Mission
Berkeley Discovery seeks to weave all undergraduates into the fabric of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship at our university. The initiative fosters equitable access to the core of the university’s mission: research toward the creation and stewardship of knowledge.
To accomplish this, Discovery collaborates on the initiation and institutionalization of innovative experiences in and beyond the classroom that support students in their transformations from learner to practitioner, from reader to critic, and from consumer to producer of knowledge.
Goals
Catalyze students' creation and innovation
We develop, fund and amplify opportunities for undergraduate students to pursue original research, creative projects, and entrepreneurial endeavors. By supporting the development of richer discovery experiences for undergraduates, we help students find their place in the world outside the classroom.
We expand students’ engagement in original research by collaboratively building and funding:
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new research-oriented and inquiry-based labs and workshops
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interdisciplinary research hubs
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research-translation labs to transform research outcomes into potential businesses
We also promote student-led research and community engagement, peer mentorship and other high-impact learning experiences. Whenever possible, Discovery offerings are integrated into the undergraduate curriculum.
Democratize access to high-impact learning opportunities
We developed and continuously update the Discovery Opportunities Database as a centralized search engine for on- and off-campus Discovery experiences, like research, creative endeavors, internships, entrepreneurship, study abroad and public service. The database also provides information on scholarships and fellowships to financially support students along their Discovery journey.
