Application Open for DKU Innovation Challenge Season 3: Pathway to Dii/Dachuang 2025 – Innovation with a Global Perspective

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the DKU Innovation Challenge Season 3, where we invite you to bring your creative ideas to life under the theme “Innovation with a Global Perspective”. This season is all about pushing the boundaries of innovation by adopting a global perspective to address real-world challenges and create meaningful change.

What Kind of Story Do You Want to Tell

This early summer, I joined a field research project in Guanzhuang Town, Yuanling County, in collaboration with the public welfare organization PEER and DKU University-Corporation Innovation Lab (U-Corp lab). The project aims to explore the impact of generative artificial intelligence large language models on students’ creative writing and emotional expression in the county’s educational environment. Driven by an interest in county educational issues, I joined the on-site experimental phase of the project.

Exploring Nature’s Echoes Within and Beyond the Fields

Nestled against Tibetan Plateau to the west and bordered by Min River to the east, where mountains and waters embrace, a diverse and abundant array of flora and fauna thrives on this land known as Wolong. Here, ancient and vibrant folk song traditions are passed down from generation to generation. A student team from DKU’s Nature’s Echoes project ventured into Wolong Town, Wenchuan County, in Sichuan Province’s Aba Prefecture. During a two-week field study, they gathered materials and immersed themselves in the culture, and then they explored various narrative mediums to initiate the “Silent Land” art project. Ultimately, they presented Wolong’s unique folk song culture and field stories to the public through podcasts and exhibitions.

A Journey of Interdisciplinary Exploration: First Molecular Characterization of Feline Calicivirus in Kunshan

Semin Kim, an undergraduate student majoring in molecular biology from South Korea in the class of 2024, is not only a “furry” enthusiast but also has a strong interest in virus detection and transmission issues. After choosing cellular biology as her major, her research experience with Dr. Sajid Umar, Assistant Professor of Global Health and Deputy Director of the One Health Research Laboratory at DKU, and her summer research at Tianjin University gave her rich laboratory experience, further fueling her desire to conduct her own field research on viruses. The funding and freedom provided by her advisor were the biggest support for her ambitious idea.

Igniting the Spark of Innovation: The Entrepreneurial Practice and Dream Incubation of SGC

The SGC course lasts for six weeks, with a separate theme for each week, covering core areas such as entrepreneurial basics, market demand identification, user research, product construction and iteration, business strategy, team management, and finding financing. Participants are familiarized with the entire process of incubating a business concept to building a business model and are encouraged to try creating their own projects in practice.

Becoming a Global Innovator: Future 17 SDGs Challenge

Future 17 is a new global initiative offered by the University of Exeter and Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (QS) in the UK with participation from leading international universities. It is designed to support students in developing skills needed for tackling 21st-century global challenges through working with industry and academic mentors as well as peers from around the world to create innovative solutions for real-world issues associated with one or more of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students form international, interdisciplinary, and multicultural teams with their peers from a consortium of universities to work on projects defined by SDGs Challenge Partners (businesses, charities, governments, NGOs, etc.).