Shapeways Fall 2016 EDU Grant Contest Winners Announced

Shapeways has announced the winners of their Fall 2016 EDU Grant contest, and the results are predictably amazing with innovation springing from all directions as college students and professors offer proposals meant to ‘push the boundaries of 3D printing materials and technology.’ The winners receive $1000 for 3D printing support as this contest, offered twice a year, now winds down once again.

Shapeways has announced the winners as:

• Wooyeon Byun from the Fashion Institute of Technology of New York. Byun offered high fashion pieces with an avant-garde bend and  a surprising twist: the integration of structures from the ghost mantis, or Phyllocrania paradoxa.
• Eduardo Fiorin from the Universidade Vila Velha of Brazil. Fiorin has created a project that many may find fascinating indeed, in the form of a protective jacket for those riding motorcycles in the non-professional realm. The jacket offers 3D printed fabric mesh, closures, and finishing—and it is completely customized to the user.
• Robert Hemlich of DePaul University in Illinois. Hemlich, with an interest in stop motion animation, was on a mission to integrate 21st century tools into this art. His aim for other filmmakers is to show them that they can indeed produce high-quality art and animation easily and affordably.
• Dingzeyu Li of Columbia University in New York. Li has created a system that works to identify 3D printed parts using sound ID tags. According to the designer, with this system of invisible tagging, designs should function correctly.
• Cliff Weitzman of Brown University in Rhode Island. Weitzman created a system for both longboards and skateboards that integrates a brake, both activated by the feet and removable for the user’s convenience. Weitzman sees this brake as offering a better, safer ride, with greater control.

Contests in the university atmosphere especially can offer great fulfillment to budding designers, engineers, architects, and more as they are encouraged to think outside the normal realm, enjoying a healthy sense of competition. Shapeways has been involved for years in offering contests, challenges, and programs such as these, whether they are open to all ages, or more specific like this particular contest.

Shapeways points out that past winners and grant recipients have gone on to work in a wide range of fields like psychology, product design, mathematics, and more. They are now opening another grant cycle, running through March 15, 2017. To apply, you must be a registered student at an accredited university. You will need to upload a resume and a 500-word description that outlines your project comprehensively, as well as a 250-word statement of interest. You will need to include files with work samples—and of course, a Shapeways account will be needed to perform all of these tasks.

See here for more on that application process. Discuss in the Shapeways EDU forum at 3DPB.com.