Innovation Challenge - NYAS

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Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2024: “Wearables”

Published August 14, 2024

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences

Team members: Riya K. (India) (Team Lead), Shreeniket B. (United States), Sysha R. (India), Prakul P. (India), Tisha S. (India), Medha T. (United States)

Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition that affects 55 million people worldwide and 1 in 10 people older than 65 in the United States, according to the World Health Organization. Alzheimer’s disease is the best-known form of this debilitating condition, which leads to memory loss and confusion. It gradually erodes individuals’ ability to perform simple functions or even recognize familiar faces.

The impact of dementia is not limited to the individuals affected by the condition. Caregivers, who are often family members, bear the burden of providing support, often at great personal cost.

Harnessing the power of wearable technology, the members of this enterprising team composed of high-schoolers from the U.S. and India, devised the VisionXcelerate glasses – an innovative device designed to provide personalized assistance to dementia patients and help them perform every-day tasks independently, thus lightening the burden of carers. Some of the sensors are contained in an eyeglass chain that also ensures users do not lose the device. The students reached out to patients, hospitals and nursing homes to identify specific needs.

“After contacting 90 dementia patients in total, I gained new research and critical thinking abilities. I was able to identify their needs by observing them and analyzing their responses,” explains Sysha, who also learned about coding while working on the image/facial recognition for the glasses. “I have gained more empathy for others by trying to find a solution for people suffering from Alzheimer’s.”

“Wonder Glasses”

The VisionXcelerate smart glasses and their numerous features, including collecting user health data, are the result of an intense group effort, with each team member contributing different skills and strengths. “Being the Team Lead for this project, I’ve witnessed firsthand how collaboration, hard work, new ideas, and obstacles have shaped our journey,” explains Team Lead Riya. “Each member of our team has contributed significantly, from ideation to prototyping. It’s been inspiring to see everyone’s passion and commitment to the project.”

The students used both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) to develop the various functions of their “wonder glasses”, which provide real-time assistance, and help dementia patients overcome some of the challenges posed by memory loss and help wearers identify objects and faces. “I was mainly involved in the research and design aspects of the project, particularly surrounding the technologies we wanted to implement in our design and their practicality/viability,” explains Shreeniket, whose approach was partly shaped by observing elderly family members.

For example, the device includes a virtual personal assistant that prompts users to take medication at specific times and to eat or drink at regular intervals, in a voice that mimics the patients’ loved ones. This helps to foster trust and build emotional connection.

VirtualXcelerate also features an app that allows caregivers to monitor the patients and their activities from afar. “The experience of working with teammates sitting in different corners of the world has helped me gain new insights and think about solutions from a completely new perspective,” explains Tisha.

A Rewarding Journey

Working across time zones was not always smooth sailing. “There were a few hiccups. But at the end of the day, everything came together beautifully,” says Prakul. “Despite the obstacles, the journey was rewarding. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, taught me valuable skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and project management, and allowed me to contribute to a meaningful cause.”

This experience gave team members a new understanding of dementia and how it affects patients and those around them. “I learned about the difficulty dementia patients face on a daily basis, and how our solution was impactful to them,” says Medha. “During this process, I helped contribute to researching certain features on the glasses, such as the reminders. Additionally, I sketched out each feature on the glasses, in a variety of angles to demonstrate the importance of location. Overall, this experience was an outstanding opportunity for me.”

As dementia sufferers are prone to falling, the glasses have detection systems to alert caregivers in case of a mishap while GPS tracking and geofencing allows them to locate patients who have wandered beyond a safe area and are too confused to find their way home. These security features not only contribute to dementia patients’ well-being, but also provide carers and relatives peace of mind.

With user feedback, the team plans to continue to refine their solution and add more elements that will further enhance the quality of life of people living with dementia, help them retain their independence longer, and ease the pressure on caregivers.

Read about the other winner from the Spring 2024 Junior Academy Innovation Challenge:

Developing Circular Textile Practices Through Recyclable Fabrics and Reducing Color Dye Pollution

Students Make Sustainable Fashion Statement

Sustainable textiles hanged up on a tree outside.

Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2024: “Circular Textiles”

Published August 14, 2024

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA)

Team members: Rachita J. (India) (Team Lead), Mariia H. (Ukraine), Sofía R. (Colombia), Alex B. (United States), Sylvia X. (United States), Altynay N. (Kazakhstan)

Textiles and fashion are important sectors for the world economy but as demand increases, so do the environmental and human costs – due to harmful production processes that degrade natural resources and the mountains of textile items that are discarded every year.

