Creative ideas. A concern for sustainability. Collaborative approaches to solving problems.

If you would like to help turn a great idea into a working proposal, register by Jan. 14 for the REEF@UD Switch Pitch and Innovation Sprint. Individuals who register will form teams during the event to create and present an entrepreneurial solution to one of three environmental challenges. Teams with the best proposals will receive a share of the event’s $5,000 prize pool.

The Ratcliffe Eco-Entrepreneurship Fellows (REEF@UD) program is hosting the event, open to all students, faculty and staff at the University of Delaware, as well as anyone in the community with an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to improving our environment. All innovators welcome. Everyone completing the innovation sprint on Jan. 22 will receive a $25 gift card.

A week in advance, registrants will receive three one-page problem statements from the sponsoring organizations: the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, Horn Entrepreneurship and the Gerard J. Mangone Climate Change Science and Policy Hub, the latter two based at UD. The problems will deal with aspects of three different sustainability challenges: reducing consumption and waste, buildings’ resilience to flooding, and low carbon alternative transportation options.

Participants will select the problem that most interests them, independently conduct background research and start brainstorming, then come together on Zoom on Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to form teams with other participants around a potential innovative solution. At the end of the day, each team will present its solution to a judges' panel.

Space is limited. Register by Friday, Jan. 14 to participate. For questions, contact REEF@UD Director David Lawson at lawsonda@udel.edu. For further information, please visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4eadad2ea3fd0-switch