02/03/2022
By Holly Lalos

The Rist DifferenceMaker Institute is a campus-wide program that encourages creative thinking in all UMass Lowell students (all majors and years in school). DifferenceMaker provides resources (funding, mentorship, skill-building workshops, etc.) to help students pursue their ideas, solve real-world problems they are passionate about, and have a social impact. To learn more about DifferenceMaker, please visit the website: www.uml.edu/differencemaker.

Past DifferenceMaker student ideas include:

  • developing curriculum to educate students in combatting online terrorist recruitment;
  • developing a safety jewelry product and application to help save lives;
  • educating high school students about drunk driving through performing arts;
  • helping students in need of food assistance;
  • developing 3D prosthetic hands for children in need,
  • informing voters about upcoming elections and candidate policies;
  • creating a water filtration system for developing nations; and many more.

Student teams gain support through DifferenceMaker and go on to make a positive impact in people’s lives and the world.

Don’t let your students miss out on the chance to compete in the 2022 10th Annual $50,000 Idea Challenge.

Applications close on Feb. 11, 2022.

Students can submit their application through the DifferenceMaker Idea Platform: www.uml.edu/ideachallengeapp.

Questions? DifferenceMaker@uml.edu