Sandbox Student Challenge

Applications for the Sandbox Residency and Student Challenge Cycle 2026 are now open.

Areté’s Sandbox Student Challenge offers undergraduate students the resources they need to dive headfirst into uncharted territory. Through this grant, Areté supports young innovators’ journey in exploring a problem space that has the potential to spark creative solutions.

Themes for Cycle 2026

Philippine Education Reform

We seek projects that address gaps and challenges in the Philippine education system, including access to quality education, digital literacy, teacher development, and inclusive learning environments. Proposals may focus on innovative teaching methods, education policy, or tools to empower learners and educators.

Sustainable Development

In collaboration with the Ateneo Institute for Sustainability (AIS), the AIS x Areté Sandbox Grant challenges educators, designers, and innovators to explore, develop, and test creative proposals aimed at balancing environmental, social, and economic dimensions for long-term growth. Initiatives may involve campus sustainability, climate and disaster resilience, renewable energy, waste reduction strategies, circular economy models, or community-driven sustainability practices that address local or global challenges.

Ethics and Innovation in Public Life

We invite projects that imagine new ways of building fairness, accountability, and trust in how we live and work together. Proposals may explore civic education, ethical design, transparent and inclusive policymaking, or digital platforms that strengthen participation in public life. We welcome creative approaches from across disciplines — from engineering and data science to business, education, the arts, and the humanities — that highlight how innovation can be guided by values of responsibility, care, and justice. Projects that connect ethics with sustainability, technology, or cultural practice are especially encouraged.

While these themes are prioritized, innovative proposals that address other areas and offer creative solutions to contemporary challenges are also encouraged.

Grant Benefits

Php 25,000 working capital
Priority access to the Eugenio Lopez Jr Makerspace (home to 3D printers, laser cutters, and large format printers, among others)
Dedicated workspace in the Eduardo J Aboitiz Sandbox Zone for the entire Residency period (January to December 2026)
Php 50,000 space-use grant for Areté facilities
Mentorship from an industry expert in interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation

Qualifications

Teams must consist of 3 to 5 undergraduate students from Ateneo de Manila University, with representation from at least 2 distinct schools or academic disciplines.
The Sandbox Student Challenge will support projects for an entire year.

How to Apply

I. Fill up the 2026 Sandbox Student Challenge - Application Form

II. Submit the following requirements

CVs of each team member
A 1,000 to 2,000-word write-up detailing:
- The problem space you aim to explore
- How your project can offer a fresh perspective, explore a solution, or addresses a knowledge gap
- Emphasis on the how play and experimentation drives your approach
Illustrate how your project champions interdisciplinary collaboration.
Explore how your project can bridge the worlds of art and science.
Let us know if your application is linked to other research grants or if you're seeking funding from additional sources.

All applications must be turned in by November 21, 2025.

For further questions, please send an email to sandbox.arete@ateneo.edu.

Meet the Cycle 2025 Sandbox Student Challengers

Concrete Jungle 2.0: Reengineering Urban Resilience through Ancient Knowledge

Concrete Jungle 2.0 combines ancient Roman concrete techniques with modern bio-based materials like volcanic ash and chitosan to create self-healing concrete for coastal cities. This solution reduces maintenance costs, enhances resilience against extreme weather, and promotes sustainability. By adapting to local conditions, it aims to transform urban infrastructure and strengthen cities against climate change.

Mapping Sustainability: Integrating Geospatial Data in the Loyola Schools’ Campus Mobility and Energy Consumption

Mapping Stories: Integrating Geospatial Data in the Loyola Schools' Campus Mobility aims to utilize geospatial frameworks to design an interactive map of the Loyola School campus that "tells stories". By combining quantitative patterns of our community's foot traffic with qualitative aspects of how people perceive and connect with our spaces, we strive to offer a new perspective for Ateneo's future campus infrastructure proposals — aiming for a better and safer tomorrow.

Project Habi: An Ecological and Participatory Community Art Project

Project Habi is a community art project designed to help young people cope with climate anxiety through collaborative workshops and sustainable art-making. By fostering solidarity and dialogue, it empowers participants to express their experiences and take collective action on climate change. The project culminates in an exhibition and zine to amplify youth voices and inspire positive environmental action.

WaterFALL: Water For All

WaterFALL: Water For All is developing an atmospheric water generator to aid communities that lack access to clean and consistent water. The team’s generator's modular design will be motivated by our principles of adaptability, accessibility, and ease of use which will allow its implementation to remain widespread. Throughout their residency, they are committed to documenting the entire development process on social media to instruct and emphasize to the public the importance of pursuing solutions.