Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter: January 14th, 2026
Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter
Happy new year from the Jacobs team, we look forward to welcoming you back to campus and Jacobs Hall!
UPCOMING@JACOBS
Jacobs Institute-organized events, news, and announcements—straight from the source.
Get creative this semester in the Jacobs Makerspace!
Maker Pass registration is open to ALL UC Berkeley students, staff and faculty and is only $125 per semester (fee waivers available!). Personal projects welcome; the opportunities to design, make and fabricate are practically endless! Plenty of support is available to learn how to operate exciting tools and achieve the results you desire. Attend workshops and get hands-on training! Learn more here.
Innovation for a better world: "Sustainable Design From Vision to Action”.
Tuesday, January 20 ⋅ 7pm – 8pm ⋅ 10 Jacobs Hall (Basement)
Do you want to engineer, design, or launch ventures that actually move the needle on climate and sustainability? This event presents the new book "Sustainable Design From Vision to Action", which translates concepts into concrete action. It’s by Jeremy Faludi, Cal alumnus and professor at TU Delft in the Netherlands, the world’s best school for sustainable design. The event will also be a chance for you to ask questions and meet others who want to make the world a healthier, more abundant, and beautiful place. The target audience is engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, and managers—people who develop products, services, software, and systems—but it’s open to all.
Jacobs Makerspace Spring 2026 Open House
Wednesday, January 28 ⋅ 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM ⋅ First Floor, Jacobs Hall (Makerspace)
Curious about making at Berkeley? Join us for the Jacobs Hall Makerspace Open House! Explore UC Berkeley’s 8,000 sq. ft. design and prototyping hub, meet the staff and community, and see the tools in action through equipment demos and project displays.
✨ What’s happening:
Guided Makerspace tours at 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30 PM
Hands-on demos and project showcases
Play Makerspace Bingo for your chance to win a FREE Maker Pass (3 winners!)
This event is free and open to all UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty. Come get inspired and discover how Jacobs Hall can help bring your ideas to life!
2026 Jacobs Student Innovation Council Applications NOW OPEN
The Jacobs Student Innovation Council is seeking dedicated, diverse undergraduate and graduate students to serve as the authentic voice of the Jacobs community for 2026. As a member, you will directly influence strategic planning, program development, and resource evolution by bringing student perspectives to the forefront. This is a unique opportunity to act as a change agent, leading crucial Student Community Town Halls, analyzing data to propose and implement solutions, and offering vital feedback to Jacobs staff and leadership. Commit just 1-2 hours per week to regular meetings and engagement programming, and you'll play a vital role in fostering an equitable, inclusive, and collaborative environment, ultimately empowering students to excel in designing technologies that benefit people and the planet. Learn more about the program here.
Submit an application by Monday, February 2nd, 9AM PST.
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES DIGEST
non-Jacobs Institute-affiliated events, opportunities, and programs—at your fingertips.
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.
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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.