2013 Challege Fellowship Applications Open!

The Buckminster Fuller Challenge Fellowship Program combines engagement in the review process of the Buckminster Fuller Challenge through a seminar component that explores Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science (CADS), a “whole-systems” approach to solving complex problems, developed by Buckminster Fuller. The fellowship is designed to engage outstanding and motivated graduate students in critical thinking and decision-making using the BFI Challenge entries as context to provide practical, ‘hands-on’, pedagogical experience assessing CADS-based design. Participants will work in tandem with the review team, the distinguished jury, and participate in the award ceremony events.

The fellowship program has a dual purpose:
1) to impart the next generation of designers, scientists, and problem solvers an in-depth experience using and evaluating CADS as a means to solve the world’s most pressing problems and
2) to cultivate a strong discourse around the CADS approach to solving complex problems in the Buckminster Fuller Challenge review process and engage emerging thought leaders with the larger network of problem solvers tackling a host of human endeavors.

This is a highly competitive program and provides a unique opportunity to contextualize, un-pack and understand systems thinking, systemic problems and innovative solutions, and represents an excellent opportunity to inform thesis and other academic assignments, and/or personal work. It is designed as an interdisciplinary collaborative, and participants will work in tandem with the review team, the distinguished jury, the entrants, and have the opportunity to participate in the award ceremony events.

Program Activities Include but are Not Limited to:
1) inclusion in a workshop/orientation component that offers an in-depth look at Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science (CADS),
2) act as a key member of review team which includes: reading and evaluating entries to the Challenge and engaging in weekly group review sessions,
3) work in tandem with entrants and review team members to produce assessments and descriptions of projects, and
4) participate in the award ceremony events (time permitting).

What You Gain:
1) training, a unique forum, and resources to exercise and apply critical thinking and decision-making skills using the BFI Challenge entries as context to provide practical, ‘hands-on’, pedagogical experience assessing CADS-based design for real world applications
2) a rare opportunity to contextualize, un-pack and understand systems thinking, systemic problems and innovative solutions
3) a ‘socially constructed’ learning experience using dialog, discussion and debate interactivity that leads to a more meaningful understanding of the content, and
4) a method to inform thesis work and/or other academic assignments.

For a full description, qualifications and instructions on applying, download details here.