Inspiration corner
These case studies of successful alumni-funded projects should spark your imagination.
Alumni-funded grants have supported projects at the University for many years. Student Experience Grants replaced Innovation Initiative Grants (IIG) in summer 2018.
Some case studies below refer to Innovation Initiative Grants, but these projects would still be eligible for funding under the current scheme.
Community BEES
Alex and Marika of the University society Community BEES tell us how a Student Experience Grant helped them bring new life to local land at Portobello Beach.
The Elevator Project
Sophie shares how a student tutoring project helped her to feel part of the city community as an Edinburgh student.
CasePALs - a learning resource for veterinary students
Heather tells us how developing a learning resource for veterinary students has enhanced her learning.
APEX 6: Altitude Physiology Expedition
A group of 34 University of Edinburgh student volunteers traveled to Bolivia to further our understanding of human physiology at high altitude.
Butterfly Baby Clinic
Psychology Masters student Jiaqi tells us what she learned through her involvement in an alumni-supported project that helps local families during the pandemic.
Project Myopia
Rianna shares how an idea she had at University has grown into a resource that is helping UK academics navigate decolonisation.
The Journey of Tea
Students from the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security travelled to India where they explored the journey of tea from plantation to teapot.
Medical start-up supports Covid-19 response
From student start-up to critical personal protective equipment (PPE) supplier during a global pandemic, Augment Bionics has had an inspiring journey since receiving its Student Experience Grant last year.
Bringing communities together
A new student and staff led project is empowering Syrian refugees to participate fully in the Edinburgh community.
WellMed - a peer-support group
Medical student Dan tells us more about what he learned as one of the founding members of a peer-support group for mental health.
Sharing the wonders of beekeeping
Honey bees colonies at the Easter Bush Campus Apiary have delighted young visitors thanks to an alumni-funded grant.
Hunting MicroMonsters in the Highlands
A group of PhD students travelled deep inside the Scottish Highlands to study microorganisms in two lochs and produce a documentary, thanks to alumni funding.
At the interface of science and art
Visual art and data have combined to reveal the effects of climate change in the Arctic, and to create a breath-taking exhibition, thanks to alumni support.
Exploring sustainable fashion in India
Students from a range of subjects visited India to unpick the threads that form the country’s $200bn textile industry in a trip supported by Edinburgh alumni.
Ruins - Bridging different worlds
Meet [M] Dudeck, the performance artist who wants to provoke conversation about art and religion.
Aiding Change
An alumni-funded grant is helping a student-run social enterprise to improve lives in Ghana through solar-powered hearing aids.
Racing to the top
Edinburgh students have taken first place at the UK’s first driverless race car competition thanks to an alumni-funded grant.
Creative challenge in European languages
Alumni funding is giving students an opportunity to develop and practise their creative writing skills in European languages.
Coding Club: a positive peer-learning community
A student-staff collaboration is helping people to improve their statistics and programming skills through workshops and online tutorials.
A small bar of soap with big impact
Through an all-natural soap that includes insect repellent, students are empowering women with entrepreneurial skills while combatting malaria.
Increasing access to clean water
Using an innovative fog catching system, students have increased access to clean and affordable water for a community in the Atlas Mountains.
Dangerous women
A unique initiative that explores the concept of dangerous women has been completed with the help of an alumni-funded grant.
A breath of FreshAir
An alumni-funded Innovation Initiative Grant has given students a unique opportunity to provide live commentary at Edinburgh sporting events.
A scientist walks into a bar
The Pint of Science festival made its debut appearance in Edinburgh thanks to an alumni-funded Innovation Initiative Grant.
Why lose it if you can use it?
The Swap and Reuse HUB has grown from an event for new students to the UK's first registered student co-operative focusing on workshops and food sharing.
Stories from the sea
Edinburgh College of Art graduate and now teaching fellow in illustration talks about her project that paired students with primary school pupils from Orkney.