Grand Challenges Initiative | Chapman University
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Archived: 2026-04-23 17:35
Grand Challenges Initiative | Chapman University
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Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI)
The GCI is
a unique two-year project that is part of the curriculum for all incoming first-year
students in
Fowler School of Engineering
and
Schmid College of Science and Technology
majors. You’ll work with a small team of 4-6 fellow students and a research mentor
to take on
one of our most pressing problems, from reversing climate change to improving data
security to developing new health technology—and many more.
Students from a variety of STEM majors work together, in and outside class, on their
GCI projects. On a given team, you might find data science, chemistry and physics
majors (and maybe even film students) collaborating on solutions to their challenge.
Through this interdisciplinary work, you’ll get exposure to different subject areas.
Your project will also benefit from the perspectives of various teammates, which spurs
exciting new ideas and solutions.
Grand Challenges Initiative is a required part of the curriculum for Fowler Engineering
and Schmid College students. It is also open to students from all majors, including
undeclared students with an interest in STEM.
What You'll Do
Since we want you to focus on what you’re passionate about, you’ll play a direct role
in shaping your project.
In the first semester of your first year, you’ll take a First-year Foundations course
called Grand Challenges in Science and Engineering, where you’ll select the challenge
your group will take on. You’ll also develop plans to move forward with smaller goals
and milestones that build toward the grand challenge.
Here are just a few sample GCI projects completed by past teams:
Designing and Building an Affordable Insulin Pump with 3D printing
Juju: an iOS App to Improve Social and Educational Skills in Children with Autism
Spectrum Disorder
Killing the Plastic Problem: Biochemical Plastic Degradation
Simulating the Terraformation of Mars Using Virtual Reality
A Virtual Visit to Mars
Student James Kistner tests a virtual simulation of gravity on Mars while his teammates
observe.
Quadcopters Take Flight
Jack McGrath, Corey McCrea and Chase Toyofuku-Souza with the drone they built using
the 3D printers and soldering equipment in the GCI Makerspace. Their team is studying
how to use unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver emergency medical supplies.
Confidence to Think Outside the Box (and 3D Print One)
Students Sanika Pandit and Alex Jones watch as the first layers of a 3D-printed housing
are made for their team’s portable heart monitor.
Stamping out Cybercrime
The Cyber Smart Panthers team is fighting cybercrime one security workshop, website
and PSA at a time.
What You’ll Learn
The Grand Challenges Initiative provides foundational skills in critical thinking,
problem solving, communication and teamwork. These are essential for success in nearly
any STEM-related field or professional role. Beginning in your first semester, you’ll
learn how to:
Find and evaluate scientific information
Solve complex problems
Develop professional oral and written communication skills
Establish effective teams and project management strategies
Explore new fields with people outside your major (which might spur interest in adding
a minor or second major)
You’ll also develop concrete skills through project-based learning. These opportunities
include:
Writing project proposals to solicit funding
Meeting with external experts for guidance and outside perspectives (you’ll have access
to Chapman’s extensive contacts with experts from around the world)
Learning project management principles and techniques
Understanding how academic and professional research happens and gets published
After your two-year GCI experience, you’ll have plenty of options. You can continue
in the program and go further with tackling your challenge. You can gain additional
experience through an internship or by joining a faculty-led research project. You
could also begin working on the capstone project for your major.
Regardless of your next step, you should be well-equipped to succeed with valuable
interdisciplinary and problem-solving skills.
GCI Curriculum
The GCI program is required for first-year students whose major is in Fowler Engineering
or Schmid College. Transfer students may be waived from participating depending on
the number of credit hours they have accumulated.
You can learn more about degree requirements for first-year and transfer students
on our
GCI Curriculum page
.
Understanding the Brain
Chapman University students in the Keck Center for Science and Engineering.
The brain is our most complex and high-functioning organ, but that didn’t stop these
students from finding out how to make it work better. You can read about their GCI
experience in our article.
To Better Understand the Brain, Try, Try Again
Where It Happens
GCI is supported by both its own GCI Makerspace – open 20 hours a week – and the
Keck Center for Science and Engineering
.
