Enter the Reimagine Our Future Undergraduate Sustainability Competition
September 6, 2022 8:32 AM

Dear students,

As University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students, we know you have ideas that can change the world. Do you have an idea to address a sustainability problem? The university wants to hear from you. We are excited to also learn the views of entrants from our two partnering universities: the University of Pretoria and Zhejiang University.

Reimagine Our Future Undergraduate Sustainability Competition

1. Choose a sustainability topic.
2. Come up with an idea to address it.
3. You may work alone or in a team.
4. Enter the Reimagine Our Future Undergraduate Sustainability Competition before Sept. 19 at this link: https://reimagine.web.illinois.edu/registration/.

After you enter, you will get the opportunity to connect with a specialist to research and refine your concept. As an entrant, you will also be able to participate in three (voluntary) ideations workshops presented by the Siebel Center for Design. Then you will create a fact sheet by Nov. 21 to express your idea.

Finalists will be notified by Nov. 25 and top-finalists will present their ideas on Dec. 3. Seven cash prizes will be awarded: Top Prize (1 winner): $2000; Second prize (2 winners): $1000; Third prize (3 winners): $500; An additional prize (1 winner) of $500 will be awarded to the finalist whose solution is deemed to be the most interdisciplinary.

Ideas will be judged based on novelty, feasibility, scalability/replicability, connection to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and compelling communication.

A sustainable future is everyone’s business. Each one of us must do our part. We have no time to waste. We have imagination, technology, infrastructure, global interconnectedness and most important, you, the engaged, committed, creative, owners and stewards of the future, to inspire us and enable us to explore bold and innovative solutions. The future is thirsty for new ideas. I know you have them!

Sincerely,

Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Ph.D
Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies
Illinois International Programs