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Student Call for Big Ideas

Student Call for Big Ideas 

The Center for Human-Computer Interaction (CHCI) invites students to submit a big idea for presentation at the Ninth Annual Workshop in our CHCI Workshop Series on the Future of HCI. This is a unique opportunity for students to propose transformative research concepts, explore interdisciplinary collaboration, and receive valuable feedback on innovative projects. The one-day, in-person workshop will be held Friday, March 28, 2025 (8:30am - 5:00pm) in Gilbert Place 2124, 220 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg.

New this year, the CHCI Big Ideas workshop has a student-only call for $1M proposal ideas. Students are expected to discuss how they would use a hypothetical $1M research grant to bring their big idea to life. This includes considering:

  • The societal, technical, and environmental challenges that their big idea addresses

  • The interdisciplinary team they would assemble and the expertise required to execute the idea

Also new this year, a Best Student Big Idea Award will be given to the student or team of students that present the best $1M research grant idea. The winning student(s) will each receive an award certificate. Additionally, the winning individual or team will be granted $500 in research funding from CHCI that can be used for travel, materials & supplies, and/or participant compensation.

The CHCI Big Ideas workshop is designed to provide a platform for researchers to initiate an intellectual discourse about their ideas with CHCI members and experts. Specifically, the workshop will provide opportunities for student researchers to: 

  • Pitch big ideas that they want to work on in the near future

  • Learn about new big ideas that they may want to be part of 

  • Give and receive feedback about their ideas

  • Participate in discussion with other presenters and attendees

  • Find collaborators to work on their ideas with 

  • Win a Best Student Big Idea Award. 

VT faculty and students are welcome to attend the workshop whether or not they are presenting. 

Individual students or teams of students are invited to submit a one-page PDF abstract (1000 words max) that describes the new and thought-provoking idea by Sunday, February 16. Students should consider the Heilmeier Catechism when writing their abstracts. Submissions will be reviewed for relevance to the workshop objectives (see evaluation criteria below).

  • Who can apply? Students from all departments are welcome to submit their ideas. CHCI membership is not required.

  • What can I submit? This workshop is to share your future research ideas, not to present your completed or in-progress work. If existing work is relevant to show your motivation behind the submission, you can include it as part of your idea proposal. Ideas should be relevant to the broad field of HCI.

  • How do I submit it? Please use the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/ev2qPrfUSrHRCM1Z8. Please upload a one-page PDF that includes all figures, materials, and references. 

  • How many times can I submit? Each individual is limited to leading one submission for the workshop. However, individuals can contribute to multiple submissions as collaborators.

  • How will my submission be evaluated? Submissions will be reviewed by the workshop organizers for the following criteria: (1) potential for large-scale funding, (2) likelihood of increasing VT CHCI’s visibility and reputation, and (3) broader impacts to communities or societies.

  • How do I present at the workshop? Selected participants will present their ideas and engage in a discussion session facilitated by our workshop organizers (no more than 10 minutes for presentation and discussion). Other presenters may be given an opportunity to give shorter lightning talks.  

  • How does it benefit me? You can receive feedback, brainstorm with others, find collaborators, and potentially win the new Best Student Big Idea Award. 

Submission deadline: Sunday, February 16, 2025 by 11:59 PM EST

Submission link: https://forms.gle/ev2qPrfUSrHRCM1Z8

If you have any questions, please contact Ryan P. McMahan (rpm@vt.edu).

Please share this information widely. We thank you for your submission and look forward to engaging with participants and their creative ideas this March.

Organizing Committee:

  • Ryan P. McMahan (Computer Science) - 2025 Workshop Chair
  • Abiola Akanmu (Construction Engineering and Management)
  • Doug A. Bowman (Computer Science)
  • Myounghoon "Philart" Jeon (Industrial and Systems Engineering)
  • Nathan Lau (Industrial and Systems Engineering)
  • Kurt Luther (Computer Science)
  • Anirban Mukhopadhyay (Computer Science)
  • Rachael Paine (Design)