Buckminster Fuller Institute Issues RFP for 2015 Fuller Challenge
FEBRUARY 25, 2015
DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2015
The Buckminster Fuller Institute has announced a Request for Proposals for the 2015 Fuller Challenge.
Through the annual program, the institute invites activists, architects, artists, designers, entrepreneurs, scientists, students, and planners from all over the world to submit innovative solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing problems. A $100,000 prize is awarded to support the development and implementation of one such strategy.
BFI looks for holistic strategies that demonstrate a clear grasp of big-picture dynamics. If a proposal emphasizes a new design, material, process, service, tool or technology, it is essential that it be part of an integrated strategy that simultaneously addresses key social, environmental, and economic factors. The institute seeks initiatives aimed at tackling urgent needs at a range of scales, from macro-strategies with the potential for widespread impact to community-based initiatives with global relevance and replicability. Proposals at any stage of development will be reviewed; nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid initiatives are all eligible.
To be eligible, entries must put forth an original idea or synthesize existing ideas into a new strategy that creatively addresses a critical need; apply a whole-systems approach to the design and implementation process; aim to address multiple goals, requirements, and conditions in a holistic way; factor in critical future trends and needs as well as the projected impacts of project implementation in the short and long term; practice environmental responsibility; enhance the ability of natural systems to regenerate; demonstrate that the solution is possible; be able to withstand empirical testing and make authentic claims; and be able to be adapted to similar conditions elsewhere.