Estimates suggest that 87% of global textile waste ends up in landfills or incinerators. These environmental impacts apply not only to the clothes we wear in our daily life, but also to the textiles used in the medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.

For the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge “Circular Textiles”, this international team of students came up with new suggestions to improve environmental standards in textiles, each member sharing their own insights to the design of their solution. “Throughout the project, everyone contributed their unique ideas and leveraged their specialized skills to advance our goals,” explains Sylvia. “The synergy within the team was palpable, fostering an environment of creativity and productivity.”

Collaborating online through the Academy’s Launchpad platform, the students divided the tasks across the group to develop their comprehensive plan. “I did some research and produced tables that consisted of the information about the project,” says Mariia. “I also contacted some experts and I was working on Lean Canvas.” The team found that technical textiles – engineered and manufactured with specific functions in mind – was a rapidly growing sector that reached US$213 billion in 2023, a 5.6% increase in the previous year.

Replacing Non-Sustainable Synthetics

The group focused on finding a sustainable replacement for fossil fuel-based synthetic yarns, nature-based materials like Rayon (viscose) that are linked to deforestation, as well as fibers like cotton that require water-intensive cultivation. They landed on Biofabrics as a potential solution. The students proposed addressing the three main drawbacks of Biofabric clothing – the expensive cost, the susceptibility to microbes, and the poor resistance to repeated washing – to create a more affordable, longer lasting product.

Their solution was using agricultural waste to optimize the production of a synthetic cellulose fiber called Lyocell and relying on deep eutectic solvents (DES) as an alternative to the more expensive chemicals traditionally used in cellulose extraction to reduce the cost. Another ground-breaking innovation involves the application of silver nanostructures to the Lyocell fibers, which would confer both greater durability and antibacterial properties to the fabric, and last more than 20 washes.

To tackle the pollution caused by fabric coloration, the team members suggested employing Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP), a cutting-edge technique that uses laser beams to create nano-texture surfaces with precise interference patterns to impart vibrant colors without the need of toxic dyes.

Throughout the competition, the team’s schedule was intense. Finding time to meet across time zones was not always easy. “There were some challenges during the entire duration of the project, the biggest being the time difference,” says Team Lead Rachita. “I however tried to manage this by dividing the team further into teams and distributing tasks after getting approved by the entire team.” Team member Alex, for his part, created a spreadsheet to keep track of availability. “This helped us schedule meetings with as many people able to attend as possible,” he says.

Striving for Sustainable Textile Production

The students realized that, in addition to using technology to make textile production less damaging to the ecosystem, promoting circularity and sustainability in the sector also required raising awareness of environmental impacts among consumers, particularly in low and middle-income groups, which account for an estimated 90 percent of the global population.

They developed “EcoFashion,” an app designed to educate users of all ages and engage with them, which includes age-specific games aimed at toddlers and teenagers, challenges to motivate adults, as well as mini courses and interactive modules that deliver a wealth of information and leverage psychology to change consumer behavior.

For nine weeks, the team members worked long hours to develop their innovative approach and outline their findings in a polished presentation. “With the abundance of information and the high quality of research done by each team member, condensing it into a concise presentation was daunting,” says Sofia. “To overcome this hurdle, we collectively decided to put in extra hours, working diligently to summarize our findings effectively while ensuring the essence of our work remained intact.”

Their success, and the skills they acquired along the way while developing friendships across borders, made it all worth it. “The experience was great as it was the first time I did such a thing,” says Altynay. “I think such experience will help me in the future in researching other things, and in communicating with different people.”

Read about the other winner from the Spring 2024 Junior Academy Innovation Challenge:

Using Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality to Assist Dementia Patients

Improving Classroom Accessibility with AI

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Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Fall 2023: “Cognitive Classrooms”

Published August 14, 2024

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Advancing Education Through Digital Technology

The team developed an AI-led application designed to diversify the education experience, give students access to new visualized learning styles, and enable teachers to monitor individual students’ performance and provide support when needed.

The tool analyzes the students’ learner profile and enables teachers to provide them with a personalized teaching plan that considers their strengths and weaknesses. By providing visual learning features, such as 3D models and live simulations using VR/AR, the app enhances the learning experience and supports students with learning difficulties. The teacher can more easily track individual students’ progress, track their response, and identify when individuals need additional attention.

