Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter: December 1st, 2025

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Dec 1, 2025, 12:36:37 PM (5 days ago) Dec 1

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UPCOMING@JACOBS

Jacobs Institute-organized events, news, and announcements—straight from the source.

GET INSPIRED AT THE JACOBS WINTER DESIGN SHOWCASE

Monday and Tuesday, December 8 & 9, noon-5:30 PM

Stop by Jacobs Hall for the Winter Design Showcase—a two-day rotating installation of projects, prototypes and research, highlighting the fall semester accomplishments of our students.

Over the course of these two days, students will showcase work from nine DES INV (design innovation) courses hosted at Jacobs Hall, including Master of Design core courses and a new DES INV course by Lining Yao, Design with Morphing Materials and Mechanisms. (Showcase is a tremendous opportunity to check out DES INV classes you might want to take!)

Also on display will be SIXTEEN individual and club passion projects! Plus innovative prototypes developed by the Institute's FA24 Innovation Catalysts grantees. RSVP to attend

Check out the complete Showcase schedule:

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8th

12-1:30 PM

DEVENG 200: Design, Evaluate, and Scale Development Technologies

DES INV 21: Visual Communication & Sketching Yoon Bahk
MECENG 179/279: Designing for the Human Body Grace O’Connell, PhD

Independent Projects:

Cal Seismic Design Team
Combat Robotics at Berkeley: High Roller
Cal Concrete Canoe

2-3:30 PM

Innovation Catalyst Fall 2025 Grantees

COMPSCI 160/260A: User Interface Design & Development Bjoern Hartmann

Independent Projects:

Combat Robotics at Berkeley: ChatGPT
UAVS@Berkeley
MediCompass

3:30-4 PM
Makerspace Tour (Meet in the West Entrance to the Makerspace, 1st Floor)

4-5:30 PM

MECENG C292: Design with Morphing Materials and Mechanisms Lining Yao

MECENG 102B: Mechatronics Design Hannah S. Stuart

Independent Projects:

Space Technologies at California (STAC)
Combat Robotics at Berkeley: Malware
Combat Robotics at Berkeley: Mother Flipper

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9th

12-1:30 PM

DES INV 15: Design Methodology Emily Au

DES INV 202: MDes Technology Design Foundations Jeff Lubow, TJ McLeish, Sudhu Tewari

Independent Projects:

Rocket Drone
The Cost of Relief
Combat Robotics at Berkeley: T2
GeoWall at Berkeley

1:30-2 PM
Makerspace Tour (Meet in the West Entrance to the Makerspace, 1st Floor)

2-3:30 PM

ENGIN 29: Manufacturing and Design Communication Sara McMains

DES INV 202: MDes Technology Design Foundations Jeff Lubow, TJ McLeish, Sudhu Tewari

Independent Projects:

若隐若现: Fluid Illegibility in Chinese Queer Media (Nile Tan)
RECURSIVE SELF PORTRAIT #0 (Shm Garanganao Almeda)

4-5:30 PM

ENGIN 29: Manufacturing and Design Communication Sara McMains
DES INV 200 & 210: MDes Studio Foundations + Design Frameworks Hannah Wharton, Ash Seth; Ahmed Riaz

Independent Projects:

若隐若现: Fluid Illegibility in Chinese Queer Media (Nile Tan)
RECURSIVE SELF PORTRAIT #0 (Shm Garanganao Almeda)

Be ready to be INSPIRED by Berkeley student creativity and technical prowess! 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 Closes: Wednesday, December 10th, 9AM PST

DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES DIGEST

non-Jacobs Institute-affiliated events, opportunities, and programs—at your fingertips.

Big Ideas Contest

The Big Ideas Contest at UC Berkeley is an annual, year-long innovation competition designed to support interdisciplinary teams of students who are developing creative solutions to pressing social challenges and real-world problems. Unlike traditional business plan competitions, Big Ideas is focused primarily on social impact, whether through for-profit ventures, non-profits, or ad-hoc teams, and it encourages students to step outside their academic coursework to tackle issues they are passionate about. Learn more and apply here.

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

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.

Berkeley Student Professional Development Fund - Fall Application Open

The Student Opportunity Fund Committee is pleased to announce that the Student Opportunity Fund (SOF) application for the 2025-2026 school year is open.

The Student Opportunity Fund provides funding for professional development opportunities for students. SOF funding is awarded to individual students or RSO applicants who are seeking funding (up to $2000) for opportunities outside of the classroom (e.g. visiting speakers, forums on topics of general interest, conferences, etc.) to further their career or professional goals.

The deadline for Fall 2025 applications, for any opportunity taking place between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, is December 1, 2025 at 11:59pm.

The application will open again in Spring for opportunities taking place between January 1, 2026 and June 30, 2026. More information to come.

The application form is here.

SOF Guidelines and FAQs are here.

Note that, at this time, SOF funding is only available via reimbursement, after the opportunity has taken place. (Applications are welcome before or after the opportunity.)

Applications will be reviewed by the student-led Student Opportunity Fund Committee on a monthly basis.

Reach out to s...@berkeley.edu with any questions.

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.

The 2026 SXSW Pitch will feature 45 cutting-edge startups across nine industry categories:

Enterprise & Future of Work
Entertainment, Media, Sports & Creator Content
Healthcare, AssistiveTech & BioTech
Innovative World Tech
Intelligent Systems, Robotics & Multisensory Technology
Smart Cities, Transportation, Manufacturing & Logistics
Smart Data, Security & FinTech

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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.

Get your Jacobs Maker Pass and get access to a world-class prototyping and fabrication facility — training and mentorship by professional staff included.

If you require accommodation for a disability for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Jacobs Institute staff at jacobsi...@berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.

The Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation strives to be a welcoming home for all members of the Berkeley community. We value your ideas, suggestions and concerns. Complete our Jacobs Institute Anonymous Feedback Form.