World's Challenge Challenge

Think big. Think broad. Think collaboratively.

The World's Challenge Challenge calls on students to solve some of the problems facing the world. In teams of three, students from diverse backgrounds will choose one idea and relate it to one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the global community. It is an engaging opportunity for students to gain real-world experience through social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Plus you can win cash!

UB World's Challenge Challenge

Timeline

October 24- World's Challenge Challenge Info Session

Come learn all about the World's Challenge Challenge and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. 

        Location: 210 Student Union

        Time: 4 -5:00pm [Attendance isn't mandatory in order to participate, but it is strongly encouraged and will give you a leg up on the competition]

February 8th- Video application due [see application below]

April 2nd- UB World's Challenge Challenge 

        Location: TBD

        Time: 4-6pm 

     Prizes:

  • First Place $3,000
  • Second Place $2,000
  • Third Place $1.000

The winner of UB's World's Challenge Challenge will go on to represent the United States at the Global Final competition held at Western University in London Ontario. All travel and expenses will be paid for, but a valid passport is necessary to compete. 

June 2nd-6th- Global Final World's Challenge Challenge 

     Prizes:

  • First Place $30,000 (Canadian Dollars)
  • Second Place $15,000 (Canadian Dollars)
  • Third Place $7,500 (Canadian Dollars)

Rules

  • Full-time and part-time students completing an undergraduate degree program, Masters or PhD, who are registered at participating partner universities may compete in the World's Challenge Challenge
  • Teams must be composed of three students, preferably from at least two different disciplines. Applications from teams with more or less participants will not be accepted. All three students must present at the competitions.
  • Only students from the same institution will be accepted on a team. Cross-institutional representation is not allowed.
  • Teams may not include non-student participants.
  • If your team contains international students, you must ensure that, in the possibility of winning the UB competition, they legally travel to Canada. 

Each team will have 5 to 7 minutes to talk about the World’s Challenge you wish to address, using a PowerPoint presentation for visual support. Your presentation should reflect the concepts and principles being discussed through visuals and a limited amount of text. Video and other multimedia files and links are allowed, within the given time allotted. Please include all references you used for your presentation in the final slide. You do not need to present these.

World's Challenge Challenge Info Session: October 24th

The Sustainable Development Mixer is for students that are interested in learning about the World's Challenge Challenge. Staff from International Education, Blackstone LaunchPad and UB Sustainability will present the rules of the competition and go over the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also a chance for students to meet each other and form teams for the competition. Attendance in not mandatory to participate in the contest, but it is strongly encouraged! 

Submit your Video Application

Once you have your team and your idea, the UB planning team requires you to submit a video that is no longer than two minutes. This should be of one or more of your team members explaining the gist of your presentation. Once that is ready, please attach it to the form below with all the necessary information, and then tweet it at us to @UBGreen and @LaunchPad_UB with the hashtag #UBWCC for the world to see.

The planning team will then choose the top teams to go forth and compete at the UB World's Challenge Challenge on April 3rd. There will be opportunities for student teams to attend trainings to hone their presentation skills in preparation for the April 3rd event. 

You can book the Video Recording Rooms in the Silverman Library through the online reservation system: https://booking.lib.buffalo.edu