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Frontiers of Research in Caribbean Science and Technology (FORECAST) Conference

Postponed

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In light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current steps being taken to mitigate its spread, the Faculty of Science and Technology, UWI, Mona and The Faculty of Sports and Science, UTech, Ja. have decided to postpone the staging of the FORECAST 2020 conference. Please check this website for any updates. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us via email.

Student Grand Innovation Challenge 2022

Register for the Challenge Now

2nd Student Grand Innovation Challenge

Up to $5,000 USDAttractive cash prizes to be awarded as well as an opportunity to present your innovation to leading scientists and industry experts for guidance and potential investment.There will be special awards for Best Overall Innovation, Best Innovation (High School), among others.

theme

Water

Competition Details

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 11, and 14 all speak to the importance of WATER in daily lives. It is recognized that water is a finite resource, and while it is required to maintain life, it can also cause widespread destruction and loss of life.
The management of water resources on both land and sea is therefore of vital importance to the sustainable development of towns, cities, and entire economies. This is particularly the case for the Caribbean region, and there is a need for innovation in the application of technology to make this a reality. (See UN SDGs at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/)
The FORECAST Grand Innovation Challenge 2022 is to develop a feasible innovation (prototype/product/concept) that will revolutionize the management, protection, and use of water resources in the Caribbean.

The Winning Solution

The winning solution should:
  • Identify a water related problem in the region and demonstrate how your innovation seeks to solve it
  • Be Scalable
  • Be Cost-effective
  • Benefit a wide cross section of societies in the Caribbean region
  • Show significant improvements over existing technologies employed to perform similar roles (if any exist) 

Challenge Format

First Round – Submission of GIC Entry Form. Qualification for the second round will be based on information provided in the GIC Entry Form.
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‍Second Round – Qualified teams will be required to submit a video on their innovation and will be invited to present their innovation to a panel of judges.

‍Final Round – Five teams will be selected to present their innovation to a panel of academic and industry experts at the FORECAST 2022 Conference.

Entry Guidelines

  1. The Grand Innovation Challenge is open to teams of high school, undergraduate and/or graduate students in CARICOM.
  2. Teams must be comprised of 2-5 individuals. (16 years and older)
  3. Each team should identify a mentor. A mentor can be a science teacher, lecturer, or a general advisor who is knowledgeable about the innovation topic.  Mentors cannot be active team participants. Teams without a mentor can make a request to have one assigned.
  4. The GIC Entry Forms should be completed and submitted online via the conference website by April 22 May 15 May 31, 2022 at 4:00 pm.
  5. Teams short listed for the second round will be notified by June 17, 2022.
  6. A virtual information session will be held on April 7, 2022, at 4:00 pm Jamaican time (GMT -5 hours). Attendants should register prior to the session using the link or QR code below: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting
    bit.ly/Register-FORECAST-GIC
  7. Teams shortlisted for the second round will be required to submit a 5-minute video presentation of their innovation to be submitted by July 8, 2022. These teams are to be present for the virtual Judging Day on July 15, 2022, and be prepared to answer any technical or philosophical questions asked by the judging panel.
    • In the case of prototypes and products, the candidates will also be required to present a working model of their innovation to be verified at an approved location*.
    • Please note that one of the criteria for selection for the finals is the availability of the entire team to present at the final pitch during the FORECAST 2022 Conference.
  8. Five finalists will be invited to pitch their innovations to a panel of academic and industry experts at the FORECAST 2022 conference on August 12, 2022, during the Grand Innovation Challenge Session.
  9. Select participants will also be invited to share their video presentations at the FORECAST 2022 conference and dialogue with academic and industry attendees
  10. Prizes will be announced at the end of the session.

Information

For further information, please contact: forecastconference@uwimona.edu.jm

Register for the Challenge Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for entry?

May 15 May 31, 2022 at 23:59 (GMT -5 hours) 

What is the cost for submission?

There is no cost for submission.

Who can participate?

Teams of 2-5 individuals over 16 years old attending high school or tertiary institutions in CARICOM territories.    

Can I be on multiple teams?

No, individuals can only be members of one team. 

Can mentors supervise multiple teams? 

Yes, mentors can supervise up to three different teams. 

Are mixed-level teams permitted?

Yes, teams may consist of any combination of secondary or tertiary students (undergraduate and/or graduate students ). 

How are mixed-level teams classified?

A team will be classified based on the team member at the highest level. For example, a team consisting of 1 tertiary student and 4 secondary level students will be regarded as a tertiary level team.    

Does every team member need to be present for the judging events?

Yes, all members need to be present virtually for the second round on July 15, 2022, and if shortlisted as a finalist, present at the FORECAST conference on August 12, 2022.

Can a team make multiple submissions?

Yes.

Can I make edits to my submission after the deadline? 

No. Edits can be made to your submission before the deadline. After the deadline, edits will not be allowed.

How will I know if I have made it to the second round?

Teams qualified for the second round will be informed by email to the team contact person by June 17, 2022. Selected teams must submit a 5-minute video presentation of their innovation by July 8, 2022, and attend a virtual judging day on July 15, 2022.

When and how will I know if I have made the final?

Teams qualified for the final round will be informed via an email to the team contact person by July 14, 2022. 

Who owns the idea I submit? 

You do.

How do I secure my Intellectual Property?

Barbados: Section 8(3)(a) of the Barbados Patents Act provides an exception to Novelty if an invention is disclosed to the public outside of 12 months. This means that any inventor has 12 months from the date of the conference to apply for a patent, failing which the invention will not be patentable for want of novelty.
Contact the intellectual property office in your country. Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) info@jipo.gov.jm (876)946-1300. 

Do I have to build a physical innovation?

No concepts are also accepted. There will be different judging criteria for concepts and prototypes/products.

Who will be judging the submissions?

The first round of submissions will be judged by the GIC committee members. The second and final rounds will be judged by a panel of experts. 

When and how will the winner and runners-up be announced to the public?

The winners will be announced on August 12, 2022, during the Grand Innovation Challenge Session at the FORECAST 2022 conference. 

How do I enter the Grand Innovation Challenge?

Enter via the conference website – https://www.forecastconference.org.jm/grand-innovation-challenge. Click on the "Register for the Challenge Now" button and fill out the entry form. 
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Partners:

The University of the West Indies (Cave Hill, Mona and St Augustine) and the University of Technology, Jamaica present, The Frontiers of Research in Caribbean Science and Technology (FORECAST) Conference 2022. The theme of this inaugural staging is
“Science & Technology: a D.R.I.V.E.R. of transformation”.

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