Make-A-Thon
The 2021 dates will be announced soon.
Student solutions can make a more sustainable world. During this three-day challenge January 24-26, 2020, NC State student teams research, design, prototype and build a new solution that addresses a sustainability challenge. On the last day, community and industry sustainability experts evaluate solutions and award nearly $5,000 in prizes to the top teams in each category, as well as a grand prize to the overall winner. Have questions? Email us
The Make-A-Thon Experience
Impactful Ideation. Rapid prototyping. Real-world teamwork. That’s the NC State Make-A-Thon experience.
Students compete in teams to create the best solution to a sustainability challenge. Whether it’s about water, waste, energy, transportation or food — that’s up to you and your team to decide.
All weekend long, we will provide the food and expert mentors to fuel your creativity. On the final day, you will pitch your prototype to judges from the community and local companies. Prizes include: $2,000 to the winning team, $1,000 to the runner up team and $500 to the third place team. Plus, there are prizes for best use of 3D design.
What’s the challenge?
How might we more sustainably use water, waste, energy, transportation or food as individuals, on campus or in our community, country or world? What solutions can you prototype using things like data science, entrepreneurship, 3D design and printing, and the internet of things? At the beginning of the Make-a-thon weekend, each team chooses a challenge theme/subject to address and narrows in on a specific scale such as individual, campus or community. For example, a team might choose to create a solution that helps individuals reduce personal water use or that helps the community incorporate more sustainable food practices.
Who can participate?
Make-A-Thon is open to any NC State student. Participants will be on three- or four-person teams. Students form their own teams. If you are an individual and do not have a team, utilize our Slack channel to look for other teammates to complete your team. Please use Slack (how to use Slack) or other means to form your team before registering for Make-a-thon. Registration for the event begins November.
What skills do I have to have to participate?
A think and do attitude is all that’s required. A true interdisciplinary event, Make-A-Thon brings together students with all kinds of backgrounds and skills. Some code. Some design. Some write. These diverse perspectives and skills will enable unique solutions to campus sustainability challenges. Bring whatever skills you have. Collaboration will take care of the rest.
Do I need to stay the whole time?
No, Make-A-thon isn’t a lock-in and we know that 48 hours is a long time. If you have other commitments during the weekend, feel free to take a break from Make-A-thon. You can stay and leave as you choose, though it’s more fun if most participants participate in most of the event. The big takeaway is this: don’t not sign up for Make-A-thon just because you can’t be there the entire weekend. Talk with your team, divide up responsibilities accordingly and figure out how to carry each other’s loads. It’s good real-world experience. One big request is that at least half of your team be present for Sunday afternoon judging and awards. A lot of planning goes into making this event a reality, and Sunday afternoon is the culmination of a lot of hard work. We want you to be there to be part of the celebration of your creativity.
Are there prizes?
Why, of course! Our website will be updated with prizes as they are determined.
I’m not a coder or a designer. Will that matter?
You don’t have to be a coder or a master of all things technology. It’s likely that someone else on your team may have skills in that area. Plus, we’ll have training sessions and mentors/experts around to help you.
Will there be free food?
Of course! Free food and snacks are on us.
What’s the event entail? Do you have an event schedule?
Make-A-Thon begins on Friday evening. We’ll have dinner, a brainstorming session and more details about event logistics, etc. You also have the opportunity to talk with subject mater experts and experts in tools/techniques/resources that might be helpful for your solution-making. From there, you’ll be off and running to develop your sustainability solution with your team. On Saturday, we’ll block off a huge part of D.H. Hill Jr. Library just for Make-a-thon teams to collaborate, connect with mentors and fuel up with snacks and dinner. You have until Sunday morning to submit your solution for judging. Our panel of industry leaders and other experts will begin combing over proposals beginning after noon on Sunday. You’ll have the opportunity to pitch your ideas to judges and answer questions. By mid-afternoon, we’ll announce the winning teams and start awarding prizes.
How do I sign up?
Registration is available online from November 1 until mid-January.
Do I have to register as an individual or a team?
You register as a team. Teams must consist of three or four people, and at least two of those people must be from separate colleges within NC State. If you already have a team formed, you will be able to register as a team. If you have a partial team formed (for example, you and your roommate) or it’s just you, no worries. We’ve set up a channel on Slack (how to use Slack) so that you can find others looking for teammates.
What do I need to bring?
A laptop is suggested but not required. A reusable bottle will help us reduce event waste, so if you have one, toss it in your backpack as well.
Pre-Event Optional Workshops
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6 pm – 8 pm
Workshop: Learn 3D Design with Autodesk Fusion 360 (bring your computer with Fusion 360 already downloaded)
DH Hill Jr. Library, ITTC Room
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 6 – 7:30 pm
Workshop: Pitching Your Idea
Hunt Library Creativity Lab
Thursday, Jan. 23, 6 – 7:30 pm
Workshop: Electronics and the Internet of Things
DH Hill Jr Library, ITTC Room
Friday, Jan. 24 in James B. Hunt Jr. Library’s Duke Energy Hall
2:00 pm – 2:55 pm Workshop Session 1: Introduction to Sustainability Challenges (Hunt Library IEI Room 4106). Learn about the challenges we face related to food, energy, waste, water and transportation. Led by the Sustainability Office
2:00 pm – 3:55 pm Drop-In “Office Hours” with Autodesk to learn Fusion 360 software (Hunt Library IEI Room 4105). The experts will be here to help you with any Fusion 360 questions you have.
