Reef rescuers and satellite launchers receive EUR 15,000 for their impactful ideas

• With the financial support of alumni and other donors of Delft University Fund, Fast supports talent development at TU Delft. Find out more about the Fund on its website. You can also contact them via email, Facebook, Instagram or join their weekly online drop-in consultation hour (every Monday from 12:45-13:45).

The Ambitious Idea grant is awarded twice a year to one or more student projects with an impactful idea and a large outreach. Since the launch of the grant, the Committee has received 20 applications of which they awarded five grants.

Researchers and divers

One of this year’s recipients is Reef Support, a team that uses satellite data to help aqua farmers and coral nurseries manage their reefs more effectively. They will use the funding to build an open-access platform. “In an effort to advocate for participatory science, marine researchers and divers around the world can upload what they see from wherever they are,” they explain.

Reef Support also plans to develop field-ready software based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. This will streamline research and monitoring of reefs and seas, and speed up the transition from data-to-decisions to protect coral reefs. Besides that, they will start Reef Students, a community that offers opportunities for students to work on projects. One example is a project in Indonesia where students have the opportunity to build the first coral lab in the central Indonesian region.



Satellite launch

From deep waters we go to into orbit as the second recipient, the Da Vinci Satellite team, is planning to put a satellite into orbit around the earth for educational purposes. The grant will go towards launching the satellite that was constructed in honour of the 75th anniversary of the VSV Leonardo da Vinci study association.

‘We want to bring space technology into the classroom’

The idea was to build an educational satellite that school children could work with. “We wanted to bring space technology into the classroom and the satellite closer to children’s everyday lives,” explained Team Manager Mitchell de Keijzer in a previous interview.

“The grant brings us one step closer to reaching our goal,” says De Keijzer. “Inspiring and enthusing children about space and technology, while emphasising the impact of it on our society.”

What is the Fast Ambitious Idea grant?

Twice a year, TU Delft students who have an impactful idea with a large outreach are invited to apply for the Ambitious Idea grant. The grant can go up to EUR 15,000. Eligibility is determined by the following guidelines:

• your idea has great potential to positively impact society;
• the idea is fully driven by student involvement and commitment;
• you are registered as a student at TU Delft; and
• your idea is currently non-profit.

All submissions will be reviewed by the Executive Grant Committee (EGC). The EGC consists of nine members from different faculties and departments at TU Delft. The next application deadline will be in October 2021.

Find out more about Fast on their website. You can also contact them via email, Facebook, Instagram or join their weekly online drop-in consultation hour (every Monday from 12:45-13:45).