named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
BDC Summit
Annual event where student teams present biodesign projects, participate in critiques, and compete for awards; includes keynote speakers, presentations, and exhibitions.
Biodesign Sprint
Intensive program providing students with opportunities for rigorous critique, cross-disciplinary exchange, and professional development in biodesign.
Biodesign Symposium
Event fostering dialogue and learning at the intersection of biotechnology, art, and design through presentations and expert engagement.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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STEM Competition and Robotics Programs 1 activity
- Advance biodesign education through open-access resources and micro-challengesCo-launches short-term educational initiatives such as the MycoStack Micro Challenge, a summer hackathon series focused on mycelium-based materials, and organizes open competitions for original educational protocols. Accepted submissions are made freely available for global classroom use.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Award prizes and recognitions to student teamsPresents multiple awards annually to student teams based on research quality, design, storytelling, and presentation, including the Glass Microbe sculpture for the overall winner, medal recognitions (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), and sponsored prizes such as Outstanding Science and Outstanding Social Critique. High school teams and digital participants are also recognized.
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Academic Research Dissemination 1 activity
- Conduct and disseminate biodesign researchPublishes original research and analysis on the intersection of biotechnology, culture, and business in major publications such as Scientific American and Bloomberg Businessweek. Produced _Grow the Future_, a book documenting influential student projects and reflections from the first five years of the program.
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Scientific Conference & Symposium Management 1 activity
- Organize annual Biodesign Challenge Summit and related eventsHosts an annual in-person summit in New York City where finalist student teams from high schools and colleges across more than 20 countries present biodesign projects at Parsons School of Design and the Museum of Modern Art. The event includes public exhibitions, livestreams, video screenings, and judging panels, with over 400 attendees. Finalist teams are evaluated for awards including Overall Winner, Runner-Up, and Outstanding Digital Submission.
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Alumni Community Building 1 activity
- Provide post-program support and alumni engagementMaintains a biodesign alumni community offering ongoing support, networking, and opportunities for former participants. Provides post-Summit feedback to student teams on their research, presentation, and next steps, and recognizes excellence through access to educational resources and public features.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Run international biodesign education program and competitionOperates a global education initiative engaging high school and college students in developing biotechnology projects that intersect art, design, and science, addressing areas such as sustainability, biomaterials, fashion, agriculture, medicine, and ethics. The program includes structured support through expert consultants, teaching honorariums, material stipends, and project evaluation.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Support educators in delivering biodesign curriculumProvides training, curriculum resources, monthly check-ins, workshops, and a library of readings and videos to Champion Instructors, particularly in underserved high schools and after-school programs. Offers teaching honorariums and material stipends to support course development and implementation.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration in biodesignBuilds collaborative communities among artists, designers, and biologists through programs like the Biodesign Challenge and co-founded initiatives such as Genspace. Facilitates joint projects and promotes integration of art, design, and biotechnology to anticipate societal implications of emerging biotechnologies.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$296K
Contributions & grants$188K64%
Program service revenue$93K31%
Investment income$15K5%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$346K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$197K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$483K
Cash$483K
Investments$0
Liabilities$109K
Net assets$374K
Liquid reserves16.7 mo
7 years on record · 2019–2025 · YoY revenue -16.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL RUBBERY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $96K |
board members · 3
- ALISON IRVINE — BOARD TREASURER
- DANIEL GRUSHKIN — BOARD SECRETARY
- ORKAN TELHAN — BOARD PRESIDENT
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- 5x5 Collective Partner — Nikhil Kumar, board member of Biodesign Challenge, is co-founder of 5x5 Collective, indicating a linked organizational relationship.
- BioBAT Art Space Partner — Supported the Outstanding Art award at the 2026 Summit
- BioBAT Art Space Partner — Supports the Outstanding Art Prize by providing a $1,000 unrestricted award, virtual mentorships, and consideration for future exhibition opportunities.
