KATU Innovation Challenge Finalists
85 Middle And High Schools Teams from across Oregon participated in this Spring’s KATU Innovation Challenge. Team projects are now submitted, and the challenge will culminate during Oregon STEM Week May 8-16. Winning teams will share in $10,000 of prize money.
Winners will be announced on KATU AM Northwest May 14th, 9: 00 - 10:00am - join us!
Creating a “Cleaner, Greener, Healthier Planet” is the theme of the KATU Innovation Challenge, sponsored by PGE Project Zero, Daimler Trucks North America, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Intel, and powered by Construct.
Students started their innovation journey by choosing a problem they were passionate about solving within their own community, including (but not limited to) the following topics: Eliminating Single-Use Plastic, Expanding Access to Electric Vehicle Systems, Ensuring Clean Fresh Water is Available, Making Cities Safe and Fun, and Responsible Consumerism.
Student teams were coached through the human-centered innovation process by Construct coaches, received mentorship from industry advisors, and prototyped solutions to contribute toward a “Cleaner, Greener, Healthier Planet.”
The creativity and insights demonstrated by all of the student teams was outstanding. Below are the selected finalists who will pitch their concepts to a panel of judges on May 6, 2021. Winners will be announced on the KATU Innovation Challenge News Special on AM Northwest on May 14, 9 a.m.
Finalists
Middle School
Eco-Minions!
Stoller Middle School
Concept: It’s a sensor-enabled real-time contamination detection hydro kit to address contamination in water as well as the wasting of water due to leaks.
Navya Dharshan, Shreya Rudhrakumar, Sreeprada Konduru
Team IDS
Stoller Middle School
Concept: It’s a modular, innovative, sustainable, low-cost smart rooftop solution to address the problem of stormwater management.
Akash Pai, Sohan Govindaraju
Team Mountain View
Mountain View Middle School
Concept: TMV created a program for creating art kits from recycled plastics for young people in the community.
Kuenzie Blubough, Adeya Alteneder
Sid & Arjun
Meadow Park Middle School
Concept: It’s a process involving microbial degradation of polyester to address the ever-growing problem of plastic pollution, specifically related to the textile industry.
Siddharth D’costa, Arjun Malpani
YoungMinds
Stoller Middle School
Concept: It’s a neighborhood delivery pooling system to address the problem of carbon emissions from transportation trucks in neighborhoods.
Anusha Jeyakumar, Sahana Muthaiya, Harshitha Rakesh, Nivedha Sathish Kumar
High School
Eco-lution
Westview HS & Jesuit HS
Concept: It’s a localized delivery system to address the emissions from the “last mile” of deliveries.
Bhavika Buddi, Anvitha Mahankali
Environmental Helper
Jesuit High School
Concept: It’s a low-cost smart composting bin with an accompanying app to address the problem of low composting rates & impact of food waste in landfills.
Samyak Shrimali
Fortuna
Westview HS & Sunset HS
Concept: It’s a solar energy storage method built to address the problem of intermittency with renewable energy and increase access to clean energy.
Michael Xu, Arnold Yang, Peter Wang, Mirja Rebaum
MacroVision
Liberty High School
Concept: It is a tool for extracting macroplastics from wet sand to address the problem of plastic pollution on beaches.
Jessica Clift
Mount Fridge
Glencoe High School
Concept: It’s a fridge management system to reduce food waste at the consumer level.
Ishaan Sinha