The team drew on individual members’ skills to build their app. “I’ve enjoyed working with the team, capitalizing on our respective strengths for the best possible outcome,” explains Anoushka. “This journey helped me truly appreciate the power of collaboration and teamwork!” Their end product—an elegant app that uses OpenAI API, Python and Eleven Labs API to improve the classroom experience for both students and teachers—won praise from the judges.

Their already impressive achievement is made even more outstanding by the difficulties they overcame to reach their solution. For six intense weeks, the team worked across time zones and at odd hours of the night to create their prototype app. “Even though we all had various commitments, whatever time I had spare, it would be dedicated to this even if it was midnight at my time!” explains Jefferson.

Sharpening Practical Skills

“Working countless hours at awkward times in the morning, just to meet up with your friends from halfway across the globe and work on something that truly motivates you is a feeling I cannot describe,” says Team Lead Dawik. “This project has taught me how to lead better, how to work with my peers and manage my time as well as the importance of meeting deadlines and staying committed to your work.”

Through the challenge, the team members were able to sharpen skills that will be essential in future endeavors, like teamwork and critical thinking. “My journey with this team has proven to be incredibly enriching. The team’s diverse skills and backgrounds, coupled with our unwavering unity, created an environment of continuous learning and personal growth,” believes Abhay. “We tackled challenges head-on, demonstrating resilience and innovative problem-solving.”

The Cognitive Classroom challenge was a wonderful learning opportunity for the members of the team and it left them hungry for more creative discoveries. “From late-night discussions to constructing prototypes and presentations, this environment taught me many things and opened new paths I never dreamed could exist,” explains Asmit.

His teammate Atharv concurs: “The diversity, unwavering support, and commitment to excellence of team members have pushed me to grow professionally and personally. I’m grateful to be part of this remarkable team, and I eagerly look forward to our next adventures.”

Read about other winners from the Fall 2023 Junior Academy Innovation Challenge:

Alternatives To Mineral Space Mining

A shot of Lithium from the periodic table of elements.

Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge – Fall 2023 “Minerals of Technology”

Published August 14, 2024

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA)

Team members: Sriyash T. (Team Lead) (India), Radoslav K. (United States), Aarish K. (United States), Rehan S. (India), Aashritha T. (United States), Farhan M. (United States)

For the “Minerals of Technology” Junior Academy Innovation Challenge, high school students were asked to come up with an innovative approach to secure the supply of the critical minerals needed to support the transition to a fossil fuel-free society.

Critical minerals are used in the manufacture of cell phones, photovoltaic solar plants, electric vehicles and numerous other modern appliances. As a growing number of countries move away from fossil fuels to combat climate change and limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°, ensuring a sufficient supply of these critical minerals has become a global concern. The supply will need to increase six-fold by 2040 to support the shift to a more climate-friendly, fossil fuel-free world. Crucially, these rare minerals are not renewable, and must therefore be used efficiently and sustainably.

For their winning project, the MINnovator’s team members from the United States and India sought a solution to this issue in space. They proposed developing a fleet of autonomous asteroid mining drones, powered by hydrogen and solar energy. The drones would extract and process the resources they collected in space. The students’ plan would reduce the carbon emissions associated with conventional mining methods and mitigate the risk of mineral shortages on Earth.

Intrigued, Yet Skeptical

“Initially intrigued, yet skeptical about the idea of harvesting resources from asteroids for a cleaner alternative, I’ve witnessed the evolution of this concept into a tangible project,” says Aarish. “Our space droid, fueled by solar and hydrogen energy and employing 3D printing technology, promises to revolutionize resource acquisition. The droid’s ability to gather rare metals, silicon, oxygen, and water presents a promising solution to the scarcity of these vital resources on Earth.”

According to their ambitious solution, the drones would include a retractable drill to harvest materials through precision scraping or strip mining of resource-dense veins, as well as 3D printers and robotic assemblers to process them in situ. Only finished products would need to be transported back to Earth, in bulk shipments, to maximize cost efficiency and minimize environmental impact. Thanks to a modular design, the drones could be adapted and configured for optimal use during specific aspects of the mining cycle.

“One of my primary roles within the group was the creation of 3D models that visualized the intricate details of our proposed asteroid mining operations,” explains Farhan. “This involved a steep learning curve, but the opportunity to immerse myself in the technical aspects of space mining was both exciting and rewarding. The models not only enhanced our presentations but also provided a tangible visual aid that helped the team grasp the complexity of the project.”

