Welcome to the 2012 Kavli “Save the World Through Science and Engineering” Video Contest!

Join hundreds of the world’s leading scientists, engineers, thinkers, and innovators as we tackle mankind’s greatest challenges and help to build our future.

Our contest theme this year was inspired by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges. "Meeting these challenges would be 'game changing,'" says NAE president Charles M. Vest.  "Success with any one of them could dramatically improve life for everyone and may even be required for our survival."  We encourage you to learn more about the Grand Challenges to get resources and to help you develop ideas for your videos.

We are challenging you to:

1.    Investigate and Solve:

THE NEXT GREAT SOLUTION. What problem(s) do you think man needs to solve to improve life on earth? Is it to make solar energy economical, to provide access to clean water for everyone,  improve the way we teach students, or something else? Investigate the problem and propose or share a solution  (examples: energy, food production, climate, disease)

2.    Explore and Discover:

THE NEXT GREAT FRONTIER. Where, or what, do you think man needs to better explore or investigate, and why? Maybe it’s space, or the depths of the ocean, perhaps our own brains?  Be sure to explain how the discovery will improve or enhance our lives. (Examples: the human mind, the oceans, the earth, the sun, the universe, the human genome, cyberspace)

3.    Dream and Build:

THE NEXT COOL TOOL. What do you think we need to invent and build next? Why? How will we engineer the tools of scientific discovery, enhance virtual reality, secure cyberspace, or create some other cool tool? (Examples: nano devices and materials, new sources of energy from microbes, metallic elements, carbon sequestering, water purification, climate, transportation technology, data technology, robots, virtual worlds, bio-monitoring/testing devices, cloaking devices, communications devices, security technology, learning technology)

Explore your subject(s) online, in the classroom, and with your teacher. Develop your ideas, discuss them, and prepare to tell us about why they matter. Will you wow your viewers with visions of the future, or sober us and warn us about the present? Might you find your inspiration in the wing of a bird, the eye of a fly, or maybe deep in the heart of the sun?  You might choose to investigate or reflect on an issue like sustainability, clean energy, a man-made or natural disaster, phenomena, or an unexplored or underused natural resource. What benefits might we reap, what problems might we solve? What obstacles must we surmount before we can tap the resource? We are encouraging creative approaches, so your video could be anything from a poem or song or personal reflection upon one (or some, or all) of these themes, an animation, an interview with someone in your community, or an expression of your own views on the general state of mankind and our relationships with technology. For example, how might we better harness technology to cure disease, provide affordable energy, food, and clean water? How does technology help us, how does it hinder us? These are just some ideas to help get you thinking about how we can save our world though science and engineering. Check back here, and on our blog, in the coming weeks as we delve deeper into these topics. Please contact Stacy Jannis with any questions.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals
has placed this program on the
NASSP National Advisory List of Student Contests and Activities for 2011-2012.