Pitch your idea to solve some of today's greatest challenges

Students in Years 5-9 from the Gladstone and Western Downs regions have the unique opportunity to pitch their innovative ideas to solve some of today’s greatest challenges through the 2019 Future Makers STEM Awards. The Gladstone region includes the Gladstone and Rockhampton Local Government Areas.

Students are tasked with using STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) knowledge and skills to identify a local problem with real-world context and pitch a solution that relates to one of the competition topics (Environment, Recycling, Natural Disaster and Health). 

THE TASK:

  1. Research and identify a local problem in your community that focusses on one of the four award categories of Environment, Recycling, Natural Disaster or Health.
  2. Develop and pitch a solution using your knowledge and skills of STEM. How you showcase your submission is completely up to you. You could use diagrams, text or images to help communicate your designed solution. 
  3. Complete the awards nomination form and response questions and upload supporting material to the Future Makers website by the closing date Friday 11 October 2019.

  • Environment
  • Recycling
  • Natural Disaster
  • Health
  • Environment

For example – Designing sustainable solutions to environmental challenges e.g. more efficient fertilizers, creating barriers to erosion, water pollution, air quality, food shortages and protecting endangered species. 

  • Recycling

For example – Repurpose, refurbish or remanufacture waste into reusable material to reduce disposal, landfill and environmental damage. 

  • Natural Disaster

For example – Detecting and alerting people of a natural disaster or how to continue production of resources and supplies during a natural disaster.  

  • Health

For example – Improving the quality and efficiency of medical care, engineering better medicines, and responding to widespread health emergencies.

SELECTION CRITERIA: 

  • Identification of a local problem relevant to one of the competition topics
  • Originality of solution
  • Potential impact of the solution
  • Clarity of wording/diagrams/reasoning
  • Appeal of presentation

PRIZE:

  • The awards are run exclusively across the two regions, with one set of award winners in each region. Students in the Western Downs, Gladstone and Rockhampton Local Government Areas are eligible to apply.
  • There will be two categories in each region: one for students in Years 5 and 6 and one for students in Years 7, 8 and 9.
  • Three winners in each category (a winner, runner-up and third-place getter)
  • 1st prize includes: $500 gift voucher, a STEM prize pack and the opportunity to showcase your submission at the World Science Festival Brisbane in Gladstone and Chinchilla 2020.
  • 2nd prize includes: $300 gift voucher and a STEM prize pack.
  • 3rd prize includes: $200 gift voucher and a STEM prize pack.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION:

To submit your application for the awards, complete the nomination form below and attach your supporting materials before the closing date Friday 11 October 2019.

CONTACT:

If you have any questions about the awards please contact the Future Makers team by phone 07 3842 9220 or email info@futuremakers.org.au.

2019 Future Makers STEM Award

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