We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are. To improve one must change, and to perfect oneself, one must change often. Embracing change is about adopting a growth mindset, and that is abundantly clear in the youth of tomorrow who seem to have the drive to bring about not just change in this community, but a positive one at that. And here at the American International University – Bangladesh (AIUB), that is the notion with which students are nurtured for a better future. And to that end, the AIUB Shomoy Club undertook the initiative of creating a platform that focused on solving issues of social development – The IDEAS Challenge – Innovative Development Efforts & Actions for Sustainability (IDEAS). The 3rd Season of the flagship event, The IDEAS Challenge 2K23 was a resounding success! The event, which was held on 22nd of July 2023 at the AIUB Campus, brought together social innovation ideas of over 350 participants, many accompanied by their respective parents, guardians, and college teachers, in nearly 100 teams in the category of project posters and prototypes, from more than 30 different colleges of Dhaka.
The diversity of the ideas covered a wide range of social issues, ranging from rural development, disadvantaged groups, clean water & sanitation, unemployment, traffic, and e-waste, based on the ‘Social Development Goals (SDGs)’ of the United Nations. The intense level of competition made it very difficult for the judges to as there were many strong proposals. The panel of judges, that comprised of teachers from the 4 distinct Faculties of Arts & Social Sciences (FASS), Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), Faculty of Engineering (FE), and Faculty of Science & Technology (FST), commended the participants on both their innovative ideas as well as their efforts in its execution. In the poster category, Team 17 from Manarat Dhaka International College, proposed their idea on how to manage food waste using biodegradable plastics, vending machines, and different wastebins, winning the 2nd Runner-Up position. “Capso Clicks” Team from AKM Rahmatullah College, presented their idea of a camera that can be inserted into the GI tract with the options for photos and videos to diagnose diseases like tumors and ulcers, becoming the 1st Runner-Up. The Champion Team was “Beyond Shadows” from Manarat Dhaka International College who presented their idea on mental health by creating multifaceted platforms ranging from academic curriculum, internships, and counselling to break the stigma and support those in need. In the category of prototype, Team 85 from Nirjhor Cantonment Public School & College, won the 2nd Runner-Up position for their idea on SDG implementation, addressing 16 goals through innovative agricultural initiatives and plastic pollution management. Team “Catastrophe Getaway” from Manarat Dhaka International College became the 1st Runner-Up with their idea of introducing inflatable getaway slides and chutes in high-rise buildings for people to escape in case of fire hazards and other catastrophes. And the Team Shikor took the Champion position with their idea of an app that makes gardening and farming in households easy with features like area scanner for sun exposure, real time consultancy for first timers, AI assistance, automated plant watering system, children’s gardening kit, vertical gardening tools, etc.
The IDEAS Challenge 2K23 was a great opportunity for students to share their ideas on social development and to learn from each other. Everyone was able to see firsthand the creativity and enthusiasm of the next generation of social innovators. The enthusiasm of the participants proved their clear passion for their ideas as they were eager to share them with the judges and the audience. AIUB takes great pride in its students for continuously innovating creative platforms for the leaders of tomorrow and looks forward to the next season to bear witness to all that these young innovators accomplish in the future.
