Global Social Innovation Lab
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About GSIL
The Georgetown Social Innovation Lab is an annual pitch competition held at Georgetown University over the course of a weekend. GSIL gathers both graduate and undergraduate students to form teams and come up with innovative solutions to a pressing global problem. Students receive close mentorship by practitioners and entrepreneurs, so that by the end of the weekend they may pitch a technical intervention of their own design to a panel of expert judges. In the past, students have tackled issues around global health and nutrition and climate change. In 2024, we asked participants to come up with ideas to create more resilient ‘Resilient Cities.’ GSIL is a unique opportunity for students to interact with practitioners, engage in human-centered design in action, and launch their own social ventures.
Why Participate?
- GSIL is an opportunity for participants to network with like-minded and like-hearted individuals who are interested in social innovation, and collaborate at the intersection of business, policy, social impact!
- GSIL will help participants exercise their creative muscles in the field of resilient cities, as well as other adjacent fields such as climate, food & agriculture, public policy, technology for development, and social entrepreneurship.
- There are multiple generous prizes to be won (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners).
Event Details
What?
Once registered, participants will be matched with 3 other teammates from across Georgetown University, and collectively undertake an “ideathon” on social innovation!
When & Where?
GSIL is typically held in Lohrfink Auditorium, located in the Hariri Building on Georgetown’s Main Campus. The event takes place across two days; usually a weekend in early February. Attendance on both days is mandatory, and meals are provided. An example run-of-show is detailed below.
Day 1 (Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
- Check-in and Breakfast
- Introduction and Team Announcements
- Discussion on Sustainable Cities
- Team Ideation
- Lunch
- Team Ideation and Mentorship
- Workshop on Designing and Pitching Innovative Solutions
- Team Ideation and Mentorship
Day 2 (Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
- Check-in, Breakfast and Pitch Prep
- Pitches (5-minute pitch; 3 minutes of Q&A)
- Lunch
- Announcement of Winners
Who’s Coming?
2024 Judges
- Uwe Brandes, Director for the Georgetown Global Cities Initiative
- Dr. Marcus King, Director of MS in Environment & International Affairs, Earth Commons
- … and more!
2024 Mentors
- Scott Davis, Georgetown Urban & Regional Planning Program
- Stephen Gyor, Senior Sustainability Planner for the DC Office of Planning
- … and more!