Call for Proposals: Libraries Student Innovation Fund

2025 Libraries Student Innovators Fund

We're calling on current UMN students to submit proposals for virtual or extended reality projects that can make a meaningful impact on communities or society at large. Thanks to the generous support of the Wendy Pradt Lougee Innovation Fund, we’re excited to offer $4,500 each to two outstanding student proposals. This is your chance to flex your creativity and problem-solving skills and help shape a better future with VR!

Your solution could take the form of a VR app, a 360 video, or an innovative use of immersive technology. We really want to be open to your ideas, so if you have another format in mind, please articulate that in your submission.

Deadlines

• Submission: Friday, December 20th, 2024
• Project completion: Monday, June 30th, 2025

Eligibility

• Enrolled for Spring 2025 credits at the University of Minnesota
• Undergraduate or graduate student(s)
• Student organizations are welcome to apply.
• The project work must be extracurricular, meaning that it is not for a class assignment.

Submission requirements

In your application, you will:

• Demonstrate the experience or knowledge necessary to complete your project, or a demonstrated ability to learn new skills through personal initiative.
• Define an issue of concern that faces a community, population or society at large.
• Explain how your solution positively impacts this issue.
• Describe what a completed project looks like. Is it an app? A 360 video? An innovative use of virtual reality?
• Describe how you will complete the project by June 2025, including a breakdown of key milestones throughout the project.
• Make a list of your anticipated purchase costs.
• Make a list of non-monetary resources that you will need. Remember that the Libraries may have the equipment and software that you need to complete your project. See z.umn.edu/libVR

Selection criteria

• Experience of individual or team (15 points)
• The proposal timeline is thorough, realistic, represents about 16 weeks of work, and can be implemented prior to June 30, 2025. (35 points)
• The societal issue of concern is clearly defined. (5 points)
• Description of expected outcomes and benefits, including how the project would positively impact the societal challenge that the applicant defines. (35 points)
• Description of initial purchase costs and resources needed is clear and reasonable. (10 points)

Disbursement of funds

$4,500.00 will be awarded in four installments. The first installment will be for all of your anticipated purchase costs, plus 25% of the remaining award. The second, third and fourth installment will be 25% of the remaining award each time. To receive the fourth installment, you will need to demonstrate that your project is 75% complete and that you expect it to be completed in summer 2025. If multiple students are working on the project, the funds must be distributed to one account.

Timeline

1. Sign up for a consultation to get help with your proposal.
2. Proposal submission deadline: Friday, December 20th, 2024, 11:59PM CT.
3. Proposal selection decisions will be sent by Tuesday, January 14th, 2025.
4. First installment: Friday, January 24th, 2025.
5. Second installment: Thursday, March 13th, 2025.
6. Third installment: Thursday, April 24th, 2025.
7. Fourth installment: Friday, June 6th, 2025.
8. Project completion deadline: June 30th, 2025.
9. Celebration: Fall 2025 (to be determined).

Open access to the alpha version

If your completed project includes software or media files, it is a requirement of the fund that it be made open to the public under a CC0 Public Domain creative commons license. This allows other creators to be inspired by, learn from, or adapt your project. If you develop future derivatives of this work, it will be your choice about how you want to share or commercialize it. Some places to share such files include: University Digital Conservancy, UMedia, SketchFab, and GitHub.

Celebration event

In Fall 2025, we will hold a celebratory event with public guests so that you can demonstrate your innovation. If you will not be in Minnesota in Fall 2025, we can discuss alternative ways to celebrate your work.

Questions? Need help with your proposal?

Make an appointment with a library VR expert who can give feedback to help you develop your proposal. 

Sending your submission

We are so excited to see what you come up with! Please submit your proposal idea using the form below by Friday, December 20th, 2024.

Related staff

Charlie Heinz

Academic Technologist and VR Program Lead