Born Global Foundation Competition for Innovation in Sustainability
The Boston University College of Engineering and the Institute for Global Sustainability are pleased to announce the 5th annual design competition for innovations to impact the global challenge of sustainability. The competition is open to Boston University undergraduates and masters students. Teams must be interdisciplinary.
Prizes
First Place $4,000
Second place $3,000
Third place $2,000
This year projects will focus on one of seven project topics inspired by the Boston University campus, and real world sustainability challenges. The project topics are:
- Flood resiliency on the Boston University Campus
- Waste water reclamation in water scarce locations
- Sustainable landscaping
- Integration of solar energy with the built environment
- Desalination in desert climates
- Rainwater capture and use on the Boston University Campus
- Making zero-waste goals zero effort
Students interested in competing will sign up for a project topic as an individual or with possible teammates. Teams will be limited to 3-5 students. If there is sufficient interest in a topic, teams will be selected based on needed skillset.
Each group must include engineering students and students from non-engineering majors, housed in college like the Questrom School of Business, College of Arts and Science, School of Public Health or College of Fine Arts.
Projects will be judged on the efficacy of technical innovation and the business model for how such an innovation might be economically and ecologically feasible compared to current methods. The top three projects will be given additionally funding to continue development and prototyping of their project during the spring semester.
The competition is made possible by a generous gift from the Born Global Foundation headed by Dr. Kimberly Samaha, an alum of BU College of Engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Join Mailing List for Important Announcements
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Biomimicry: definition & examples (explained with drawings) — YouTube
Schedule
Town Hall Kickoff Meeting
Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 12-1PM | ENG 245, 110 Cummington Mall
Kickoff Meeting Recording
Code: BGComp2023!
Sign Up for a Project
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Teams Announced
Monday, November 6, 2023 | Project teams and topics will be announced via email to the teams,
Project Proposal Submission
Friday, December 22, 2023 | The proposal should include a 1-page project overview to explain the challenge addressed and initial ideas. Proposals should be emailed to Professor Emily Ryan in PDF format
Project Progress Meetings
End of January 2024 | Arranged with Prof. Ryan
Draft Final Report
March 29, 2024 | Template
Final Report Due
April 22, 2024 | Emailed to Prof. Ryan
Oral Presentations
End of April 2024
Winners Announced in the first week of May 2024
To Join the Email List send a request to Prof. Ryan
Hosted in partnership with the BU Institute for Global Sustainability