EcoInnovators Challenge – Concept

Note

Objective
In today's world, environmental sustainability is not just a necessity; it is an urgent call to
action. The EcoInnovators Challenge aims to foster environmental literacy among school
and college students and empower them to actively address environmental challenges
within their communities. By combining innovative thinking with digital technologies,
students will develop practical solutions to reduce the ecological footprint of their school
or college.

Problem Statement
Observe your school or college or communities nearby to identify specific environmental
challenges, such as energy inefficiency, improper waste management, pollution (air, soil,
noise), or unsustainable resource use. Develop and propose technology-based solutions
focused on monitoring, raising awareness, and managing these challenges, with the goal
of achieving tangible reductions in the ecological footprint of your school or college or
nearby communities.

Participants are encouraged to focus on one or more of the following environmental

factors.

1. Soil & Land: Issues such as soil erosion, land degradation, and improper land
use.
2. Water: Challenges related to water conservation, pollution, and waste
management.
3. Energy: Efficient energy use, renewable energy adoption, and reducing energy
wastage.
4. Air: Air pollution monitoring, improving air quality, and reducing harmful
emissions.
5. Greenery: Enhancing green spaces, promoting urban forestry, and protecting
plant life.
 6. Sound: Addressing noise pollution and its impact on health and well-being.
7. Light: Managing light pollution, improving lighting efficiency, and reducing
unnecessary illumination.
8. Waste: Reducing, reusing, and recycling waste, and managing waste disposal
effectively.
9. Hygiene: Improving sanitation, managing waste, and promoting clean and
healthy environments.
10. Circular Economy: Designing solutions that promote sustainable resource use
through recycling, repurposing, and reducing waste. Focus on creating closed-
loop systems where resources are reused rather than disposed of.

Your proposed solutions should aim to monitor, manage, and raise awareness about one
or more of the above-mentioned issues:

● Monitoring: Implement tools or systems that continuously observe and track

environmental factors. Effective monitoring allows for real-time data collection,
enabling timely interventions.
● Raising Awareness: Develop strategies to educate and engage your school or
college community about the identified environmental challenges. Raising
awareness is crucial for fostering a culture of environmental stewardship.
● Management: Propose practical methods for managing and mitigating
environmental issues. This could involve optimizing resource usage, reducing
waste, or enhancing sustainability practices.

Technological Integration
Participants are encouraged to leverage technologies in their solutions. Possible digital
technological tools and approaches include, but are not limited to:

● Artificial Intelligence (AI): Implementing AI to analyse complex data sets, predict

environmental impacts, and optimize resource management.
● Data Analytics: Using data to analyse trends, predict outcomes, and optimize
solutions.
● Internet of Things (IoT): Using sensors and devices to monitor environmental
factors in real-time.
● Monitoring Kits: Creating or utilizing kits that can monitor environmental
parameters (e.g., air quality, water quality).
 ● Web Applications: Developing platforms to raise awareness, track progress, or
facilitate community engagement.

Besides digital technologies, participants may also leverage other science/engineering-

based technologies/innovations.

Impact on Ecological Footprint

The ultimate goal of your proposed solution should be to achieve a tangible and
measurable reduction in the ecological footprint of your school or college or nearby
communities. Whether it’s decreasing energy consumption, improving waste
management, enhancing air quality, or promoting sustainable resource use through
circular economy principles, your solution should have a clear, positive impact on the
environment.

Competition Structure
The competition will be conducted in two stages:

Stage 1: Online Submission of Concept Note and Approach

Objective: Submit a detailed concept note outlining the identified problem, the proposed
solution, and the approach to implementation.

Deliverables:

● Problem Identification: Describe the specific environmental challenge

observed.
● Solution Overview: Provide a summary of the proposed solution, including the
technologies to be used.
● Implementation Plan: Outline the steps to be taken, resources required and
expected outcomes.

Stage 2: Prototype Demonstration

Objective: Develop and demonstrate a working prototype of the proposed solution.

Deliverables:
 ● Prototype: A functional prototype that demonstrates the core features of your
solution.
● Presentation: A brief presentation explaining how the prototype works and its
potential impact.
● Documentation: Detailed documentation of the development process,
challenges faced, and future improvements.

Participation Criteria
School Event
The school-focused event primarily targets school students studying in Grades 8-11 from
Affordable Private Schools (APS) across India. It is open to:

1. School students under the age of 17

2. Teams of 1-2 students from the same school
While the competition is open to all schools, our outreach will focus more on APSs.

College Event
The college-focused event primarily targets undergraduates from all streams. It is open to:

1. Undergraduate students in any year of college

2. Teams of 1-2 students from the same college/university

Important Dates and Venues

The competition will be held in 2 stages – Proposal Submission (Virtual) and Final
Presentation (In-Person). Teams should be willing to travel if selected for the final round.
Accommodation for those who travel will be arranged for by the organisers. For those who
cannot travel, online presentations will be permitted with prior notice and permission.

