A few days ago, the finalists for the the 2011-2012 Spirit of Innovation Challenge were announced. This competition is geared towards high school students who want to apply STEM concepts (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) towards global challenges with an eye for marketability. Finalists will be presenting their ideas to scientists, industry leaders and experts at the Ames Research Center in California at the Innovation Summit on March 29th through the 31st.
Focusing on the categories of aerospace exploration, clean energy, and health and nutrition, these students offer a wide range of ideas that may have the potential to offer fresh new thinking to these industries. If anything, it encourages students to consider STEM careers that can make an impact on a variety of fields.
You can view team videos on the Conrad Foundation website. Of the teams who have uploaded their marketing videos, the solutions these kids are devising range from a new type of temperature regulating space suit to harnessing the energy of people's movement to a solution round clean drinking water, and they're pretty impressive. Over the next few weeks, these profile pages will get rounded out and the public will get to participate in honoring a team with the People's Choice Award voting from March 12th through the 23rd.
Congratulations to all the finalists! Read more about the Spirit of Innovation Challenge on my previous coverage at GeekDad.