Opening New Horizons

The topic of this Junior Academy challenge opened up new horizons for the team members. “Working with this team on the mineral conservation project through asteroid mining was an illuminating journey,” explains Aasritha. “Working with a diverse team has been a profound and enriching experience, one that has stretched my perspectives and broadened my understanding of collaboration in many ways I never anticipated.”

“It was both inspiring and incredibly satisfying to think that our study would open the door for asteroid mining to provide sustainable mineral conservation,” says Rehan. “The problem we faced was extremely complex and offered many difficulties, one of which was coordinating communication across time zones.”

Tackling a global issue that could shape the future of their generation, gave the participants a great sense of achievement. “This initiative underscores the potential of youth to wield significant influence, irrespective of age or background,” says Team Lead Sriyash. “I want to express profound gratitude to my exceptional teammates. The formation of MINnovators was driven by the intent to unite diverse individuals who share a common fervor for leveraging science to transform the world.”

His teammate Radoslav, echoes Sriyash’s sentiment: “Even when this challenge is over, I trust every one of us to go out into the world and continue to make the world a better place, one project at a time.”

Read about other winners from the Fall 2023 Junior Academy Innovation Challenge:

The Environmental Benefits of Vertical Farming

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Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge – Fall 2023 “Green Homes, Green Schools, Green Communities”

Published August 14, 2024

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences

Team members: Iga P. (Team Lead) (Poland), Eliska B. (Slovakia), Alfiya K. (Kazakhstan), Ivanna V. (Ukraine), Linda M. (Slovakia), Nouha O. (Tunisia)

Mentor: Adeola Akinsulure (Nigeria)

In Fall 2023, The New York Academy of Sciences invited high school students from around the world to select an environmental issue they encounter at school, at home, or within their community, and devise a creative solution to address it, as part of a Junior Academy Innovation Challenge.

Working in virtual teams through the platform Launchpad, over 800 students responded to the invitation and offered novel approaches to specific environmental issues they had identified.

The six members of the winning team, Destination: Green, honed their focus on urban farming, which can increase the resilience of city dwelling communities to the impacts of climate change and reduce excessive pressure on fragile land resources.

“The existing food system faces vulnerabilities,” says Nouha. “It is susceptible to weather and economic changes, leading to a rise in the number of people experiencing food shortages. Conventional farming practices cause environmental harm, polluting the natural resources and damaging ecosystems.”

Increasing Resilience Through Vertical Farming

Vertical farming enables individuals living in urban environments to cultivate nutritious fresh food, in spite of limited access to land. Having decided to focus on this practice as a way to improve the sustainability of food supplies, the team first conducted a survey to assess overall knowledge of this cultivation method and identify the obstacles that currently limit the growth of urban food production.

The results revealed poor awareness of farming opportunities in urban settings and highlighted the need for educational efforts: while 64% of respondents weren’t familiar with the concept of vertical farming, 95% of people surveyed expressed an interest and 92% said they would start a farm if they had the necessary information.

The team members used these results to craft their solution. To address the knowledge gap, the team designed an app that guides users through the launch and development of a vertical farm, providing educational resources to make urban farming more accessible.

“Each of us had different strengths; some of us were better with finding ideas for [our] project, some with completing specific tasks,” explains Linda. “My main contribution to the project was probably [the] creation of all the designs of an app in Canva. Apart from that, I wrote some of the milestone texts, participated in meetings, discussed what the app should look like, and found information about some specific topics.”

The app will feature easy-to-follow vertical farming techniques, with tutorials and tips to support aspiring urban farmers. Other features include an AI chatbot that provides assistance and recommendations, a progress tracker, a shopping page for supplies, and a discussion forum to promote community engagement.

Overcoming Unique Challenges

Eliška admits she initially had doubts about working as part of a team. But her misgivings evaporated rapidly when she started collaborating virtually with her fellow team members.

“Right after the first online meeting, we immediately decided when we would meet and planned our work,” she says. “Overall, I liked working with my team. We organized it very well and I never felt like I had to do everything by myself.”

To devise a comprehensive solution and complete their project on time, the team participants had to overcome some unique challenges. Alfiya joined her teammates online from Kazakhstan, across multiple time zones.

“Usually when we met, it was pretty late for me, around 10 or 11 pm, but I wanted to put my efforts into this project,” she says, expressing her pride at having contributed to the solution. “During this challenge, I took different tasks like creating a Google form to ask people about vertical farming, gathering information about microgreens, and much more.”

