The Amazon Longitude Explorer Prize, delivered by Nesta Challenges, was set up to address the lack of diversity in STEM industries. The prize provides people of all backgrounds with an introduction to the of entrepreneurship in STEM, irrespective of gender, race, or disability. It challenges bright young minds to put their passion for science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) to the test. By pairing classroom STEM learning with entrepreneurial skills, the prize encourages young innovators aged 11-16 to turn their ideas into reality.
The categories
Teams are asked to apply their creativity in one of four key areas:
- Living Longer - technological solutions to support an ageing population
- Living Healthier – technological solutions that help people live happier and healthier lives
- Living Greener – technological solutions that tackle pollution and climate change; and
- Living Together – technological solutions that help people stay better connected in a way that is easy, safe and environmentally friendly as well as solutions to deliver more sustainable transport.
Given the pressures of the pandemic, these topics feel more pressing than ever and this year, the contest received more than 150 entries from over 500 young people across the UK. These entries have been narrowed down to a shortlist of 40 inspirational projects comprising 18 different schools and youth groups, with the help of a panel of expert judges, including Jacqueline de Rojas CBE, President of techUK and Lauren Kisser, Director at Amazon’s Development Centre in Cambridge.
Support for contenders
Throughout the programme, Nesta Challenges ensured that all teams were equipped with resources. The 40 finalist teams also received hardware, workshops aligned to school curricula and mentoring on topics ranging from data analytics, software engineering, robotics, and app development to create prototypes of their imaginative concepts.
Participants had to develop, design, and code their solutions. After devising a concept, teams were given guidance and tools to support product development, and the finalist teams had access to further resources to develop their ideas into prototypes and to produce business cases to pitch to a panel of expert judges.
Now in its fourth year, and supported by Amazon for the first time, the winners will be announced in July 2021. They will receive moneys for their school or youth group: £20,000 for the winner, £5,000 for each of three teams of runners up and a People’s Choice Award of £5,000.