“Global Innovation Challenge” to draw attention to international water, sanitation needs

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo’s Community for Global Health Equity will sponsor “Global Innovation Challenge 2016,” an interdisciplinary hackathon-style event to be held May 16-21 and aimed at developing solutions to the sanitation needs of schoolchildren in low- and middle-income settings worldwide.

Based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation for All, UB undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students from diverse fields of study will work in teams to develop social, economic, technological, and public policy solutions to sanitation challenges faced by schoolchildren around the world.

International stakeholders-in-residence from India and Uganda, representatives from WaterAid UK and key UB faculty members will present information and guide each group’s work during the week-long event.

The Global Innovation Challenge (GIC) will offer participants the opportunity to collaborate with others and address significant real world challenges in a meaningful and professionally enriching manner.

Student teams will compete for up to $10,000 for further development and testing of the most compelling ideas.

The student groups will present their proposals at pitch sessions to be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 21, followed by question-and-answer sessions and feedback from the panel of judges. Audience members also will evaluate the presentations through a “people’s choice” vote.

Awards will be presented to the teams, and a celebration with refreshments will follow. The pitch session, awards ceremony and reception will be held at the Hayes Hall auditorium on the UB South Campus. The award ceremony is free and open to the public; online reservations (http://tiny.cc/kscfby) are requested.

More information about the Global Innovation Challenge and the Community for Global Health Equity is available at https://www.buffalo.edu/globalhealthequity.html.

About the GIC’s visiting expert stakeholders-in-residence:

Mahesh Chandrasekar is an Indian social development professional who specializes in advocacy, policy, programs and training. He is the director of research and advocacy at Dream a Dream Foundation. His extensive work with impoverished communities in urban and rural areas is based on the principles of equity and inclusivity.

Ashabrick Nantege works with Uganda’s Appropriate Technology Centre for water and sanitation (ATC) as the senior training and development officer. She has served as a researcher and consultant on water-access and sanitation technological innovations in a variety of settings.

Reena Sen is executive director of the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy. In addition to her administrative management experience, she has expertise in teaching children with cerebral palsy and other neuro-motor disabilities, as well as learning difficulties.

Lisa Lenker
Program Coordinator
Community for Global Health Equity
Tel: 716-829-2168