Destination: Green team members are delighted that their collective efforts have been recognized. The challenge provided an enriching learning experience for the participants, who developed new skills in the course of the project. As Team Lead, Iga guided discussions and shared relevant research, as well as contributing botanical expertise.

“Learning to lead and efficiently delegate tasks were pivotal skills I acquired, enhancing my ability to communicate and motivate the team effectively,” she says. “I realized that collective success is built on trust and collaboration.”

Read about other winners from the Fall 2023 Junior Academy Innovation Challenge:

The Adventures of the Nutritional Kingdom Project

Bowls containing fruits, nuts, and other super foods.

Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2023: “Healthy Snacks”

Published February 27, 2024

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Team members: Natalie O. (Team Lead) (United States), Lara K. (Jordan), Connie H. (United States), Mariem M. (Egypt), Ibrahim S. (United States), Amena S. (Jordan)

Mentor: Leticia Mendoza-Martínez (Mexico)

Childhood obesity has become a major public health issue around the world. In the United States alone, 1 in 5 children is overweight or obese– a particularly prevalent issue in the Hispanic community, where lack of access to affordable, healthy food along with other socioeconomic factors create major disadvantages.

For the Junior Academy’s 2023 Spring Innovation Challenge on “Healthy Snacks”, six students formed an international team to develop “The Adventures of the Nutritional Kingdom”– a campaign to encourage healthy eating aimed specifically at Hispanic children in the southern U.S. Collaborating across continents and time zones, the students met online to create the winning project. “Cooperation enhances the goal because when a group from different countries of the world gathers to work on one goal, this undoubtedly confirms its importance,” Meriem says.

According to the CDC, 26.2% of Hispanic youth are obese. Childhood obesity can have broad consequences, from long-term health implications like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, to psychological impacts like anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, (often related to bullying). Before devising their solution, the team conducted a survey of Hispanic families in both Spanish and English to help them identify a novel approach.

Natalie assumed the role of Team Lead. “I was in charge of overseeing everyone’s collaboration efforts, notifying team members of their weekly tasks, and was the head website developer for the team. It was a surreal experience being a leader of such intelligent and motivated students. Our ideas were productive, and our final results are absolutely spectacular,” she says. “I learned valuable leadership and time management skills that will help me in future years to come.”

To reach the target audience, the team created an interactive, kid-friendly website with a vibrant jungle theme and gender-neutral animal characters, as well as a series of articles providing useful information on healthy nutrition and eating disorders. They also explored recipes, recreating a popular snack using alternative, healthier ingredients, and created an app with 13 different games that incorporated important nutritional information.

Meriem worked for hours on developing the games, using vivid colors attractive to young users. “I contributed by writing four articles on healthy eating habits and summarizing the problem and background of our solution,” explains Connie. “I also researched (former First Lady) Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move’ campaign, alternatives to unhealthy snacks and previous initiatives introducing healthy snacks.”

Ibrahim conducted research and contributed extensive data on physical exercise and hydration. “I read articles and answered questions such as how people got their nutrients during the Great Depression, foods that can be cooked at low temperatures as well as foods that keep hydration in your body and more,” he says. Among her many contributions, Amena focused on how to reach the target audience for the app. “I provided my knowledge and skills in business and marketing the product to help us reach children, whether they were high or low-income children, as well as designing the product’s packaging,” she explains.

The team is excited to see their carefully considered, multi-faceted project create social impact, hoping to find ways to even further reduce mental stress and health problems among Hispanic children. In particular, they want to make their website available in Spanish as well as English to expand its reach. “This experience has fostered a deeper understanding of the power of teamwork and its capacity for optimizing collaborative efforts between human agents,” says Lara. “Future pursuits will undoubtedly involve enhanced focus on cooperation among individuals to promote more effective outcomes.”

The Junior Academy was supported by the Stevens Initiative, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and is administered by the Aspen Institute.

Combating COVID-19

Overview

From March 25th to May 6th, 2020, over 2000 young innovators from 74 different countries came together to join the fight against COVID-19. In response to the coronavirus outbreak and global shutdown, the New York Academy of Sciences invited creative problem-solvers from around the world to participate in the challenge for a chance to receive a $500 travel scholarship to attend the Global STEM Alliance Summit. The winning solution, GOvid-19, is a virtual assistant and chatbot that provides users with accurate pandemic-related information. Learn more about the winning solution and the solvers who designed them.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic in March 2020. As scientists and public health experts rush to find solutions to contain the spread, existing and emerging technologies are proving to be valuable. In fact, governments and health care facilities have increasingly turned to technology to help manage the outbreak. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has sparked alarm worldwide. Many countries are grappling with the rise in confirmed cases. It is urgent and crucial for us to discover ways to use technology to contain the outbreak and manage future public health emergencies.

