Chapman University: Grand Challenges Initiative

Event Recap: Translating Bioengineering Discovery and Innovation into Industry and Societal Impact

March 18, 2026 by Alex Lewandowski | Uncategorized

The Grand Challenges Initiative hosted an engaging and insightful Speaker Series event on Monday, March 16, featuring Prashanth Asuri, Ph.D., M.B.A., Chair and Professor of Bioengineering at Santa Clara University. Held in the Ideation Zone, the session brought together students and faculty interested in the intersection of bioengineering, industry collaboration, and societal impact. Dr. Asuri drew

Event Recap: You Don't Get All the Facts: Leadership Lessons from Uncertain Times in Western Water Management

March 11, 2026 by Alex Lewandowski | Uncategorized

March 3 | Argyros Forum 209 The Grand Challenges Initiative hosted an insightful and timely conversation with Camille Touton, former Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, who brought her firsthand experience managing water in the American West to Chapman University. The talk centered on how leaders navigate high‑stakes decisions when information is incomplete and

GCI Showcase: Fall 2025

December 23, 2025 by Alex Lewandowski | Student presentations

Grand Challenges Initiative Showcase: Celebrating Innovation and Collaboration On Friday, December 5, 2025, the Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI) hosted its semi-annual Showcase the close of the fall semester. This event marked the culmination of three semesters of hard work for four student teams — though one team impressively completed their project in just a single

Diabetes Risk Calculator: Your Health Starts with Knowing Your Risk

December 15, 2025 by Micah Kim | Student presentations

At our 2025 GCI Fall Showcase, a group of students presented a poster about a cost-effective tool that will allow individuals to assess their risk and reduce the likelihood of developing early-onset diabetes.

Who's phishing in my emails?

December 15, 2025 by Micah Kim | Student presentations

At our 2025 GCI Fall Showcase, a group of students presented a poster about an interactive, educational game that will help people with identifying phishing emails to prevent any potential scams.

F.E.T.C.H: Fully-Integrated Environmental & Telemetary Collar for Hounds

December 15, 2025 by Micah Kim | Student presentations

At our 2025 GCI Fall Showcase, a group of students presented a poster about accessible animal emotion tracking tools that could improve owner-pet empathy and timely care.

Small Oil

December 15, 2025 by Micah Kim | Student presentations

At our 2025 GCI Fall Showcase, a group of students presented a poster about the importance of vehicle engine condition for advancement in vehicle oil health monitoring.

Progress in Action

November 14, 2025 by Micah Kim | Student presentations

Our GCI 250 students have been hard at work, making exciting progress on their interdisciplinary group projects. Each team has been using their creative and technical skills to collaborate and tackle real-world issues. Keep reading to see some highlights of our GCI 250 teams! FETCH: A Synthesizing Smart Dog Collar Members: Torki Alghamdi, Tristan Horgan,

GCI Showcase: Spring 2025

June 17, 2025 by Alex Lewandowski | Student presentations

The annual Grand Challenges Initiative Showcase was a vibrant celebration of student innovation and collaboration. Student teams presented their final projects to guests and judges, sharing breakthroughs and competing for recognition. Overall, the showcase highlighted the hard work, creativity, and impact of the student teams’ efforts. Here are our winners: Flint Science Award

Addressing Sleep Deprivation in College Students with an Interactive App

May 16, 2025 by Micah Kim | Student presentations

At our 2025 GCI Spring Showcase, a group of students presented a poster about an app prototype that will help visualize sleep data and will work to improve college students’ sleep health.