The Makerspace has everything from 3D printers to virtual reality hardware to professional
scientific equipment. The Keck Center features state-of-the-art research laboratories
and open collaborative spaces where students, faculty and research fellows can work
together.
Learn more on our GCI Facilities page »
Who You'll Work With
In addition to working with other students, every GCI team is mentored by a Postdoctoral
Fellow. Our fellows are world-class early-career teacher-scholars. They also come
from diverse research backgrounds, ranging from cancer genetics to atmosphere chemistry.
What they all have in common is a desire to share their passion for science and engineering
with students.
Meet our GCI research fellows »
GCI Internships
Many of Chapman’s corporate partners are excited to support students who work on GCI
projects that align with their company's mission. In addition to meeting with teams
to contribute to projects, partners often attend GCI career networking events, where
they help students explore the range of professional options available following graduation.
These companies may also provide internship opportunities to students, with a wide
range of industries being represented:
Aerospace
Biomedical implants
Business/data analytics
Medical devices
Semiconductor manufacturing
Software development
An Innovative Internship
Students Monroe Roush and Daisy Haas visited the American Association for the Advancement
of Science as part of their internships at the Institute for Learning Innovation.
Ask a Student
Still have questions about GCI? Ask a current Chapman student! All Fowler Engineering
and Schmid College students participate in GCI and would be happy to answer your questions
and share their experiences.
Ask a Student
Gci
Our Curriculum
Our Facilities
Our People
Contact Us
Dr. Javier Espeleta
GCI Program Co-Director
grandchallenges@chapman.edu
Alexandra Lewandowski
GCI Administrative Coordinator
grandchallenges@chapman.edu
Support the Grand Challenges Initiative
You can help our students undertake the most complex problems of our time by donating.
Your support will help provide the resources they need to take on those challenges
in concrete and meaningful ways.
Support Chapman's GCI
Back to top
Back to top
©
Skip to main content
Skip over carousel to next section
Off
Grand Challenges Initiative
About
Our Story
Our Family
Our Home
Facts and Rankings
Maps and Directions
Visit
Connect
Our Home
Keck Center for Science and Engineering
Rinker Campus
Collection of Historical Figures
Keck Center
Grand Challenges Initiative
Facilities
Microscopy Facility Training and Reservations
»
Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI)
The GCI is
a unique two-year project that is part of the curriculum for all incoming first-year
students in
Fowler School of Engineering
and
Schmid College of Science and Technology
majors. You’ll work with a small team of 4-6 fellow students and a research mentor
to take on
one of our most pressing problems, from reversing climate change to improving data
security to developing new health technology—and many more.
Students from a variety of STEM majors work together, in and outside class, on their
GCI projects. On a given team, you might find data science, chemistry and physics
majors (and maybe even film students) collaborating on solutions to their challenge.
Through this interdisciplinary work, you’ll get exposure to different subject areas.
Your project will also benefit from the perspectives of various teammates, which spurs
exciting new ideas and solutions.
Grand Challenges Initiative is a required part of the curriculum for Fowler Engineering
and Schmid College students. It is also open to students from all majors, including
undeclared students with an interest in STEM.
What You'll Do
Since we want you to focus on what you’re passionate about, you’ll play a direct role
in shaping your project.
In the first semester of your first year, you’ll take a First-year Foundations course
called Grand Challenges in Science and Engineering, where you’ll select the challenge
your group will take on. You’ll also develop plans to move forward with smaller goals
and milestones that build toward the grand challenge.
Here are just a few sample GCI projects completed by past teams:
Designing and Building an Affordable Insulin Pump with 3D printing
Juju: an iOS App to Improve Social and Educational Skills in Children with Autism
Spectrum Disorder
Killing the Plastic Problem: Biochemical Plastic Degradation
Simulating the Terraformation of Mars Using Virtual Reality
A Virtual Visit to Mars
Student James Kistner tests a virtual simulation of gravity on Mars while his teammates
observe.