3:00 pm – 3:55 pm Workshop Session 2: Purpose In Process: How to scope your problem through the lens of social impact (Hunt Library Room 4106). Join the NC State Social Innovation + Entrepreneurship team for a workshop on systems-level thinking, or unearthing the “why” behind your venture. You will have time to explore how to use your specific skill set to determine the social and/or environmental impact of your venture.
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Check in will be open for teams to pick up materials, shirts, etc. (Duke Energy Hall)
4:15 pm – 5:45 pm Kickoff Event and Design Thinking Workshop (at least one member of each team is required to attend)
5:45 pm Dinner
Saturday, Jan. 25 in D.H. Hill Jr Library’s Makerspace
1:00 pm – 9:30 pm Build Day, including access to mentors, technical support and other resources. Snacks are available throughout Build Day.
7:00 pm Pizza Dinner
Sunday, Jan. 26 in James B. Hunt Jr. Library’s Duke Energy Hall
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Team check in and project set up time. All teams should arrive before noon.
11:30 am – 1:00 pm Lunch is available
1:00 pm – 1:15 pm Welcome
1:15 pm – 2:30 pm Science Fair-style judging. All teams should be at their table to pitch their prototype to judges. (At least one member of each team is required to attend)
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Break and tabulation of winners
3:00 pm – 3:15 pm Awards Presentation
Community Engagement
The magic of Make-A-Thon happens when our student teams connect with community members. Sign up to mentor students for a couple hours or to judge the teams' prototypes.
Sponsors
The 2020 NC State Make-A-Thon is brought to you by the following hosts and sponsors. Interest in sponsoring? Contact Chester Miller at clmiller@ncsu.edu for more information about sponsorship of the 2020 event.
Previous Winners
GRAND PRIZE: Imagine smart windows that adapt to the changing level of sunlight. In this energy-saving system, window shades and indoor lighting would automatically adjust to the sun, providing the optimal level of lighting for building occupants. The team won $2,000.
Second Prize: An Internet of Things-connected sensor could help save $300 a year in residential water use. A companion app challenges users to save water while Machine Learning helps identify water leaks before they become major water wasters.
Third prize: Recycling requires a market for the recycled material. If recycled plastic is integrated into a new type of pre-made concrete mix, this could reduce plastic waste while also simplifying the plastic recycling process.
GRAND PRIZE: The team who won the grand prize used piezoelectricity to create floors that capture and store energy. Each member of the winning team received a Desktop 3-D Printer and Starter Kit.
Second Prize: An internet of things-enabled factory/office/home that uses sensors to determine how humans are interacting with the building
Third prize: A reusable cup program for campus, as well as a foldable cup prototype
Auotdesk Fusion 360 Prize: Use of enzymes to process plastic recyclables
Social Media Prize: Plant sensors that save water by eliminating unnecessary irrigation
Paradigm Innovation Dare To Shift Prizes: An internet of things-enabled factory/office/home that uses sensors to determine how humans are interacting with the building, a mobile app that improves efficiency of evening safety/security escorts on campus, a reusable coffee cup lid and campus cup share program
GRAND PRIZE: The winning idea is for a bike-share program that uses existing campus bicycles and infrastructure.
Each member of the winning team received a Desktop 3-D Printer and Starter Kit. The team also wona consulting session with Aly Khalifa, NC State’s social entrepreneur in residence, and gift certificates for free fabric poster printing from Spoonflower.
2ND PLACE: The winning idea is a app-based surge protector for outlets that results in reduced phantom load.
Each member of the team received a SparkFun Tinker Kit, a $100 Shapeways 3D printing credit and a gift certificate to Spoonflower.
BUILT ON CLOUD PRIZE: The winning idea is a trash can attachment that notifies a user if a recyclable item is thrown away.
IBM donated $1,000 cash to best cognitive cloud solution that utilizes Bluemix.
FUSION 360 PRIZE: The winning idea is a modification to residence hall trash chutes that will accommodate recycling.
Autodesk donated Space Mouse and digital caliper for each member of team that best utilizes Fusion 360 design software.
SOCIAL MEDIA PRIZE: The winning team chronicled the development of a water-saving showerhead device.
The winning team received a smartphone bundle of cool prizes for best documenting their design journey
GRAND PRIZE: KnowURShower reduces water and energy use associated with long showers
ENERGY PRIZE: ecopen, a door mechanism that generates energy as a door is opened
WATER PRIZE: Coliform No More, a reclaimed water storage tank that oscillates to prevent bacterial growth and lengthen the storage life of reclaimed water
WASTE PRIZE: Trashr, a sensor designed to optimize dumpster trash collection routes
FUSION 360 PRIZE: Step-Up Trash Compactor, which compacts trash or recycling using human power, and Internet of Things, an app that encourages sustainable behaviors