10 in 10 Design Challenge
UB has committed to get to carbon neutrality by 2030. This ambitious goal needs your help. This summer Blackstone Launchpad and UB Sustainability are asking you to bring your passion to combat climate change, your creativity to solve problems, and love for UB to the test in designing solutions to bring our greenhouse gas emissions down to zero. We’re talking sustainable transportation, renewable energy, food systems, waste reduction, carbon offsets and carbon pricing. There’s something for every interest and academic background.
Students will form teams that will develop climate action solutions for our university. Over the course of three weeks, they will have the opportunity to connect with experts, hone their ideas and ultimately pitch their work to a panel of judges.
First Place: $2,000
Second Place: $1,000
Third Place: $500
Program Schedule
The 10 in 10 Design Challenge is structured with two weeks of one hour sessions that have students engaging with experts and practitioners in climate action. The third week is an independent week for the teams to meet with project mentors and craft their pitch, culminating in the final competition.
*please note, the topics of the days below may shift around due to presenters' schedules
- Tuesday, June 1: Introduction to the Challenge
- Wednesday, June 2: Taking stock of our Food
- Thursday, June 3: Carbon Offsets and Carbon Pricing
- Team formation happens through Google Docs / Slack
- Friday, June 4: Renewables and Heating and Cooling
All sessions are from 4-5pm unless otherwise noted
- Monday, June 7: Drafting a Business Plan- Day 1
- Tuesday, June 8: Drafting a Business Plan- Day 2
- Wednesday, June 9: Green Commutes and Electric Vehicles
- Thursday, June 10: Behavioral Change and Conservation
- Friday, June 11: Zero Waste
All sessions are from 4-5pm unless otherwise noted
During this week, teams will reach out to project mentors and get advice on their ideas. On Friday, they will deliver their final pitches to a panel of judges.
Tuesday, June 15, 4-6pm: Reactor Session [A first draft of your pitch to a panel of experts]
Friday, June 18, 4-6pm: Final Pitches