School Event – Faridabad (Delhi)

Date Activity Details
Online Portal opens for accepting
1 Oct, 2024 Registration Open
submissions. Outreach to schools begins.
Proposal Submission Online Portal closes for submission. No new
10 Nov, 2024
Deadline entries post this deadline.
 Shortlist Announcement
17 Nov, 2024 Shortlist – Expert Panel, 15 entries.
with Mentor Mapping

18 Nov, 2024 Team-wise Mentor sessions. Master Classes

Mentorship and Master
to 12 Jan, from Knowledge Partners. GROK Kits
Classes
2025 Distribution and Training.

Final Presentation and In-person event at Faridabad, Delhi. Panel of

25 Jan, 2025
Winner Announcement judges for deciding winners.

A school representative is mandatory to accompany the teams traveling for the final
presentation as the students would be minors.

College Event – Bengaluru

Date Activity Details
Online Portal opens for accepting
1 Oct, 2024 Registration Open
submissions. Outreach to colleges begins.
Proposal Submission Online Portal closes for submission. No
10 Nov, 2024
Deadline new entries post this deadline.
Shortlist
17 Nov, 2024 Announcement with Shortlist – Expert Panel, 15 entries.
Mentor Mapping

18 Nov, 2024 to
Master Classes Master Classes from Knowledge Partners.
12 Jan, 2025

Final Presentation and In-person event at Bengaluru. Panel of

28 Jan, 2025
Winner Announcement judges for deciding winners.

Partner Collaboration
Knowledge Partners
With the aim of improving the overall quality of ideas and their implementation in the final
event, we are collaborating with Knowledge Partners who will help provide mentorship to
shortlisted teams, conduct master classes and provide kits/tools that would benefit
participants in implementing their ideas in the best possible way. In addition to this, our
Knowledge Partners may also nominate Judges for the final event.

The table below lists the partners and areas they will contribute to:

School Event

Mentors Master Class Kits Judges

GROK Learning

IB
SureStart

For the college event, our knowledge partners can offer master classes and kits depending
on the participating teams’ requirements.

Platform and Outreach Partners

The EcoInnovators Challenge will be hosted on Unstop – a popular digital platform for
conducting competitions. They will provide the technology platform and support for:

1. Landing Page – Problem Statement, Instructions, Timelines

2. Registrations
3. Submissions
4. Dashboard to track/manage
5. Promotional and Outreach Package (for colleges)

As Unstop will provide outreach for the college event only, Schoolnet will be responsible
for promoting the school event. GROK Learning would also be helping to spread the word in
their school networks. IB would also like to invite a few select IB schools to the
competition.

Venue Partners
IB will provide a school venue in Faridabad (Delhi) for the school event.

Infosys Science Foundation will provide the venue for the college event in Bengaluru.
Submission Guidelines
Team Details:

Team Member Name Email ID Phone Number

Name 1 name@example.com [+91 1234567890]
Name 2 name@example.com [+91 1234567890]

● Name: Provide the official team name (e.g., EcoGuardians).

● Team Member Name: List the names of all team members involved in the
project.
● Contact Info (email): Provide the official email addresses for each team
member.
● Contact Info (phone number): Provide the contact phone numbers for each
team member, including guardians

Summary (150 words):

● This section is a concise overview of your project.

● Mention the problem, proposed solution, method of execution, and expected
impact.
● Highlight key technologies or methodologies (e.g., IoT-based noise sensors) and
any awareness campaigns.
● End with the goal and expected outcome of the project (e.g., reducing noise
pollution by 20%).

Problem Identification (50-100 words):

● Briefly describe the specific problem you're addressing.

● Explain why this problem is significant to your community, school, or
environment.
● Provide context (e.g., proximity to a busy road) and the effects of the problem
(e.g., disruption to student learning).

Solution Overview (100-150 words):

● Outline the core components of your solution.

 ● Explain how the solution works (e.g., real-time data collection via noise
sensors).
● Mention the end goal (e.g., raising awareness or reducing the source of
pollution).
● If relevant, include any educational or community involvement aspects, such
as awareness campaigns.

Implementation Plan:

● This section is a step-by-step guide to how you will execute the project.
○ Monitoring: Explain how and where the sensors or technology will be
installed.
○ Data Analysis: Describe how the data will be processed and analyzed.
○ Awareness Campaign: Detail how you will inform the community or
stakeholders about the issue.
○ Evaluation: State how you will measure the success of your project (e.g.,
change in noise levels, feedback from students).

Technical Details (100-150 words):

● Provide technical specifications of the tools and methods you’ll use (e.g., IoT
noise sensors).
● Mention how the data will be stored and processed (e.g., cloud-based
platforms).
● Include software or platforms used for data visualization and monitoring.
● Discuss scalability and any cost-saving measures (e.g., using open-source
software).

Expected Outcome:

● Clearly state the goals and expected impact of your solution.

