work together and engage deeply on a problem. Registration is limited at 30 students for each challenge.
The registration form will close on Friday Oct 18, 2024, by 12pm noon. After registering, details for joining our Discord server and info about the event will be sent by email one week before the event. We will also let you know if you can attend, or are on the waitlist.
Design Challenge #1 will take place:
Date: Sat. Nov 2, 2024, 1-4pm.
Location: Social Innovation Hub, in the “Alastair Ross Technology Centre”, 2nd floor. 3553 31 St NW suite 290, Calgary, AB T2L 2K7. Our gratitude to Eva Verity at the Social Innovation Hub for offering us this fantastic venue!
Bring: Light refreshments will be provided. Bring a lunch or snack, laptop, notebooks and pens! And of course, an open, curious mind. 🙂
We look forward to working with you!
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR A FANTASTIC DESIGN CHALLENGE! PHOTOS FROM NOV 2, 2024 ARE BELOW.
THE FINAL PROTOTYPE PITCH TO RADICARE VENTURES, MARCH 2, 2025. Congratulations students!
Photo and video credit: Sophia Lopez, Communications Specialist, University of Calgary
The Mindful Academic 