We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024-2025 Cooper Union Grant Program. In all, we accepted 19 competitive proposals this year based on the criteria outlined in the application, awarding a total of $106,000 in funding.

As in prior grant cycles, the selection process considered proposals' potential to advance The Cooper Union’s organizational goals and strategic priorities, with preference given to projects that address a societal challenge or civic need; involve at least two of Cooper's four areas of academic study; relate to the development or enhancement of courses that are open to all students; utilize the AACE Lab; and/or involve a mix of faculty, staff, and students.

This year's accepted projects included several that are funded with generous support from the IDC Foundation. These grants support proposals that leverage the IDC Foundation Art, Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Lab (AACE Lab) resources to explore, develop, and implement projects and activities that will further exploration of digital fabrication, increase engagement with the AACE Lab, inspire and facilitate imaginative new ways of thinking, and/or advance diversity and inclusion efforts in the curriculum.

COOPER UNION GRANT PROJECTS:

The Cooper Book Club
Robyn Fitzsimmons 
Samantha Berman
Awarded Amount: $5,000

Using Social Justice as a Framework for Devising Solutions in a Makerspace
Yvonne Thevenot
Awarded Amount: $10,000

Fine Lines and Shadows
Asialy Bracey Gardella
James Roberts 
Robyn Fitzsimmons 
Mauricio Higuera
Awarded Amount: $5,000

Experimentation with Different Textiles Methods 
to Create Sculptural Works
Anna Hutchings 
Dean Ballard
Ruby Jagel
Scarlet Quinonrz 
Josanna Crookston 
Riley Johnson 
Amount Awarded: $3,000
 
Blooming Brews: Plantable Teabags for a Greener Campus
Gabby Carlos
Isha Dave
Izabel Crone
Amount Award: $3,000

Cooper Handmade Cinema Group
Zachary Poff
Fabiola Barrios-Landeros 
Simon Liu 
Mary Mann  
Jenny Perlin 
Dale Perreault
Jenn Reeves 
Lily Sheng 
Evan Akins 
Keegan Bonds-Harmon  
Toni Caleca 
Ameila Chan 
Dylan Clark  
Ginger Fan  
Julia Kim  
Arthur Lee  
Ava Marzulli  
Anika Mitra  
Malia Seva
Amount Awarded: $9,945

The Azolla Biofiltration Initiative: Decentralized Solutions for Water Scarcity
Sofia Gutman
Suhama Saniz
Andrea Newmark
Zulaikha Ayub
Amount Awarded: $9,974

Interdisciplinary Symposium on Generative Methods for Architecture and Art 
Samuel Keene
Ben Aranda
Amount Awarded: $5,000

Work Futures: Interdisciplinary Public Lecture Program
Dylan Clark
Zaid Arshad
Fia Backström
Raffaele Bedarida
Arthur Lee
Cristóbal Lehyt
Mili Shah
Amount Awarded: $9,976

Catalogue of Universal Architectonic Elements and The Common Ground
Mersiha Veledar
Steven Hillyer
Chris Dierks 
William Germano
Michaela Han
Zhiye Feng
Sofie Towers
Amount Awarded: $10,000

The Pioneer Outreach Program
Jenna Sapers
Yael Bialik
Joanna Kim
Isabella Ng
Mika Pinhasi
Amount Awarded: $2,000

Cognitive Canvas: Painting Thoughts through BCI Technology (Work in Progress Title)
Lizelle Ocfemia
Sam Keene 
Isaiah Rivera
Amount Awarded: $2,070

Hemodialysis Needle Redesign for Improving Patient Compliance
Petros Sklavounos
Fayad Sarker
Amount Awarded: $2,000

Digital Fabrication Interdisciplinary Course Development 
River Friedman
Fia Backstrom
Amount Awarded: $7,500

Illuminated Conversions: Fungal and Algal Talks
Neha Nichakawade
EG Rheams 
Analisa McFarlane 
E Barnick 
Radmila Janjusevic  
Amount Awarded: $9,000

Bio-Inspired Flapping-Wing Robot
Vlad Bershchanskiy
Michelle Rosen
Amount Awarded: $1,000

Cooper Unity Space: A Self Care and Social Justice Resource Learning Lab
Athena Abadilla
Victoria Alonso
Zareena Al-Shehab
Angelis Heredia
Amanda Blanca
Iso Vento
Emma Hedditch
Zavé Martohardjono
Simone Meltesen
Amount Awarded: $5,200

Fungi for Film Photography: Experiments Using Mushrooms as Alternative Photo Developer
Alicja Sobieraj-Litwinski
Amount Awarded: $1,300

Public Art as Alimentary Infrastructure
Ninad Pandit
Nora Akawi
Guillermo Ruiz de Teresa
Amount Awarded: $5,000