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Most competitions happen once. Students prepare, compete, and the experience ends. The World STEM League is different.
Students compete throughout the school year, learning and improving after every competition.
Schools develop core knowledge, academic thinking, and discipline.
Real growth happens when students apply what they learn in new situations.
Those who solve real-world problems, work in teams, and keep improving.
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Choose one of the prompts below. Using your science and engineering knowledge, researching the given community, and trying to understand the complexities involved with the problem, propose a sustainable solution that a group like Engineers Without Borders could implement in that community and explain how you would do so. You may be as creative as you like with your presentation, but you should assume that your audience has no prior knowledge of this problem and make sure to integrate considerations of cultural, economic, and technological feasibility into your presentation.
1. Waste Management in India
In rapidly growing urban areas in India, informal settlements often lack organized waste collection systems. Trash accumulates in streets and waterways, increasing the spread of disease and worsening flooding during monsoon seasons. Many residents rely on informal recycling work for income, but unsafe working conditions and inefficient sorting methods create health risks. Come up with an effective and sustainable plan to manage the accumulating waste without negatively impacting those who rely on the informal recycling economy for their livelihoods.
Source: https://thecsruniverse.com/articles/waste-warriors-revolutionising-india-s-urban-slums
2. Post-Harvest Maize Loss in Rural Guatemala
Many smallholder farmers in the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala rely on subsistence-oriented maize farming, drying maize in the sun, and storing it either on cobs or as shelled kernels in bags or tapanco structures. However, these traditional post-harvest practices can lead to significant grain losses due to mishandling of moisture, insect infestations, and fungal contamination. Farmers often apply pest control reactively rather than preventively, and storage conditions vary widely between households. These losses threaten food security and economic stability in rural communities. Come up with an affordable method for these farmers to effectively dry their maize that reduces grain losses, accounting for climate and storage conditions.
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022474X16302144
3. Indonesia's Flooding and Waste Water Management Dilemma
Indonesia faces annual flooding risks in its capital, Jakarta. The country also faces concerns of excessive wastewater accumulation. To combat the flooding concerns, the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development proposed a plan to develop a Giant Seawall, which will significantly modify the existing transportation infrastructure. At the same time, the wastewater mismanagement has significantly deteriorated the water quality in the shores of Jakarta Bay and in the capital's region. In the current form of the Giant Seawall plan, the complexity of the plan will divert funds and focus away from the water and sanitation concerns. Propose a new plan that will combat climate-related flooding concerns while still appropriately addressing the problem of wastewater mismanagement and its impact on the community and environment.
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X16303496
4. Phosphate Pollutants in Tunisia
Phosphate is one of Tunisia's prized natural resources and it is the world's tenth largest exporter of phosphate fertilizers. Unfortunately, this type of fertilizer can lead to the accumulation of toxic metals in the environment. In Gafsa, phosphate is being mined at a rate that is polluting the city's gulf. There has also been a correlation to increased cases of bronchitis and asthma in nearby cities. In fact, the concentration of toxic substances near the phosphate plants exceeds international standards. Propose a plan to mitigate the environmental effects of phosphate pollution, or a method of phosphate mining that could reduce these negative impacts, keeping in mind the international demand for phosphate fertilizer.
Source: https://untoldmag.org/gabes-tunisia-polution-protest/
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1. Antibiotic Misuse and Resistance
Antibiotics save millions of lives each year, but they are often used incorrectly. In many places, people stop taking antibiotics too early, use leftover medication, or take antibiotics for illnesses like colds that they cannot treat. This allows bacteria to become resistant, making infections harder to cure.
Your task: Design a healthcare-based solution that helps reduce antibiotic misuse in a specific community. Your idea must involve medical tools, treatment strategies, or healthcare worker action. (Not merely building hospitals or creating social media campaigns)
In your presentation, include:
2. Late Diagnosis of Chronic Diseases
Many serious diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or cervical cancer, are often diagnosed too late. Late diagnosis can lead to complications that could have been prevented with earlier screening and treatment.
This problem is especially common in underserved populations due to barriers like limited screening access, lack of symptoms early on, or reduced interaction with healthcare providers.
Your task: Choose a chronic disease and design a medically focused intervention that improves early detection in a specific population. Your solution must involve a clinical screening strategy, diagnostic improvement, or provider-led prevention approach. (Not just an awareness campaign or application that is made up)
In your presentation, include:
Mentors help teams:
This mentorship gives students insight into how real scientists, engineers, & technologists think & collaborate.
Supported by mentors, students refine their ideas, learn from peers, and improve throughout the year. The journey culminates in the Innovation Challenge, where teams present their solutions and receive expert feedback.
Each report breaks down concept strengths, areas for improvement, speed-vs-accuracy analysis, and question difficulty. The reports are designed to be informative, encouraging, and low-pressure — helping students grow with confidence rather than feel discouraged.
Students receive
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Across multiple league competitions, students:
This creates a cycle of growth
Compete → Learn → Refine → Improve
These include:
These achievements can be included in:
During these sessions, students interact directly with mentors from partner organizations and get an inside look at how undergraduate research teams approach problems. For middle and high schoolers, it's a rare early exposure to the culture of university research and innovation.
This gives students a rare opportunity to experience the culture of university research and innovation.
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