Challenge

Consider the obstacles faced by governments, healthcare providers and/or patients and design a technology-based solution that can be deployed in response to combat COVID-19. The solution can be an improvement of an already existing technology or a new application. Solutions should consider the following:

Modes and rates of disease transmission
Known preventative and protective measures against COVID-19
Lack of vaccine, medication, and treatment for COVID-19
The public health system, local healthcare infrastructure, access to technology and other relevant contexts

Winners

The winning solution, GOvid-19, is a virtual assistant and chatbot that provides users with accurate pandemic-related information about government responses, emergency resources, statistics on COVID-19 while utilizing grassroots feedback, streamlining medical supply chains with blockchain and AI techniques address potential accessibility issues among the most vulnerable groups.

Overview

From May 8th to June 19th, 2020, over 250 innovators from 21 different countries worked together to develop syndromic surveillance systems that help us better understand the current pandemic and prevent future outbreaks. The New York Academy of Sciences invited solvers from around the world to participate in the challenge for a chance to win a $5,000 USD grand prize. The winning solution, SYNSYS: Tracking COVID-19 created by Esha Datanwala, is a syndromic surveillance system that uses online data to predict outbreaks. Learn more about the winning solution and the solver who designed it.

In the last two decades three new Corinaviruses have jumped from animals to humans – called the spillover effect– causing serious illness and fatalities. Scientists and researchers in various sectors are racing to develop treatments and a vaccine while also investigating fundamental questions about the virus such as the seasonality, full range of symptoms, true fatality rate, viral latency, dose response curve of the viral load, long-term immunity, mutation rate etc.

The lack of Syndromic Surveillance for Coronavirus has grossly exposed the global and local preparedness for pandemics making us vulnerable as well as putting extreme stress on our government, healthcare facilities, medical supply demands and economies.

Challenge

Using available data from the COVID-19 pandemic and/or past outbreaks of SARS and MERS (see below for some suggestions), design an innovative syndromic surveillance system that addresses the need for improved surveillance networks to better understand the threat of future waves of COVID-19 and/or future Coronavirus outbreaks.

Winners

SYNSYS is a syndromic surveillance system designed for the public & private healthcare sectors. This system uses public domain mined data from Google Trends, various social media sites, census data, and satellite data to predict outbreaks, both before they happen and while they’re happening.

Team Member: Esha Datanwala

Circular Textiles

Overview

Textiles play a vital role in our lives from our clothes, to our homes to everyday products in the background of our TikTok feed. But how often do we think about those textiles – who made them? How are they made? How do they get from the raw materials to our hands? 

The vast majority of textiles have a linear path – raw materials are made into textiles and then go from the sales rack to the landfill. With the rise of fast fashion and other rapid textile production in different industries, there is an urgent need and business opportunities for innovative, sustainable, and circular flow of textiles within the supply chain. How can we draw upon the concepts of a circular economy and inject innovative approaches to sustainable and circular practices within the textile supply chain?

Winners

The winning team, EcoFashion, developed a unique approach to the Circular Textile model by developing a synthetic cellulose fiber using agricultural waste, sustainable color dye methods, and an app to educate users on sustainable fashion practices.

Team members: Rachita J. (India) (Team Lead), Mariia H. (Ukraine), Sofía R. (Colombia), Alex B. (United States), Sylvia X. (United States), Altynay N. (Kazakhstan)

Mentor: Xanthi C. (Greece)

Wearables

Overview

From watches to implants to sensor-enabled clothes, tiny, “wearable” microprocessors are all around us both in consumer and industrial uses. With the explosion of the Internet of Things (IOT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the current and near-future possibilities for wearable technology are only limited by our imagination. Used widely and connected in a network, wearables hold the potential to be powerful tools for responding to some of the world’s trickiest issues.

How could you use today’s wearable devices, or design new wearable technology, to address challenging issues in disaster management or non-communicable diseases?

Winners

The winning team, VisionXcelerate, focused on a solution to help elderly individuals with dementia by developing a pair of smart glasses integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to assist with daily tasks such as medication reminders and person recognition, along with fall detection systems and GPS tracking to assist caretakers.

Team members: Riya K. (India), Shreeniket B. (United States), Sysha R. (India), Prakul P. (India), Tisha S. (India), Medha T. (United States)

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