Sandbox 2025: A New Era of Innovation and Impact
The Sandbox at Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, kicked off its 2025 residency programme with an exciting event on February 22nd. This year’s cohort brings together nine exceptional residents and four dynamic student challenge groups, ready to tackle pressing societal issues through innovative and collaborative projects.
The Sandbox residency Grant is a beacon of support for groundbreaking initiatives that bridge research, artistic expression, and community engagement. The program provides invaluable resources, fostering an surroundings of experimentation, ideation, and incubation. This empowers residents to develop creative solutions to a diverse range of challenges facing our world.
this year’s cohort is tackling three key themes: Philippine Education Reform, Data-Driven Urban Resilience, and Sustainable Progress, in collaboration with the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability.
Each selected resident receives Php 100,000 in working capital, along with a Php 50,000 space-use grant for Areté facilities. They also gain access to the Eugenio Lopez Jr Makerspace, equipped with 3D printers, dedicated workspace in the Eduardo J Aboitiz Sandbox Zone for the duration of the residency, and workshops on creative thinking, ideation, and problem-solving.
Let’s delve into some of the captivating projects that will be shaping the future:
transforming Education Through AI
The AI-Assisted Bone Fragment analysis platform is revolutionizing education in forensics, archaeology, and medicine.By leveraging AI-powered bone recognition, 3D models, and engaging gamified learning, this innovative tool makes advanced skeletal analysis accessible and interactive. Accessible on smartphones and VR platforms, it fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration and empowers learners with a deeper understanding of skeletal remains.
Combating Bullying with Evidence-Based Solutions
In partnership with the Department of Education, a project aims to develop evidence-informed digital materials to combat bullying. Multidisciplinary teams of college students will collaborate with public school students, employing a human-centered design process to ideate, prototype, and evaluate tools that promote safer and more inclusive school environments. This collaborative approach ensures that the solutions are tailored to the needs of the students they aim to help.
Empowering Climate Literacy Through Storytelling
The KLIMA: Approaches to Climate Literacy project is empowering primary school teachers with climate education toolkits that seamlessly blend literature, climate science, and local narratives. By integrating culturally relevant stories, the project fosters empathy and critical thinking, equipping learners to address climate challenges while connecting to their cultural heritage. This interdisciplinary approach paves the way for a generation of informed and engaged climate advocates.
Exploring the Hidden Wonders of Marine Ecosystems
The Living Barrens project shines a spotlight on the biodiversity of often-overlooked soft-sediment habitats in popular muck diving areas of the Verde Island Passage.Through scientific surveys and captivating visual media, the project aims to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts for these vital marine environments. The findings will contribute to sustainable tourism practices and ecosystem protection in the Philippines.
Collaborative Conservation Efforts for Sea Turtles
The Pawikan Do It Together! project brings together NGOs and student organizations to tackle the challenges of sea turtle conservation. Through collaborative efforts, this initiative aims to protect these endangered creatures and ensure their survival for generations to come.
Ateneo Sandbox: Nurturing Innovation for a Better Future
The Ateneo Sandbox program is renowned for nurturing innovative ideas that address pressing societal issues. This year’s cohort showcases a diverse range of projects tackling challenges from environmental conservation to urban resilience and mental well-being.
One project, “Do it Together!”, exemplifies the power of collaboration. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ateneo Environmental Science Society and the Pawikan Conservation Center, is dedicated to raising awareness and action for sea turtle conservation. Through engaging educational materials, citizen science opportunities, and active monitoring protocols, the project empowers the Ateneo community and beyond to play a vital role in protecting these endangered creatures.
“Project Kalikhasaan” takes a unique approach to environmental consciousness. This arts-based project encourages participants to forge a deeper connection to their surroundings through nature journaling, using art and literature to reflect on their urban environments. By fostering a community of eco-journalers, the project aims to ignite a passion for urban sustainability and inspire meaningful environmental action.
Addressing the challenges of climate change and urban poverty, ”The Role We Play” project empowers the community residing along the Manggahan Floodway through a collaborative effort between academia and grassroots organizations. By combining design thinking and the arts, this initiative promotes youth leadership and strengthens community advocacy for resilient and sustainable housing solutions.
“The Well-being Project” delves into the crucial topic of mental health. By utilizing creative workshops like storytelling and role-playing, this project empowers Filipino children to define their own experiences of emotional well-being, ultimately contributing to a culturally relevant understanding of mental health and informing future policies.
“MACC: Crystallographic Symmetries Y2” bridges the gap between mathematics, art, and culture.This innovative project uses laser-engraved models, indigenous weaving patterns, and 3D designs to teach symmetry while celebrating Philippine heritage. By incorporating conventional knowledge into educational materials, the project aims to enrich mathematics education and inspire both students and educators.
the Sandbox program extends its support beyond these resident projects through the Student Challenge. This program provides undergraduate students with a platform to explore groundbreaking ideas. Early-stage “student challengers” receive valuable funding, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and mentorship from industry experts, paving the way for their innovative ideas to blossom.
“Concrete Jungle 2.0” tackles the challenge of urban resilience by drawing inspiration from ancient Roman concrete techniques. This innovative project combines these time-tested methods with modern bio-based materials like volcanic ash and chitosan to create self-healing concrete for coastal cities. This revolutionary approach not only reduces maintenance costs but also enhances resilience against extreme weather events,promoting sustainable infrastructure development and safeguarding cities against the impacts of climate change.
“Mapping Stories: Integrating Geospatial Data in the Loyola Schools’ Campus Mobility” brings a fresh viewpoint to campus life by utilizing geospatial frameworks to create an interactive map that “tells stories.” By combining quantitative data on foot traffic patterns with qualitative insights into how people perceive the campus, this project aims to foster a deeper understanding of movement and interaction within the Loyola Schools community, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and user-pleasant environment.
Tackling Global Challenges Through Art and Technology
two innovative projects are pushing the boundaries of creativity and problem-solving to address pressing global issues. These initiatives,born out of a desire to make a tangible difference,showcase the power of human ingenuity and collaboration.
Project Habi: Weaving Hope Through Artistic Expression
facing the realities of climate change can be overwhelming, especially for young people. Project Habi offers a powerful antidote to climate anxiety by empowering youth through art.
This community art project utilizes collaborative workshops and sustainable art practices to provide a platform for young voices to be heard. “By fostering solidarity and dialog,it empowers participants to express their experiences and take collective action on climate change,” emphasizes the project’s creators.
The culmination of Project Habi is a vibrant exhibition and zine, amplifying youth voices and inspiring others to take meaningful action towards a sustainable future.
waterfall: Bringing Clean Water to Underserved Communities
Access to clean water is a essential human right, yet millions around the world lack this essential resource. WaterFALL: Water For All is tackling this challenge head-on.
This innovative project focuses on developing an atmospheric water generator, a sustainable solution that harvests water directly from the air. “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,” explains the team.
Their commitment extends beyond development; WaterFALL actively documents the entire process on social media, educating the public and emphasizing the urgency of finding solutions to global water scarcity.
