The Bright Spark Invention Challenge is inviting applications from school students. The deadline for registration is September 24, 2024.
About Bright Spark
Bright Spark is part of Bridge Innovate’s Innovation for Good programming and is designed to ignite creative confidence with students and educators using design thinking. Bright Spark offers innovation competitions like Bright Spark Invention Challenge for students 4th-grade through 12th-grade to build design skills such as empathy, creative problem solving, prototyping, and pitching.
Students who are interested in STEAM and entrepreneurship compete in Bright Spark competitions to expand their design skills and innovation portfolio. Students also gain exposure to industry and education leaders such as IBM, Ford Motors, Georgia Tech, and Morehouse College, serving as advisors and judges.
About the Bright Spark Invention Challenge
Students use the design thinking process to identify a real-world problem, empathize, ideate, and prototype a physical invention. This year, the challenge is: “How Might We reimagine temporary housing to help people in crisis?”
Through an invention, students have to address temporary housing in the event of a crisis. Their solution can be: (1) a product, service, or technology assists people who need temporary housing or (2) a holistic model of service addressing the need for temporary housing.
Dates
October 1 – October 31, 2024
Cost
Free
Participants
Rising 4th – 12th Grade Students (ages 9 – 18)
Location
The program is virtual from start-to-finish.
How to Participate?
- You must register to participate. Team up with others or participate as an individual. The registration deadline is September 24, 2024.
- Design a product, service or technology that helps people prepare for and recover from natural disasters.
- To showcase the invention prototype, generate a 90-second pitch video introducing what you’ve designed.
- Submit your video! Videos will be used for public voting to determine the finalists. A judging panel will select the winners from the finalist group.
- Attend virtual award ceremony on November 20, 2024!
Judgement Criteria
The finalists are judged based on the following criteria:
- Idea – Identifies a real-world problem/challenge
- Originality – Idea is original, novel, creative and/or inspiring
- Ideation Process – Demonstrates the invention’s function and application
- Prototype – In alignment with ideation and considers cost and material needs
- Experiment – Demonstrates multiple testing of prototype
Awards
Students/teams are eligible for the following awards:
- Best Overall by Age Level: Elementary, Middle, High
- Most Creative
- Best Prototype
All teacher leaders receive Design Thinking Leadership digital badge. Teachers of winning individuals/teams are eligible for the 2024 Innovation for Good award presented by Bridge Innovate.
Benefits
For Students
- Build creative confidence through solving real-world challenges
- Collaborate with diverse teams and professionals
- Spark potential internship and career opportunities
For Schools
- Build student and educator creative confidence
- Build stronger citizenship skills by providing opportunities to create community and business solutions
How to Register?
Interested participants can register through this link.
Deadline
The deadline for registration is September 24, 2024.
Click here to view the official notification of the Bright Spark Invention Challenge.
