There are two weeks left for teachers across the country to enter the 12th annual $2 million* Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, which challenges 6-12 grade classrooms to use STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math) to tackle local issues of national importance in a sustainable way. The deadline to submit has been extended to 11:59 p.m. ET on November 15, 2021, giving teachers additional time to apply for this year’s program.
Public school teachers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia can submit their activity plans that enable students to inspire real-world change to address critical issues such as mental health and social justice in their communities using problem-based learning. The application form requires teachers to outline their local challenge, as well as how students will use STEM to create a solution to address the problem.
For the first time, Samsung has partnered with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) for the Solve for Tomorrow Contest, furthering Samsung’s commitment to sustainability. Eligible for the inaugural Environmental Sustainability Winner award, this year’s applicants are encouraged to use responsibly sourced materials in their prototypes and align their project ideas with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The judging rubric for this year’s contest will also include a component that will evaluate factors such as how to sustain the project idea over time.
“We’re proud to partner with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow to encourage the next generation of changemakers to tackle the most critical environmental and social issues affecting their generation,” said Judy Braus, the Executive Director of NAAEE. “It is the grit, creativity, and passion of our young people that give us hope for a brighter future, and we look forward to seeing this year’s ideas and solutions”.
Solve for Tomorrow will award $2 million in technology and supplies to schools as they advance throughout the contest, all redeemable through DonorsChoose.org. As part of the strive for sustainability, Samsung will encourage schools to select Samsung Energy Star products as part of their prize packages. Once lesson plans are submitted, the contest will proceed with the following phases:
As part of Samsung’s guiding vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People’, Solve for Tomorrow was created in 2010 to encourage innovative thinking, creative problem-solving and teamwork to address the most pressing issues impacting society. Today, the competition fosters critical thinking and creative problem solving, anchored in problem-based learning. For the past decade, Samsung has awarded $120 million in technology and classroom materials to more than 2,500 public schools in the United States.
To enter the contest, and for official contest rules, please visit samsung.com/solve. The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. ET on November 15, 2021.