IBM EdTech Youth Challenge now open: more than $15k in prizes

IBM Australia, the Australian Museum (AM) and Macquarie University have launched a new challenge for Australian students to identify and help solve some of the planet’s greatest issues using artificial intelligence (AI).

Registration for the IBM EdTech Youth Challenge is open to all schools throughout Australia for students in Years 7 to 10, with more than $15k in prizes available for the winning ideas.

The IBM EdTech Youth Challenge invites teams of students and teachers to present ideas where AI helps solve problems facing society in one of three categories:

• Environmental Sustainability: Help humanity be more environmentally conscious, reduce consumption and degradation of natural resources and understand the effects climate change is having on our world and lives.
• Health Concerns: Combat pressing health issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to support healthier lives and better quality of life.
• Disaster Resiliency: Prepare and respond to natural disasters, such as bush fires.

To participate, teams will need to register for the challenge, design and build their Project Logbook and submit a video pitch explaining their solution. Projects will be reviewed by an expert judging panel and winners will be announced at a special online awards ceremony during National Science Week in August 2021.

Teams interested in participating in the IBM EdTech Youth Challenge must submit their Project Logbook and video pitch by 4pm AEST Monday 21 June 2021.

In addition to prize money, winning teams will have the opportunity to meet experts from IBM, the AM and Macquarie University to discuss their ideas and solutions and how they could be applied to communities around the world. Winning teams will also have their solutions showcased on the AM and Sydney Science Trail 2021 websites and access to the AM’s Museum in a Box program for their school.

The Australian Museum has worked successfully with IBM on the national citizen science program FrogID since its launch in 2017.

“We’ve seen firsthand the power that technology solutions can have in helping us understand and protect the environment through projects like FrogID, which uses a free app to track one of the most threatened groups of animals on Earth - frogs. Education is a cornerstone of the Australian Museum and we are thrilled to be involved in this challenge to help inspire lifelong learning and to find creative and diverse solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing problems,” Kim McKay AO, Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, said.

“We’re proud to have worked in partnership with IBM to develop a global AI curriculum framework, with supporting teacher and student resources for the IBM EdTech Youth Challenge in Australia. We look forward to seeing what exciting AI solutions the teams develop to help solve real world problems,” Dr Anne Forbes, Macquarie University, said.

Registration for the IBM EdTech Youth Challenge is now open and participation is free. Following registration, teams will have access to online resources to facilitate the development of their solutions, including a special content hub featuring exclusive videos and other resources from AM experts. Teams will also have the opportunity to submit questions to AM and IBM experts which will be answered during a webinar in April.

For full details, conditions, and how to register, visit: https://australian.museum/learn/teachers/ibm-edtech-youth-challenge/.