Commodore Cup

The Wond’ry team is thrilled to announce its inaugural campus-wide design challenge called Commodore Cup, made possible with collaboration with the Division of Administration and Clearloop.

The 2023 theme this year is sustainability.

Key Links

Registration for this event is now closed.
Wond’ry Innovation Platform (WIP)

About the Challenge

The challenge is a hybrid format with optional in-person touch points along the way. The kickoff September 7th from 4:30-6pm, mid-point October 12th from 4:30-6pm and final presentations November 9th, 4:30-6pm, finalists will be judged November 16th for an opportunity for cash prizes.

Design criteria and constraints to inform design will be provided in the design guide at kick off for full details. Teams will have access to office hours, mentors and advisors to help them flesh out their design and refine their final submission. We have also partnered with Dores Design so student designers can help bring your ideas to life.

See below for the timeline.

Who May Apply

No prior sustainability or design experience necessary! Any Vanderbilt staff, alumni, student or faculty may participate. Individuals may apply and request to be paired with a team or apply solo or teams up to 4 individuals may apply.

How to Apply

Fill out the registration form by the deadline of September 4th at midnight. Indicate which challenge would like to participate in, track 1: a dashboard for sustainability metrics or track 2: sustainable transportation. See challenge statement below for each option to help inform your decision.

Registration for this event is now closed.

Awards

1st place is $2,500, the 2nd place is $1,500, and 3rd place is $1000 will be awarded for each design track. Evaluators will select the winning submissions (5 from each category) using our online Wond’ry Innovation Platform (WIP) and the rubric, these winning entries will go onto the in-person final presentations, where our panel of judges will determine the final winners, November 16.

Timeline

Registration closes: Sept. 4, 2023 at midnight (online)
Kickoff begins: Sept. 7, 2023
Mid-point in-person session: Oct. 12, 2023
Final submissions submitted: Nov. 7, 2023 (online)
Finalists are selected: Nov. 9, 2023
Finalists compete for cash prizes: Nov. 16, 2023

Challenges

1) TRANSPORATION

The Challenge: Vanderbilt University aims to achieve its sustainability goals in part by encouraging faculty, staff, and students to drive to campus less often with a daily parking program and by encouraging the use of sustainable transportation options (like riding transit, carpooling, bicycling, and walking) more often. Fewer car trips to campus, means less carbon emissions from transportation and improved air quality. The best time to change commuting behavior is within the first few weeks as an employee/student with the university. The ease in which a new employee can find information about transportation and daily parking options impacts longer term commuting behavior. How might Vanderbilt re-think and re-design the recruitment and onboarding of new employees to encourage the use of sustainable transportation modes while commuting and make daily parking the easiest choice when starting at Vanderbilt?

2) SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARD

The Challenge: How might Vanderbilt encourage its many stakeholders to engage with the university’s commitment to climate action through an interactive dashboard?

Project Inquiries

For more information regarding registration and the Wond’ry Innovation Platform (WIP) please contact Kelsey Driscoll at kelsey.g.driscoll@vanderbilt.edu.

For more information regarding sustainability please contact Jaclyn Mothupi at jaclyn.r.mothupi@vanderbilt.edu.

For all other general inquires please email commodorecup@vanderbilt.edu.