Transforming Our Tomorrow

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As the world seeks to find the solutions that will build resiliency in the face of climate change, universities and colleges have stepped up to the plate. Innovation and creativity are pivotal in driving the technology we need to change the current unsustainable system of energy production.

Competition Highlights

UB Sustainability is searching for students from across New York State to present their revolutionary ideas that will create a more sustainable world through clean energy. Students that have completed a project or program, or have an idea for a new policy or invention, can apply to compete for a cash prize at the University at Buffalo’s Transforming our Tomorrow. Participants will have five minutes to showcase their work either in teams or individually.

View Past Competitions

Your Presentation

Strive to:

  • Challenge the audience's pre-conceived notions of a particular topic
  • Present something that the audience has probably never thought about
  • Reveal something the audience has never considered about an existing topic
  • Inspire the audience to take action

Prizes

Each presentation will be scored by a panel of judges on from the following rubric:

  • Creativity
  • Presentation
  • Research

First place will receive $3000, second place $2000, and third place will receive $1,000. 

One project will be awarded a bonus prize of $200 for its consideration on the social impacts of clean energy. This could mean their project's implications for low-income communities, developing countries, gender equality, education, racial equity and more.

All students that participate will receive a professionally edited video of their presentation. 

Timeline

February 28:

  • The application is due on December 28. In this application, there are two ways to submit your idea:
    • One is with an optional submit a 1-2 minute video pitch. It doesn't need to be a fully polished idea, but a summary of your concept. Please upload these files to a dropbox and attach the link in the space provided.
    • The other method is with a short 2-3 paragraph explanation of your idea.

April:

  • Transforming our Tomorrow Competition held virtually date TBD.