Countdown to Challenge Submissions
Looking for 2020 Challenge results? Please scroll to the bottom!
What is The NeuroMaker Creative Challenge?
The NeuroMaker Creative Challenge is an annual, open design competition for Middle and High School students. This competition is open to students around the world in order to investigate the connections between Biomedical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Programming and more.
Students select a problem to investigate from a theme announced by the NeuroMaker judging committee. Students form teams, conduct research on this problem, build a prototype and then virtually submit their results in a short scientific report and video.
The committee will select six finalists, three from middle school submissions and three from high school submissions. Each group of first, second and third place finalists respectively receive $1,500, $500 and $250 and recognition from Harvard and MIT alumni educators and scientists. Five additional awards will be presented to teams that recognize important engineering and personal growth traits such as empathy, creativity and perseverance.
Registration in the NeuroMaker Creative Challenge is free for any student team that has purchased a NeuroMaker STEM kit from an approved sales channel.
The 2020 NeuroMaker Challenge Theme
Improving Life for Amputees
There are millions of people around the world that face challenges surrounding limb amputations resulting from traumatic accidents, cardiovascular disease, nerve injury and others. Each year there are more than 50,000 new amputations in the United States alone and this community must navigate a series of adjustments to a new lifestyle. Some examples of these potential challenges include:
- Communication: Typical body language using a hand can be a difficult transition for those using a prosthetic.
- Ergonomics: The fit and user experience of an amputee adjusting to a prosthetic requires detailed knowledge of biomechanics to employ correctly.
- Financial: Differing levels of prosthetic technology can cost beyond $100,000 which incurs large burdens on users and the organizations that help pay for them.
Your NeuroMaker Challenge:
Research: Discover issues facing amputees around the world and imagine what methods we can take to improve their life with technology. Use different learning resources to empathize with the issues facing people in this community.
Define: Out of these discovered issues, choose one to focus your efforts. Identify the user, their needs and any insights that can provide design opportunities.
Ideate and Prototype: Brainstorm different solutions to the issue you have identified. Using your NeuroMaker STEM Kit and other resources at your disposal, create material prototypes that demonstrate the effectiveness of your solution.
Refine and Present: Test your prototypes and document your learning and design process. When ready, create a video and written summary of your solution and submit these to BrainCo engineers for review.
Recognition and Development: Attend our January 2021 virtual awards ceremony and learn how others have solved the issues they have defined. Win cash prizes to further refine your solution and gain recognition from real prosthetics engineers!
2020 NeuroMaker Challenge Schedule
August 10th 2020:
NeuroMaker Challenge 2020 Theme Announced
August to December 2020:
Students form teams, research, prototype and create their written and video submissions
December 20th 2020:
Deadline for written and video submissions.
January 2021:
Award winners are announced at the Virtual NeuroMaker Awards Ceremony
Ready to Submit Your Project? Complete These Steps
NeuroMaker Creative Challenge 2020 Judging Committee
Bicheng Han
BrainCo and BrainRobotics Founder, MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35, Harvard Center for Brain Science Alumni
Dr. Wasifa Jamal
BrainCo Senior Research Scientist, MIT Brain and Cognitive Science Postdoctoral Associate, MIT Translational Fellow 2015-2016
Dr. Molei Wu
BrainRobotics Prosthetics Lead, Mechanical Engineering Ph.D University of Alabama
Andrew Bannish
Harvard Ed.M in Technology, Innovation and Education, Preferred Robotics Entry Policy Creator
2020 NeuroMaker Creative Challenge Results
After nearly a year of hard work from students around the world, the NeuroMaker Challenge judges are pleased to announce the results of the 2020 NeuroMaker Creative Challenge! Please review some of our award winning candidates below
High School Winning Submissions
High School First Place
Team Name: Team Valor
School: Valor High School, Colorado
Participants: CJ Mote, Nicolette Jamison, Claire Kim
High School Second Place
Team Name: Team Banning
School: Phineas Banning High School, California
Participants: Suzette Camacho, Citlali Rodriguez, Angelica Velazquez, Angel Soriano
High School Third Place
Team Name: Team Commodores
School: Perry Central High School, Indiana
Participants: Katelyn Howell, Cole Hess, Carissa Meyer, Cole Johnson
Middle School Winning Submissions
Middle School First Place
Team Name: Team Blue
School: Vinci Robotics Academy, Massachusetts
Participants: Edward Yan, Axel Orban
Ready to Sign up?
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