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The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) has announced a collaboration with the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) to organize an Innovation Challenge for students in the age group of 13-18 years in India. The Challenge is aimed at finding a solution to Malnutrition for expectant mothers, and children under 5 years of age in India.
Speaking about the Challenge, Mr. Mohandas Pai, Trustee of the ISF said,“According to the National Health and Family Survey 2015-16 around 35% of children in India suffer from malnutrition, a condition that can cause stunted growth and lifelong negative health effects. This also affects their own career prospects and productivity of the economy. This Challenge addresses more than one issue: it asks for an innovative solution to a very dire social problem; it gets students to develop a sense of empathy for their peers in India; and true to the ISF’s mission of promoting scientific thinking, it asks solvers to draw on their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills to find a potential solution to the challenge.”
Students can sign up for this virtual challenge at nyas.org/infosyssciencefoundation. They can work solo or in virtual teams of up to 6 members from across the country. The virtual challenge will be run on Launchpad, an online innovation platform designed to facilitate global collaboration and problem-solving. Applications will close once 1,000 students have enrolled for the challenge and will kickstart on September 10, 2018, and continue for 8 weeks.
During the challenge, solvers will have help from mentors - experts in either nutrition or STEM subjects - who will be available on the digital platform to advise any team developing a solution. Before the challenge, participants will also have access to a four-week online bootcamp that serves to prepare and inspire students through a series of curated learning resources and TEDx-style talks by experts.
Solutions will be judged by an expert panel and winners announced in December 2018. Winners will be selected based on successful deployment of STEM skills to present a viable solution to the challenge. The winning team will receive a scholarship of Rs 5 lakhs per team member. The two top finalist teams, will have the privilege to view the launch of a rocket at the ISRO, Sriharikota facility. In addition, they will be invited to attend the Infosys Prize ceremony in January 2019.
*Data source: According to a joint report by WHO, World Bank and UNICEF. The report data is sourced from National Health and Family Survey (NHFS) 4 conducted in 2015-16
About NYAS
For 200 years since 1817 the Academy has brought together extraordinary people working at the frontiers of discovery. Among the oldest scientific organizations in the United States, it has become a significant organization in the global scientific community. The mission of the New York Academy of Sciences (nyas.org) is to drive innovative solutions to society's challenges by advancing scientific research, education and policy.
About The Infosys Science Foundation
The Infosys Science Foundation (infosys-science-foundation.com) is a not-for-profit set up in 2009 by the board of directors of Infosys at the time and some senior management. The mission of the Foundation is to encourage an interest in science and research. The Foundation’s flagship initiative is the Infosys Prize, awarded annually to stellar work across six categories to contemporary researchers and scientists. It also engages in a host of related activities to further its mission.
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