AIS Software Innovation Challenge (2023)

2023 AIS Software Innovation Challenge Award Winners: 

On November 3, AIS Student Chapter members from around the world met to attend the virtual AIS 2022 Student Chapter Leadership Conference hosted by AIS. Students learned from industry professionals, hosted a leadership workshop, and earned awards for their competition solutions. The competition judging committees represented both industry and academia.

This challenged allowed competitors to demonstrate the impact Information Systems can have in improving the world. Teams designed and implemented an innovative IS solution based a their choice of a number of parameters—focusing mostly on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

The judges decided to award two first place winners and split the first and second place prizes. The Associate Vice President of Student Chapters, Alex Barsi Lopes, said it was too difficult to decide a first place winner due to the high quality divergent paths the two teams took with their submissions.

Congratulations to the following competition winners!

1st Place: Florida International University
Smart Forests


1st Place: Middle Tennessee State University
Wastewise


3rd Place: New Mexico State University
Water Speccy

----

The mission statement of AIS is as follows:

“The Association for Information Systems (AIS) serves society through the advancement of knowledge and the promotion of excellence in the practice and study of information systems. AIS is the premier professional association for individuals and organizations who lead the research, teaching, practice, and study of information systems worldwide.”

As students and future practitioners of Information Systems (IS), you play a significant part in this mission to serve society. The AIS Student Chapters Technology Innovation Challenge focuses on information systems solutions, innovations and initiatives that help make the world a better, safer place for organizations and society in general.

Eligibility Requirement

This competition is restricted to members of current AIS Student Chapters. 

This challenge will allow you to demonstrate the impact that IS can have in improving the world in which live. If you accept this challenge, your team of 2-5 individuals will design and implement an innovative IS solution fitting one of the parameters below. (Groups of fewer than 3 individuals are not encouraged, but a submission would not be rejected because of it.)  Your solution may run on any platform, be coded in any language and deployed in any device environment. Projects that implement an IoT solution are particularly welcome.

Topic areas could also focus around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by a multitude of countries on September 25th 2015, with objectives such as ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all. Each of the 17 goals has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.

Goals include:

  • No poverty
  • Zero hunger
  • Good health and well-being
  • Quality education
  • Gender equality
  • Clean water and sanitation
  • Affordable and clean energy
  • Decent work and economic growth
  • Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
  • Reduced inequalities
  • Sustainable cities and communities
  • Responsible consumption and production
  • Climate action
  • Life below water
  • Life on land
  • Peace, justice, and strong institutions
  • Partnerships for the goals

Successful submissions will propose an IS/IT-centered solution to a problem or opportunity that addresses one of the 17 sustainable development goals. Participants are encouraged to be creative and think out of the box to develop an innovative solution to an identified problem.

For more details about the UN Sustainable Development Goals go to https://sdgs.un.org/goals.

Questions? Contact studentcompetitions@aisnet.org