Need for speed: Mozilla awards $101K to local gigabit projects

The Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund announced it will award a total of $101,000 to fund six local projects that use gigabit technology to impact learning.

The Gigabit Community Fund is a national partnership between the National Science Foundation, US Ignite and Mozilla. Locally, the fund partners with KC Digital Drive, whose goal is to leverage next generation internet technology that will spark innovation in Kansas City and nationally.

“Each of the organizations we’re working with are using an emerging technology to pioneer a new opportunity for learning, and that’s exciting,” said Janice Wait, managing director of Mozilla Gigabit Community fund, Kansas City chapter. “Through these projects, we’re able to support growing ecosystem of education innovation in Kansas City.”  

In addition to Kansas City, Mozilla announced grant recipients in Austin and Chattanooga. The pilot period for these projects will begin Jan. 30 and will last for 16 weeks.

Here are the Kansas City grant recipients:

• Big Bang — This local Internet of Things company will bring real-time internet connectivity through “Gigabots,” educational robotics that will be implemented in Kansas City and Austin, Texas.
• The Urban Farming Guys – This nonprofit dedicated to elevating equal opportunity will build an IoT Smart Greenhouse and aquaponics, offering open source food production and education.
• Trinity Animation — This Lees Summit-based animation studio will use medical VR for anatomical education.
• ElevateEDU — This project will leverage science and volunteer computing to create learning and research opportunities for students.
• V Form Alliance — The V Form Alliance, which consists of 5 women of color, will use VR to teach black history via “virtual field trips” to landmarks in Kan. and Mo.
• University of Kansas, School of Architecture, Design & Planning  — To deploy population health strategy in smart cities, students and professors will lead a project and design sustainable, affordable housing.