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Innovation Challenge Series

Competitions and summer programs for high school and college student researchers.

Innovation Case Challenge

Ding Lab
Johns Hopkins University

Fall 2025 Student Research & Innovation Competition

The Fall 2025 Annual Student Research & Innovation Competition was a national competition for high school and college students working in AI, social innovation, ethics, biomedical technologies, and related fields. It was sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Ding Lab and run as a case competition, so participants submitted both a PowerPoint presentation and a final written report.

Entries could take the form of prototypes, data analyses, literature reviews, or ethical case studies on emerging technologies.

Finalists presented their work to a panel of judges from academia and industry. Top teams received awards, publication opportunities, and mentorship offers.

Timeline

  1. Dec 15, 2025

    Applications opened

  2. Mar 1, 2026

    Submission deadline

  3. Apr 3, 2026

    Preliminary selection of finalists

  4. May 1, 2026

    Final competition (online presentations)

Categories & Guidelines

Innovation & Future Solutions

Creative concepts, prototypes, new products, emerging technologies, sustainability ideas, disruptive business models, platforms, and ventures across any industry (education, environment, finance, culture, energy, space, etc.).

Science, Technology & Human Advancement

Research, applied science, AI, engineering, design thinking, human performance, neuroscience, biotechnology, AR/VR, climate tech, urban design: anything that pushes knowledge or capability forward.

Society, Policy & Ethics

Ideas tackling real-world issues: governance, digital equity, legal frameworks, global challenges, public health, social innovation, ethics, human rights, future of work, cultural inclusion.

Teams of 2–4, high school or undergraduate.

Each team submitted a 12-slide presentation and a 2,000–3,000 word report.

Awards & Recognition

  • First Place: USD $3,000, Certificate of Excellence, and publication opportunity
  • Second Place: USD $1,500, Certificate of Excellence, and publication opportunity
  • Third Place: USD $800, Certificate of Excellence, and publication opportunity

Selected projects were also eligible to be featured in the Student Research & Innovation Digest.

Honorable Mentions were recognized as well.

Questions about the competition can go to editor@young-innovator.org.

Summer Research & Innovation Bootcamp

Our Summer Research & Innovation Bootcamp is a hands-on program for high school students in grades 9–12 who want to work on real-world problems through research.

The camp runs online over 2–4 weeks during the summer and includes:

Program Components

  • Faculty-led workshops on AI, biomedical innovation, ethics, and data science
  • Research skill-building in writing, analysis, and critical thinking
  • Mentored group projects and presentations
  • Guest talks from university researchers and industry professionals
  • Optional track: AI Case Challenge accelerator

What You'll Gain

  • Deeper understanding of academic research
  • A finished project you can submit for publication
  • Confidence to pursue future STEM opportunities
  • College preparation and application support
  • Network of peers and mentors

Our mentors and bootcamp trainers are university professors, each holding a Ph.D. and an active appointment at a top institution.

For more information, email editor@young-innovator.org.

Occupational Health in Music

The Global Occupational Health Summit in Tertiary Music Institutions is a pre-conference event of the Performing Arts Medicine Association’s International Symposium in Washington, D.C. Scholars and experts meet to discuss health promotion, education, research, and professional accountability in higher music education. The program calls for specialized training for healthcare providers, care protocols designed for musicians, and measurable outcomes for the health problems musicians face. The summit asks tertiary music institutions to take responsibility for safe learning environments and to treat occupational health as an essential area of knowledge and competency for all musicians. Details are at OccupationalHealthinMusic.org.