University of Newcastle (Australia) students, staff, and alumni are invited to submit their spark of an idea for how mosquitoes might be controlled. Ideas must be expressed in fewer than 500 words or within a 1-minute video.

Judged by an expert panel, the top 10 most innovative and creative ideas that are grounded in knowledge of current constraints in controlling mosquitoes will each win a $500 School Locker voucher. There is no limit to the number of entries or prizes per person.

Idea Spark is a pre-Grand Challenge competition and has the aim of generating creative and innovative ideas that address the challenge of controlling mosquitoes. Who knows, your Idea Spark submission may be the seed for a great proposal into the Grand Challenge!

All you need to do is submit your spark of an idea for controlling mosquitoes in fewer than 500 words or in a video less than 1-minute in length before 24 August 2020.

About The Grand Challenge

The Grand Challenge will bring together multidisciplinary minds from across our community to explore solutions around one of the more perplexing problems of our time.

A combined $50,000 in funding is available to teams who submit the most innovative proposals addressing the challenge of controlling mosquitoes. Participants will be supported with a range of events and workshops to help ensure their proposal has the best chance of securing funding.

The Grand Challenge is a great way to meet new people, be exposed to fresh ideas, learn new skills and build creative, original work while having real-world impact. Great ideas come from everywhere, so no matter your background or experience you’ve got everything to gain by participating. For more information on the Grand Challenge to go www.newcastle.edu.au/grand-challenge or watch the recording of the information session.

Key dates

STAGE 1 IDEA SPARK COMPETITION

Mon 10 Aug - Idea Spark Competition submissions open

Mon 10 Aug - Design Thinking Workshop

5PM, Mon 24 Aug - Idea Spark submissions close

Wed 26 Aug - Idea Spark winners announced

STAGE 2 SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Mon 31 Aug - Build an All-star Team Workshop

Wed 2 Sep - Ask Me Anything webinar with Nothing but Nets

Mon 7 Sep - Create Real-World Value Workshop

Wed 9 Sep - Ask Me Anything webinar with 2019 Winners

Mon 14 Sep - Create Sustainable Impact Workshop

Thu 17 Sep - Ask Me Anything webinar with Dr Cameron Webb, NSW Health

STAGE 3 GRAND CHALLENGE

Mon 21 Sep - Grand Challenge applications open

Mon 19 Oct - How to Pitch an Idea Workshop

Sun 25 Oct - Grand Challenge applications close

Tue 27 Oct - Grant recipients announced

Thu 29 Oct - Pitch Competition for grant recipients to win extra funding

STAGE 4 PROTOTYPING AND TESTING

All grant recipients undertake research and market testing with the option to participate Navigator (Dec) and Validator (Feb-Apr).

• Clarity of Problem
  Ability to describe well the part of the problem the participant is looking to solve.
• Vision / Solution
  Exciting, innovative and unique aspects of the proposal.
• End-user / Customer
  Demonstrated understanding of the end-user and/or paying customer and the benefits of the proposed solution for them.
• Realistic
  Submission is grounded in knowledge of current constraints in controlling mosquitoes.
• Responsible
  Submission is socially and environmentally responsible.