Map the System. Change the World!
Map the System is a global systems thinking competition that engages students in deeply understanding and working within complex social and environmental problems. Participating students meet weekly in person to complete a research project and prepare to present their findings to a panel of judges at the annual Vanderbilt University Map the System competition. There is a total of $5,000 in cash prizes to be distributed among the top three teams.
Program Information
Map the System takes place in the Fall and Spring semesters, but will be accepting rolling applications. See below for more information on the timeline.
- Primary Registration Deadline: Sunday, Sept. 10 at midnight
- Kickoff: Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 4pm-6pm (3rd floor Wond’ry)
- In-Person Programs (repeating): Every Wednesday from 4:30pm-6pm from Sept. 20-Jan. 17, excluding Oct. 18, Nov. 22, Dec. 20, Dec. 27, and Jan. 3.
- Competition: Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 5pm-8pm (the Wond’ry)
Map the System is for students, staff, and faculty who:
- Are interested in pursuing a career in social innovation, social entrepreneurship, government, public policy, corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, or another related field
- Are concerned about a particular social, economic, or environmental issue and wants to identify opportunities to help solve the problem
- Aspire to launch a social business, whether for profit or non-profit
- Want to develop professional skills in systems thinking, an increasingly sought-after problem-solving framework in diverse professional fields
- Want to make a meaningful difference in the world
Additional resources from Oxford University:
If you have any questions about the program, please email our Program Manager, Jackie Hansom, at jackie.hansom@vanderbilt.edu.
Completion Requirements
Throughout the program, you’ll be guided through a process that will help you complete each deliverable by the required deadline. The deliverables you’ll complete are:
- A visual infographic of your problem landscape and system
- A word summary of research findings, max 3,000 words
- A bibliography of sources used during research
- An 8-to-10-minute presentation