Submission Date for Fall 2009
The entry deadline is November 16, 2009. Only entries that meet the criteria will be considered by the judges.
 
Award Announcements:
The awards for Fall 2009 will be declared on December 7, 2009. These are being sponsored by Rensselaer alumnus; business and social entrepreneur, Sean O'Sullivan. To read more about Sean O'Sullivan please click here.
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Change the World Challenge

THE CHANGE THE WORLD CHALLENGE is a twice yearly contest to develop innovative, technological ideas with the potential of changing the world. The Challenge is open to all RPI students, but interdisciplinary team submissions are particularly encouraged. It is a twice-yearly competition to develop innovative technology ideas with the potential of changing the world in energy, water, trust, security, and other areas. Read about the program's inception here.
Why Participate?
A chance to meet and work with like-minded students on something really important.
  • Each semester, a maximum of 10 awards will be presented and winning individual or team entries will share an overall pool of $10,000 that will be divided and awarded equally to winning solutions that improve the human condition.
  • A chance to actually CHANGE THE WORLD!
Spring 2009 Change the World Challenge Winners:

Seven student submissions were recently selected as winners of Rensselaer's "Change the World Challenge" idea competition for Spring 2009. Eighty-nine proposals, created by nearly 300 students/teams, were submitted for the Fall and Spring competitions. Created in 2005 by Rensselaer alumnus Sean O'Sullivan '85, the competition is intended to support entrepreneurship education and inspire ideas to improve the human condition by providing cash awards of $1,000 or more for ideas that will make the world a better place.
Click here for 2008 - 2009 Winners Video Interviews.
Click here for details on Spring 2009 winners.
Click here for details on Fall 2008 winners.
Click here to read about Spring 2008 winners.
Click here to view video of Spring 2007 Awards Event.
Click here to read about Fall 2007 Challenge winners.
Click here to read about 2007 Challenge winners success in international competition.
Click here to see 2007 Challenge winner's 500,000 Euros presentation at Green Challenge competition.
Submission Criteria
Provide a clear statement of the problem/opportunity with the following supporting information.
  • A summary description (elevator pitch) of no more than one single-spaced page must also be included with each entry. It should answer the following questions:
    • What is the problem you are solving?
    • Who are you solving it for?
    • How are you solving it?
    • How does your technological solution differentiate from already existing solutions?
  • Written submissions should be no more than 3 pages, not including diagrams, sketches, and appendices.
  • Enough details should be shown to demonstrate that your solution is feasible.
  • Include diagrams and sketches where appropriate.
To submit your Change the World Idea online
Only entries that meet the above criteria will be considered by the judges. Panels of experts from each area will review the submissions and make recommendations to the Vice Provost of E*ntrepreneurship.
What Do We Look For?
We are looking for big ideas in the areas of:
  • Energy- Energy conservation and generation is one of the biggest problems facing the world today. This problem can only worsen as the demand for energy in emerging countries like China and India increases. What big ideas can the U.S. take to decrease its energy use or increase its energy generation?
  • Water- Water conservation, purification and recycling is a major problem for developing countries. What big ideas can help developing countries, especially in North Africa and the middle east, improve their water situation?
  • Trust- Distrust between countries is a problem facing the world today. Stereotyping and lack of understanding led to many conflicts over the years. What big ideas can the U.S. take to improve understanding and reduce distrust among nations?
  • Security- Another problem facing the U.S. and other countries is protecting its citizens from external threats and from everyday crime domestically. What big ideas can help reduce local crime?
  • Other Areas- Please provide any ideas that you feel strongly about that would improve the common purposes of everyday life.
Click here to submit your ideas.