- Cambridge University Press Partner — Supported the Outstanding Field Research award at the 2026 Summit
- Cambridge University Press Partner — Supports the Outstanding Field Research Prize by featuring winners on its communication platforms, including the Cambridge Core blog and Research Directions podcast.
- Data & Society Funder — Hosted Daniel Grushkin as a Fellow, indicating a professional and likely funding or affiliation relationship.
- Elaine Young Partner — Biodesigner and artist who leads workshops at the annual BDC Summit.
- Genspace Partner — Co-founded by Daniel Grushkin, indicating a direct organizational partnership through shared leadership.
- Genspace Partner — Supported the Outstanding Science award at the 2026 Summit
- Genspace Partner — Supports the Outstanding Science Prize by providing winners with access to in-person and virtual classes and resources until 2027.
- John Hopkins Center of Health Security Government — Recognized Daniel Grushkin as an Emerging Leader in Biosecurity, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Museum of Modern Art Partner — Co-hosts the annual Biodesign Challenge Summit and presents student projects.
- Museum of Modern Art Partner — Co-hosts the annual Biodesign Challenge Summit with Parsons School of Design, providing a venue for student project exhibitions.
- Museum of Modern Art Partner — Hosts the Top Teams' final presentations and showcases winning projects, including the Outstanding Digital Submission Prize winner.
- Museum of Modern Art Partner — Hosts the annual BDC summit for finalist teams to present their projects.
- NEW INC Partner — Partners on the Emergent Voice Prize by offering a one-year community membership, resources, workshops, and network access to winners.
- NEW INC Partner — Supported the Emergent Voice award at the 2026 Summit
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provided public funding support for the Biodesign Challenge Summit 2026
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary public funder of the Biodesign Challenge Summit 2026
- Open Fung Partner — Collaborates with Biodesign Challenge to co-launch the MycoStack Micro Challenge, a program advancing mycelium-based biomaterials education.
- Open Fung Partner — Collaborates with Open Fung to co-organize the MycoStack Micro Challenge and advance open-access mycelium education.
- Parsons School of Design Partner — Co-hosts the annual BDC summit for finalist teams to present their projects.
- Parsons School of Design Partner — Co-hosts the annual Biodesign Challenge Summit at its campus.
- Parsons School of Design Partner — Hosts the annual Biodesign Challenge Summit alongside the Museum of Modern Art.
- Parsons, The New School Partner — Hosts the Biodesign Summit Day 1 presentations and judging sessions.
- Siegel Family Endowment Funder — Supported the Outstanding High School Project award at the 2026 Summit
- Siegel Family Endowment Funder — Supports the Outstanding High School Project Prize.
- Terra Partner — Supported the Outstanding Digital Submission award at the 2026 Summit
- Terra HQ Partner — Supports the Outstanding Digital Submission Prize by offering portfolio reviews to winning teams.
- Twist Bioscience Partner — Supported the BDC Prize for DNA Futures at the 2026 Summit
+ 2 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Competition-Based Learning with Public Engagement and Expert Mentorshipmethodology: competition-based educationBy engaging students in an annual competition supported by expert mentorship and public exhibition, the organization advances biodesign education, because structured challenges with real-world feedback loops increase motivation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public discourse around biotechnology.
- Ethics-Centered and Critical Design Educationmethodology: ethics-centered_design_educationBy embedding ethics and critical reflection into biodesign education, the organization ensures students develop responsible practices, because ethical awareness and sociotechnical critique enable future practitioners to anticipate the societal and environmental implications of their work.
- Interdisciplinary Integration of Art, Design, and Biotechnologymethodology: interdisciplinary_integrationBy integrating art, design, and biotechnology, the organization cultivates learners who can critically assess and shape biotechnological innovation, because combining creative and scientific disciplines fosters more responsible, contextually aware, and transformative solutions.
- Open-Access and Scaffolded Educational Resource Developmentmethodology: open-access educationBy creating open-access, progressively complex educational resources co-developed by a global community, the organization democratizes biodesign learning, because scaffolded and replicable materials lower barriers to entry and support incremental skill development across diverse contexts.