IEEE, the world's largest technical professional society, announced the first IEEE Presidents' Change the World Competition. The contest is open to college and university students who demonstrate excellence in the design and implementation of technology that can solve a challenge for the benefit of humanity.
The competition's goal is to challenge individual students or teams of students to identify a real-world problem and apply engineering, science, computing and leadership skills to solve it. The contest offers students a unique opportunity to have their ingenuity and enthusiasm for engineering and technology recognized around the globe.
Winners will receive awards ranging from the grand prize of US $10,000 and the distinction of being named "IEEE Student Humanitarian Supreme," to prizes of US $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000. Winners of the top three prizes also will be invited to accept their awards in-person in June 2009 at the annual IEEE Honors Ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA. In addition, up to 15 semifinalists will compete for a Peoples' Choice US $500 award, which will be selected by popular vote from the contest website at ieee125.org/ChangeTheWorld