Innovation Challenge — City of STEM

2025 City of STEM Innovation Challenge

The key to a better future in Los Angeles? Sustainability.
Join the mission to find innovative solutions!

The City of STEM Innovation Challenge—Sustainable Solutions invites Los Angeles County middle school students to accept the mission of developing an innovative sustainable solution addressing a problem affecting lives in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County faces significant problems like water and air pollution, traffic, and wildfires that require BOLD and innovative solutions. BOLD ideas come from inspired students, so we need to hear from YOU!

What sustainable solutions to problems can be investigated through clean energy, conservation, transportation, and recycling? Could there be a new technology or digital innovation to be created? Start thinking about BOLD ideas and sustainable solutions and submit starting on Wednesday, February 5!

The winning team’s BOLD idea will be awarded an all-expense-paid trip to a Day of Innovation at Los Angeles County’s most ground-breaking companies and the chance to present the winning idea to STEM influencers making an impact, a STEM kit, and other amazing prizes! Plus, the winning team’s school also get $500 in science supplies!

Grand Prize

All-expense paid trip for a Day of Innovation at Los Angeles County’s most ground-breaking companies.
Opportunity to present the winning idea to STEM influencers including Alie Ward, host of “Did I Mention Invention?” on The CW.
STEM kit and other amazing prizes!

School Prize

Winning team’s school will receive $500 in science supplies.

February 5

Video Submission
Opens
March 19

Video Submission
Closes
March 24

Top Teams
Notified
April 12

Presentations & Winner
Announcement

How to Compete

The City of STEM Innovation Challenge—Sustainable Solutions asks students to unlock inventive ideas to solve real-world problems around sustainability facing Los Angeles such as clean energy, conservation, transportation, and recycling. This year’s Innovation Challenge is sending middle school students within Los Angeles County on a mission to choose a problem and drum up an innovative solution to address it.

1.

Form a team between one to five members from your school and start brainstorming problems to develop an innovative solution that could help address a sustainability problem facing Los Angeles.

2.

Film a two-minute video that includes identifying the problem, the solution, the STEM used to develop it, and the potential impact.

3.

Complete the parent registration and video submission. Video submissions are due by 11:59 PM PT on Wednesday, March 19.

Judging Details

After initial round of judging on March 20–23, the top Challenge Submissions will be invited to present their solution at the City of STEM Kickoff Festival on Saturday, April 12.
Student teams will be notified by March 24, and must be available to present at the City of STEM Kickoff Festival on April 12 to be eligible.
Student teams will be provided a tri-panel board to use in the presentation on April 12.
Challenge Submission presentations will be judged by Los Angeles County STEM leaders and City of STEM Kickoff Festival attendee “crowd voting” to identify the Grand Prize-winning team.

The Grand Prize will be awarded to the idea with the highest score based on the results from a panel of STEM judges and crowd voting. Results will be announced by 4:00 PM on Saturday, April 12.

For more information, you can read the Official Rules or FAQs.

Official Rules

FAQs

Congratulations to the 2024 City of STEM Innovation Challenge – Sustainable Solutions Grand Prize Winner

Congratulations to First Avenue Middle School from Arcadia, CA for coming up with the winning sustainable solution designed to help Los Angeles using their STEM and critical thinking skills! The Grand Prize team will be awarded with a Day of Innovation at Los Angeles County’s most ground-breaking companies and the chance to meet STEM influencers making an impact.