Submitted by Helene Jones on Wed, 08/11/2023 - 17:05

The Davidson Inventors Challenge 2024

A call to all STEM students in Years 11 and 12 from UK Schools.

The Challenge: Research a Sustainable Development Goal and Propose a Solution

The theme of the Davidson Inventors Challenge is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as outlined by the United Nations.

The task of each participating team is to choose one of these goals, research an associated problem, and craft a sustainable, innovative solution.

STEM Students:

Get ready to put your chemical engineering and biotechnology skills into action, while developing essential problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.

Registration for the 2024 Davidson Inventor's Challenge is Now Closed

STEM Students: What's In It For You?

  • Learn more about chemical engineering and biotechnology and its role in tackling the biggest global challenges 
  • Develop your problem-solving and critical thinking skills 
  • Have fun working on a team project 
  • Get feedback and support from our mentors and industry experts   
  • Attendance to a series of professional webinars on topics of interest delivered by experts to help you throughout the competition  

    • The Prize: An Opportunity to Experience Cambridge and Student Life

    The Davidson Inventors Challenge winning team will be rewarded with an e-voucher for online purchases and have an exclusive opportunity to sample life at one of our esteemed Cambridge Colleges. The winners will immerse themselves in the Cambridge lifestyle and join us for a day at our department located in the vibrant West Cambridge Campus.  

    Past Winners: Celebrating Innovation

    Below is a list of inventions developed and presented by previous winning teams of the Davidson Inventors Challenge:

    2023 Benenden School, Cranbrook

    Sustainable flavonoids soaps made of plants against bacterial spreads

    2022 Eastbourne College, Eastbourne

    A solar water sterilisation system 

    2021 The Tiffin Girls School in Kingston upon Thames

    A biodegradable facemask made of potato starch 

    Honouring the Legacy of a Pioneer

    The Davidson Inventors Challenge is named after Cambridge University Emeritus Professor John Davidson, the founding father of fluidisation.

    Launched in 2020, the Davidson Inventors Challenge is a competition and outreach initiative encouraging innovation in STEM. We honour his legacy each year by inviting students in Years 11 and 12 to research sustainable development goals, select a problem to address, and present an innovative, sustainable solution that can make a positive global impact.

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