Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter: December 10th, 2025
Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter
UPCOMING@JACOBS
Jacobs Institute-organized events, news, and announcements—straight from the source.
DECEMBER MAKERSPACE CLOSURE
The Jacobs Maker space will be closed on December 18th in order for the staff to attend an off-site event.
ATTEND THE BERKELEY MASTER OF DESIGN 2025 GRADUATE EXHIBITION
Monday, December 15, 4-7 PM
Please join us for the highly anticipated Berkeley MDes 2025 Graduate Exhibition. Taking over two floors of Jacobs Hall, this showcase features 35 captivating installations—the culminating capstone projects of this year’s Master of Design cohort.
The exhibition highlights innovative use of emerging technologies as creative materials, offering an inspiring glimpse into the future of design.
This event is free and open to the public; refreshments served! Please RSVP to attend.
SP26 Innovation Catalysts Applications NOW OPEN
Every semester, students bring a wide range of innovative projects to life at Jacobs Hall and throughout Berkeley’s vibrant design ecosystem. The Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalysts, made possible by Deborah Weisser, Ben Gomes, and the Eustace-Kwan Family Foundation, is a student grant program that provides an avenue for these ambitious student innovators to unlock further potential in their projects. Berkeley students are invited to propose projects that they aim to develop over the course of a semester. Selected grantees will work on their projects with the support of resources from the Jacobs Institute and as part of a cohort of fellow student innovators. Learn more, schedule a 1:1 Application Advising Appointment, and apply today! Application EXTENDED: Wednesday, December 10th, 9AM PST Monday, January 5th, 9AM PST
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES DIGEST
non-Jacobs Institute-affiliated events, opportunities, and programs—at your fingertips.
Collider Cup XVII
Dec 12 | 1-5 p.m. | Jarvis Auditorium- Grimes Engineering Center
RSVPs are now open for Collider Cup XVII! Join us for SCET's student pitch showcase and Berkeley's premier student pitch competition. The event is open to the public and all are welcome to join. RSVPs are required to join the event. This will be the first time we will be holding the event at Jarvis Auditorium in the brand-new Grimes Engineering Center! Join us to check out the new space and see innovative student startup pitches.
There will be limited seating at the event, so RSVP now to secure your spot. You are welcome to invite friends, family, and the public, but they must RSVP as well.
Applications are now open for UC Berkeley’s Spring 2026 Fung Fellowship.
This one-semester program invites rising juniors (Class of 2027) and rising seniors (Class of 2026) from all majors to work on impact-driven projects alongside community and industry partners focused on health equity and sustainability innovation.
Information to apply:
Learn more about the program at: fungfellows.berkeley.edu
RSVP for an info session: bit.ly/FFInfoSp26
Sign up for our interest form: bit.ly/FFInterestSp26
Access our application: bit.ly/FFSp26App
Deadline to apply: Sunday, December 14, at 11:59pm PT
The Fung Fellowship accepts all majors into the program and there is no GPA requirement, as applications will be reviewed holistically.
Coding it Forward 2026 Summer Fellowship
Coding it Forward’s paid, ten-week Fellowship empowers early-career technologists to innovate in local, state, and federal government offices across the United States. Fellows work on high-impact projects in cybersecurity, data, design, product management, and software engineering that contribute to building a more equitable and effective government for all.
Applications will open on Monday, January 5 and close on Monday, January 19 at 11:59 PM PT. Applicants must select one of the following tracks for their submission: cybersecurity, data, design, product management, or software engineering.
Join us at an upcoming info session to learn more about the Fellowship and the application process, hear directly from alumni, and get your questions answered. You can register by clicking one of the links below:
Wednesday, January 7 at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET
Tuesday, January 13 at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET
DanceHack 2026 - RESONANT BODIES
DanceHack is a 3 day festival with workshops, collaborations and mini performances created on the spot!
Join Kinetech Arts at the University of California, Berkeley for DanceHack 2026 - Resonant Bodies on Feb 20-22, 2026!
This in-person event will bring together dancers, choreographers, scientists, enginners, and interdisciplinary artists to explore the intersection of dance, science and technology. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just curious, this event is perfect for anyone interested in pushing boundaries, exploring new creative possibilities and adding their voices in the development of humancentric technologies.
Don't miss out in this unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and create with like-minded individuals.
We offer sliding scale prices so that everyone can participate! Honestly, pick the tier that is appropriate to you. No questions asked! We trust our community! Student registration is $50 for a limited time.
Learn details at www.dancehack.org. Register here.
Interested in volunteering? Complete this form. It is first come first serve, with a max of 10 sign up spots and registration is free.
SXSW Pitch
SXSW Pitch is a premier startup showcase spotlighting the most ambitious entrepreneurs and disruptive technologies from around the world. Now in its 18th year, this dynamic event invites startups to apply through an open call process for a chance to be featured as a finalist.
Join us March 13-14, 2026, as startup innovation takes center stage in downtown Austin. Over two high-energy days, a live audience and a panel of expert investor judges will explore the forefront of emerging technology sectors.
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This newsletter was created with assistance from artificial intelligence to help summarize events and programs.
To add your event to the Jacobs Student Newsletter, please contact Janrey Javier at janrey...@berkeley.edu.
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