About the Competition
Do you have great ideas for ways to improve our campus to be smarter AND more sustainable? Have you identified areas where new technologies or innovative approaches can improve our campus?
If so, check out these two new SSC Student Competitions:
Campus Project Competition
Form a group to propose an on-campus project that will improve our campus conditions and make us smarter AND more sustainable. The top five successful group proposals will be provided a budget of up to $25,000 to implement their project on campus during the 2021/22 academic year.
Innovative Solution Competition
As a group or individually, offer a unique and creative idea on solving one of our pressing campus sustainability problems. The top five most innovative ideas will receive cash awards of $2,000 each.
Challenge your creative minds to come up with innovative and people-centric solutions by integrating technologies and sustainable concepts that can help us improve our campus. You can focus on the landscape, buildings, facilities, mobility, learning and living spaces, catering, or supporting services. Or, you can identify any other area that will benefit from a creative new approach.
If you want to turn your idea into reality… form a group and enter the SSC Campus Project Competition. Your team will identify something specific that can be done on campus within this academic year that will improve our sustainability performance. Propose work that can be undertaken by your team and can have a budget of up to $25,000. The top five teams will receive funding, mentoring and guidance to turn the idea into real project for implementation on campus. Through meeting faculty and senior university administrators, the winning teams can build leadership skills, gain project management experience, and enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
If you just want to share a cool idea… then enter the Innovative Solution Competition. For the competition you will present your creative idea and make a case for why this new concept is relevant and important for us to consider. It is not necessary to implement this idea – just give us your concept and amaze us! You can enter as an individual or a team. The top five winners will receive a cash award of $2,000 and the bragging rights of being an SSC creative champion!
Submission Process
Submit a paper of up to four pages in length (all-inclusive of photos, graphics, and text descriptions) describing your idea. All submissions will first be reviewed by a judging panel who will select a short list of finalists. Shortlisted teams / individuals will be asked to create a short (3 minutes, max) video or an electronic poster for public viewing. Voting results from UST members and SSC committee members will be consolidated to determine the winners.
• Students can submit more than one entry
• Submission deadline: 1 October 2021
• We recommend each group to have 3-4 members
Eligibility
All UG and PG students are eligible for participating in the competition.
Evaluation Criteria
All papers will be assessed based on the following three criteria-
(a) Significance of Problem - problem that is identified and well-defined with empirical observation
(b) Novelty of Solution - solution that is original and creative in addressing the problem
(c) Feasibility of Implementation - solution that is technically feasible and cost efficient
Important Dates
Information Session (on zoom): 4pm on 6 September 2021 (For zoom details please refer to promotional email)
Paper submission deadline: 1 October 2021
Judging panel review: by 15 October 2021
Shortlisted students’ submission of posters and videos (for public voting): by 26 October 2021
Public voting: 5-11 November 2021
Announcement of winners: 15 November 2021
Implementation of team projects: November 2021- June 2022
Prizes
Most innovative solution awards (top 5 individuals or teams): $2000 cash prize
Campus project awards (top 5 teams): budget of up to $25,000 to implement their project on campus during the 2021/22 academic year.
*In addition, we will provide mentoring on project management, support and guidance for project implementation on campus. To learn more about the SSC projects, please visit https://ssc.hkust.edu.hk/projects
We believe that every student should be given the chance to contribute towards making the campus a green, innovative and energizing place. Be our partners. Your ideas matter.
For the top 10 entries of the last SSC student paper competition held in fall semester 2020, please click here to learn more about their project ideas.
Supporting Unit
