This year at Gulf Coast MakerCon, we’ll be highlighting the AMRoC Fab Lab Young Innovators Challenge Finalists. Now in its 3rd year, the Young Innovators Challenge is co-hosted by the Foundation for Community Driven Innovation, AMRoC Fab Lab, the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame , the Florida High Tech Corridor and Scoutlier.
The annual challenge ask students in 6th-12th grade: What problem do you or someone you know encounter at school, at home, at work, or play? Is it a problem for others, too? If you had the chance to solve that problem, how would you do it? Would you create a new product? A service? A method? A tool? Do you think your challenge is enough of a problem for others that they might be interested in trying your solution?
Finalists present their project at the Young Innovators Showcase at the Gulf Coast MakerCon in June where they will also compete in the Young Innovators Finals Pitch Competition. Top prizes of $1000 to 1st place, $750 to 2nd place and $500 for 3rd place, with an optional Honorable Mention. The top team also receives support in incorporating and further developing their product or service idea as an actual business.
This year, four teams answered those questions well enough to become the Challenge Finalists. Let’s meet them!
LungNet: An AI-Based Software for Early and Accurate Lung Cancer Diagnosis
LungNet, an AI-based software, utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to analyze lung CT scans with a remarkable 5% misdiagnosis rate, providing doctors with rapid and precise information about the presence and specific type of lung cancer. The software was developed in Python and is intended for use by doctors. It operates by analyzing each individual pixel in the CT scans for patterns associated with the type of lung cancer, delivering results within seconds and can be used on all devices.
Teens Next Door: Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
The path to becoming your own boss takes time. it’s a challenge, yet also a journey. As teenagers register in the “Teens Next Door” app, they gain entry to our comprehensive learning path, designed to evaluate their current standing in the entrepreneurial journey and provide tailored courses for advancement.
The AgroAvenger Farm Buddy
Through the use of an AI robotic device that can precisely spray pests, we hope to reduce the over-spraying of pesticides. The AgroAvengerFarm Buddy can identify pest species in a crop field and target the application of pesticides.
A Biotech-themed STEM and Robotics Summer Camp
This customized camp solution addresseds a lack of enough education for middle and high schoolers to prepare them for working in fields of biotech, STEM, and robotics.
Judges
The Finalist entries have already been reviewed by the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. At MakerCon, a panel of judges will hear each team’s 6 minute presentation, followed by a few minutes of Q&A, after which the panel will make their choices for the winning entries.
Our MakerCon Young Innovators Panel of Judges are:
- Larsha Johnson, Founder and CEO of Bits4Bots
- Ora Tanner, Founder and CEO of Black Unicorn Education
- Wayne Rasanen, Inventor of the DecaTxt and president of the Tampa Bay Inventors Council
- Sheila Walthour-Walker, M.S., CEO of Kids Doing Business Academy Prep
Join us in celebrating these great Young Innovators at Gulf Coast MakerCon 2024, and find out who our top teams are when we announce judging results at 2 pm!