KATU Innovation Challenge 2021
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.
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.”
Who Participated
Finalist Concept Pitches
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Eco Minions
Stoller Middle School
Pitch by Navya Dharshan, Shreya Rudhrakumar, Sreeprada Konduru
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 leakss
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Team IDS
Stoller Middle School
Pitch by Akash Pai, Sohan Govindaraju
Concept: It’s a modular, innovative, sustainable, low-cost smart rooftop solution to address the problem of stormwater management.
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Team Mountain View
Mountain View Middle School
Pitch by Kuenzie Blubough, Adeya Alteneder
Concept: TMV created a program for creating art kits from recycled plastics for young people in the community.
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Sid & Arjun
Meadow Park Middle School
Pitch by Siddharth D’costa, Arjun Malpani
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.
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YoungMinds
Stoller Middle School
Pitch by Anusha Jeyakumar, Sahana Muthaiya, Harshitha Rakesh, Nivedha Sathish Kumar
Concept: It’s a neighborhood delivery pooling system to address the problem of carbon emissions from transportation trucks in neighborhoods.
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Eco-lution
Westview HS & Jesuit HS
Pitch by Bhavika Buddi, Anvitha Mahankali
Concept: It’s a localized delivery system to address the emissions from the “last mile” of deliveries.