Quadcopters Take Flight
Jack McGrath, Corey McCrea and Chase Toyofuku-Souza with the drone they built using
the 3D printers and soldering equipment in the GCI Makerspace. Their team is studying
how to use unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver emergency medical supplies.
Confidence to Think Outside the Box (and 3D Print One)
Students Sanika Pandit and Alex Jones watch as the first layers of a 3D-printed housing
are made for their team’s portable heart monitor.
Stamping out Cybercrime
The Cyber Smart Panthers team is fighting cybercrime one security workshop, website
and PSA at a time.
What You’ll Learn
The Grand Challenges Initiative provides foundational skills in critical thinking,
problem solving, communication and teamwork. These are essential for success in nearly
any STEM-related field or professional role. Beginning in your first semester, you’ll
learn how to:
Find and evaluate scientific information
Solve complex problems
Develop professional oral and written communication skills
Establish effective teams and project management strategies
Explore new fields with people outside your major (which might spur interest in adding
a minor or second major)
You’ll also develop concrete skills through project-based learning. These opportunities
include:
Writing project proposals to solicit funding
Meeting with external experts for guidance and outside perspectives (you’ll have access
to Chapman’s extensive contacts with experts from around the world)
Learning project management principles and techniques
Understanding how academic and professional research happens and gets published
After your two-year GCI experience, you’ll have plenty of options. You can continue
in the program and go further with tackling your challenge. You can gain additional
experience through an internship or by joining a faculty-led research project. You
could also begin working on the capstone project for your major.
Regardless of your next step, you should be well-equipped to succeed with valuable
interdisciplinary and problem-solving skills.
GCI Curriculum
The GCI program is required for first-year students whose major is in Fowler Engineering
or Schmid College. Transfer students may be waived from participating depending on
the number of credit hours they have accumulated.
You can learn more about degree requirements for first-year and transfer students
on our
GCI Curriculum page
.
Understanding the Brain
Chapman University students in the Keck Center for Science and Engineering.
The brain is our most complex and high-functioning organ, but that didn’t stop these
students from finding out how to make it work better. You can read about their GCI
experience in our article.
To Better Understand the Brain, Try, Try Again
Where It Happens
GCI is supported by both its own GCI Makerspace – open 20 hours a week – and the
Keck Center for Science and Engineering
.
The Makerspace has everything from 3D printers to virtual reality hardware to professional
scientific equipment. The Keck Center features state-of-the-art research laboratories
and open collaborative spaces where students, faculty and research fellows can work
together.
Learn more on our GCI Facilities page »
Who You'll Work With
In addition to working with other students, every GCI team is mentored by a Postdoctoral
Fellow. Our fellows are world-class early-career teacher-scholars. They also come
from diverse research backgrounds, ranging from cancer genetics to atmosphere chemistry.
What they all have in common is a desire to share their passion for science and engineering
with students.
Meet our GCI research fellows »
GCI Internships
Many of Chapman’s corporate partners are excited to support students who work on GCI
projects that align with their company's mission. In addition to meeting with teams
to contribute to projects, partners often attend GCI career networking events, where
they help students explore the range of professional options available following graduation.
These companies may also provide internship opportunities to students, with a wide
range of industries being represented:
Aerospace
Biomedical implants
Business/data analytics
Medical devices
Semiconductor manufacturing
Software development
An Innovative Internship
Students Monroe Roush and Daisy Haas visited the American Association for the Advancement
of Science as part of their internships at the Institute for Learning Innovation.
Ask a Student
Still have questions about GCI? Ask a current Chapman student! All Fowler Engineering
and Schmid College students participate in GCI and would be happy to answer your questions
and share their experiences.
Ask a Student
Gci
Our Curriculum
Our Facilities
Our People
Contact Us
Dr. Javier Espeleta
GCI Program Co-Director
grandchallenges@chapman.edu
Alexandra Lewandowski
GCI Administrative Coordinator
grandchallenges@chapman.edu
Support the Grand Challenges Initiative
You can help our students undertake the most complex problems of our time by donating.
Your support will help provide the resources they need to take on those challenges
in concrete and meaningful ways.
Support Chapman's GCI
Back to top
Back to top
©