Individuals or teams (faculty, staff and students are all eligible) develop innovative ideas that support the university’s strategic plan, and broadly fall under two themes: The creation of innovative new cross-disciplinary collaborations (including building new research teams).  Note that research proposals should involve creation of new scholarly endeavors that involve development of new cross-disciplinary teams and not be simple extensions of current research programs.  The promotion of community, well-being, and belonging across the Marquette campus community.

Please see the timeline below for more information (click here for a PDF printable version).

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Timeline

Explorer Challenge 2.0 ideas portal now open to campus!
Submit your preliminary ideas here

Thursday, February 20, 2025, 11:59 PM [EDIT]
- Project ideas due, submission online portal closes [EDIT: Ideas can be submitted anytime]

Friday, February 21, 2025, Afternoon
- Portal ideas made available to campus
- Office hours announced for Innovation Council to assist with project development

Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 1-4 PM @ 707 HUB 
- Explorer Challenge 2.0 Innovation Sandpit Event: Opportunity for members of the campus community to share ideas, develop projects, and build teams. Facilitated by the University Innovation Council.

Friday, February 28, 2025
- Templates for one-page summary and pitch deck made available

Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 2-4 PM @ 707 HUB
- Explorer Challenge 2.0 Proposal Workshops to prepare for: (a) pitch and accompanying one-page summary; and (b) budget development

Thursday, March 27, 2025, 11:59 PM
- Final proposal one-pager, budget template, and pitch slide-decks (1-2 slides) due.

First week of April 2025 (date/time TBD depending on applicant availability)
- Explorer Challenge 2.0 pitches heard