Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone participate in the Biodesign Sprint?
Almost! The Biodesign Sprint: Biodigital Futures program is open to colleges and universities, early-stage startups, BDC alumni, and groups affiliated with community laboratories. If you are a member of a similar organization but have questions about eligibility, contact info@biodesignchallenge.org.
I am new to biodesign. Will Biodesign Challenge assist me with my project for the Biodesign Sprint?
Biodesign Challenge works closely with Sprint participants to ensure that they receive adequate support to complete the program. As part of registration, teams receive access to a resource library, past webinars, and design critiques.
What should I expect from the resource library?
All participants will receive access to a resource library containing materials at the intersection of biodesign and computation, specialized webinars, and project crit sessions with Biodesign Challenge staff. Additionally, participants will be free to enroll in BDC community platforms and alumni networks.
Do participating teams need to develop a prototype for the Biodesign Sprint?
All teams will be expected to produce robust digital materials for presentation in the competition. In recognition that many teams or working groups may lack physical access to a laboratory space, the Biodesign Sprint program welcomes advanced computational designs or simulations that build on already published scientific literature. The Biodesign Sprint: Biodigital Futures program also welcomes speculative designs, social critiques, and biologically-informed artworks in addition to designed objects or agentic systems.
How many individuals are entitled to participate in the Biodesign Sprint program with each registration?
Instructors affiliated with academic institutions are invited to use BDC resources to help structure their classes, bringing all students into the conversation around artificial intelligence, computation, and living systems. That said, teams competing in the Biodesign Sprint cannot exceed (6) members. Multiple registrations are encouraged for large organizations that wish to field multiple entries.
What are the deliverables for the Biodesign Sprint program?
Teams are expected to develop a ten-minute oral presentation for their design project. These presentations will be delivered before our online panel of judges during the final week of the competition. Presentations should clearly communicate biological and computational processes involved in the design through a compelling narrative and visual materials. Additionally, participants are required to produce a brief, one-to-five minute video describing their projects for our digital audience to be shared on the Biodesign Sprint website and Biodesign Challenge YouTube channel.
Does the Biodesign Sprint replace the Biodesign Challenge?
No. The Biodesign Sprint program aims to introduce new audiences to the Biodesign Challenge program and community. Participation in the Biodesign Challenge is reserved for colleges, high schools, and universities and comes with additional resources and mentorship. Special discounts are available to schools that have never participated in the Biodesign Challenge but wish to enroll in both programs. Contact info@biodesignchallenge.org for more information.
Will there be awards or prizes associated with the Biodesign Sprint?
Yes! Sprint organizers will offer select category prizes to teams that distinguish themselves in one or more target domains. Additionally, schools participating in the program will receive tiered recognition for their performance in the program.
My school would like to participate in both the Biodesign Sprint and the Biodesign Challenge. Is it possible to receive a discount on these programs?
Yes. As mentioned above, special discounts are available for schools participating in the Biodesign Challenge ecosystem of programs for the first time (or returning to the program after 3 years). Schools that register for the Biodesign Sprint before 1 September will receive a $350 USD credit toward guaranteed early registration pricing for the flagship Biodesign Sprint program. In other words, schools gain access to both programs for $1,400 USD.
Is the Sprint being held online?
Yes. All activities, including the kickoff orientation and the competition finals, will be conducted over Zoom. Timing will be based around U.S. Eastern Time, but program scheduling will aim to accommodate as many time zones as possible.
I already have a project in the works that is relevant to the Sprint. Can I still participate?
Yes, as long as the project responds to the design prompts, it may be presented as a project at the Biodesign Sprint. Please review the intellectual property rules in the Participation Agreement to make sure it is eligible.
Is this an international competition? Can countries other than the U.S. participate?
Yes! Anyone from anywhere in the world can participate so long as eligibility requirements are met.
What language will the Sprint be in?
All Sprint materials should be in the English language and all Sprint events will be held in English.
Do I have to attend all of the events?
While we encourage participants to attend events live, we understand that there may be difficulty with time zones. All events will be recorded and may be watched back asynchronously. The Sprint final competition and project showcase will require at least one team member to present the project live to the online judging panel in order to qualify for prizes and recognition.
Can I participate in the Sprint as an individual?
We encourage teams consisting of at least (2) individuals.
Who will own the Intellectual Property rights to my project?
Sprint participants will own all IP rights to their projects. Biodesign Challenge Inc reserves the right to use participant videos and presentation materials for promotional and internal purposes. Please review Article 6 of the Participation Agreement for a full explanation of the rules regarding IP.
How will you accommodate people with disabilities during the Sprint?
BDC provides live closed captioning for online video. Select additional services can be provided with advanced request.
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