● Include specific targets (e.g., reducing noise by 20% during peak hours).
● Emphasize any long-term cultural or behavioral changes that might result
from your awareness campaign.

Appendices (if applicable):

● Add any supporting materials like:

 ○ Technical specifications (e.g., IoT sensor details).
○ Design samples (e.g., posters or campaign materials).
○ Data analysis reports or charts that back up your findings.

References:

● Include any research or guidelines you used to support your project.

● Cite relevant sources like scientific journals, books, or reports (e.g., WHO
guidelines on noise pollution).

Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Core Focus Areas: How well does the solution address monitoring, raising
awareness, and management?
2. Innovation: How unique and creative is the solution?
3. Feasibility: Can the solution be realistically implemented within the school or
college environment?
4. Impact: How significantly does the solution address the identified
environmental challenge and reduce ecological footprint?
5. Technical Integration: How effectively does the solution leverage technology?
6. Sustainability: Does the solution promote long-term environmental benefits?
Participants are encouraged to keep the above criteria in mind while submitting their
proposals to increase their chances of getting selected for the Final Presentation.
Sample Submissions
Sample Submission 1: Monitoring Sound Pollution
Team Name: EcoGuardians

Team Details:

Team Member Name Email ID Phone Number

Name 1 name@example.com [+91 1234567890]
Name 2 name@example.com [+91 1234567890]

Summary (150 words):

EcoGuardians is a team committed to addressing noise pollution in urban schools. Our

project focuses on reducing the negative impact of traffic noise on learning environments.
We aim to monitor real-time sound levels around our school using IoT-based noise
sensors. By analyzing the data collected, we will identify peak noise periods and launch an
awareness campaign targeted at the school community and its surroundings. This
campaign will include educational posters placed around the school and nearby areas to
inform individuals about the impact of noise pollution and practical steps to mitigate it. We
anticipate that this holistic approach will significantly reduce noise pollution by at least
20% during peak hours, improving the overall learning environment and promoting
mindfulness in the community regarding noise reduction. Our project will culminate in an
impact assessment to evaluate its effectiveness and ensure sustainability.

Problem Identification (50-100 words):

Our school is situated near a busy road, and we’ve observed that noise pollution from
traffic is a significant issue, especially during peak hours. The constant noise disrupts
classes, affects student concentration, and contributes to a stressful learning
environment.

Solution Overview (100-150 words):

We propose a solution that involves monitoring sound levels around the school using IoT-
enabled noise sensors. These sensors will collect real-time data on sound levels at
different times of the day. Based on the data, we will identify peak noise periods and create
a targeted poster campaign to raise awareness among students, staff, and the surrounding
community about the impacts of noise pollution and how to reduce it.
Implementation Plan:

1. Monitoring: Install noise sensors at key locations around the school, including
near the main gate, playground, and classrooms facing the road. The sensors
will be connected to a cloud platform that records and visualizes sound level
data.
2. Data Analysis: Analyse the collected data to identify peak noise times and
areas most affected by noise pollution.
3. Awareness Campaign: Design and distribute posters around the school to
educate students and staff about noise pollution. The posters will also be
placed in nearby shops and residential areas to encourage quieter behaviour
near the school premises.
4. Evaluation: Measure the impact of the awareness campaign by monitoring
changes in noise levels and gathering feedback from the school community.

Technical Details (100-150 words):

The technical aspect of our solution involves using IoT noise sensors that measure decibel
levels in real time. The sensors will be strategically placed at different points around the
school, such as near the main entrance, classrooms, and playground. These sensors are
connected to a cloud-based platform that stores and processes the collected data. Using
data visualization tools, we will generate reports that pinpoint peak noise times and
locations. The platform also allows for real-time alerts to inform school administrators
about excessive noise levels. The system will require minimal maintenance, and data can
be accessed remotely via a web interface. The use of open-source tools will keep costs low
while ensuring scalability for future expansion to other schools or public spaces. The
integration of these technologies will provide actionable insights to inform our noise-
reduction strategies.

Expected Outcome:

Our solution aims to reduce noise pollution during peak hours by at least 20%, creating a
quieter and more conducive learning environment. The awareness campaign will also
foster a culture of mindfulness regarding noise pollution in the school community.

Appendices (if applicable):

1. Noise Sensor Specifications

● Model: XYZ IoT Noise Sensor
● Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
● Sensitivity: ±1 dB
 ● Connectivity: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/LoRa
● Power Supply: Solar-powered/Battery-powered
● Data Storage: Cloud-based (integrated API for data analysis)
2. Poster Campaign Design Samples
● Images or sketches of posters designed to raise awareness about noise
pollution.

References:

1. World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Noise Pollution

WHO. (2018). Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region.
Available at: www.who.int

2. IoT Noise Monitoring Systems

Available at: https://www.hackster.io/sisyphus/onem2m-and-iot-based-noise-
pollution-monitoring-system-f32086