Stage Details

Stage 1: OPPORTUNITY RECOGNITION

In this stage, we hope you'll become a keen observer, taking a deep dive into your chosen area of interest, be it agriculture, technology, healthcare, education, or anything that ignites your passion. Activate your problem-solving superpower and scan for unmet needs, frustrations and challenges around you. Don't be afraid to test the waters and question the status quo - after all, innovation thrives on a healthy dose of skepticism.

We will have SDG experts from the United Nations and Foreign Embassy officials to lead this stage of the competition.

Remember, opportunity recognition is not about finding the biggest, flashiest problem. It's about identifying challenges that resonate with you, that you feel passionate about solving.

Don't forget to check out the Dean's SDG Innovation Challenge discussion on Blackboard, there’s a reward for the most active team.

Stage 2: IDEATION AND RESEARCH

We hope that this stage of the Whitman Dean’s SDG Innovation Challenge will help you develop empathy for people, define the problem you're trying to solve, ideate widely, think through possible prototypes through rough sketches to a working model, thinking about how to test your prototypes with real users and get their feedback, and lastly implement by integrating your innovative solution into existing systems, or launching it to a broader audience.

Design thinking is a powerful tool that can help you come up with innovative solutions to any challenge. It is not a linear process, and iterations may occur between stages. If you're looking for a new way to approach problem-solving, then you’re in luck. The director of experiential learning at the Whitman School, Erin Draper, will lead this phase of the competition with the support of other instructors.

Stage 3: PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT

This stage brings a unique opportunity to showcase your prototype before a panel of renowned faculty members. These esteemed experts, across diverse disciplines, are eager to dive deep into the R&D behind your solutions. Prepare to engage in invaluable discussions, receive insightful feedback, and gain crucial perspectives on refining your prototypes to maximize their impact.

So, prepare your prototypes, polish your explanations, and step into the spotlight. Stage 3 promises to be a dynamic space where your passion meets expert knowledge, where ideas gain traction, and where the path towards tackling the world's most pressing challenges becomes clearer than ever.

Stage 4: COMPETITION

This marks the last stage of the competition, comprised of four crucial components:

1. Report Writing: Gateway to the Elite 8 Group

This phase serves as the decisive factor to secure a spot in the prestigious Elite 8 group. The Elite 8 will consist of four undergraduate and four graduate students , with finalists determined by the collective evaluations of UN members and esteemed panelists.

2. Creative Video: Unleash Your Creativity 

Students are tasked with crafting a creative and captivating video. As the name implies, the video should not only be creative but also compelling. This segment challenges participants to showcase their innovation and storytelling skills.

3. Poster Presentation: Audience Choice Award

In this segment, every team must create a visually striking poster presenting their ideas to alumni, panelists and the audience in attendance. The winner of the Audience Choice Award will be decided based on the collective response from these stakeholders.

4. Elite 8 Presentation and Prize Ceremony

This final stage features the Elite 8 teams doing a PowerPoint presentation to the judges. The culmination of the competition will be marked by the announcement and celebration of the prize winners.