Students design zero-waste cities in global STEM competition finals

A global STEM competition has challenged students to design futuristic cities that cut food waste. This year's theme pushed young innovators to think big about sustainability. Over 92,000 students from around the world took part in the qualifying rounds, with teams from China, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mexico, Switzerland, and Canada among the participants.

The finals now feature 45 middle school teams and 20 high school teams. Each will showcase their ideas through essays, project plans, presentations, and detailed scale models.

One middle school team from Fort Wayne, Indiana, created a city called Verdancia, set in the year 2150. Their design uses an underground conveyor system powered by air to move food and waste efficiently. The team also included genetic editing to boost crop benefits, ensuring stronger and more sustainable food sources.

The students drew inspiration from a self-sustaining city in Denmark, adapting its circular food cycle concept. Their project aims to minimise waste while maximising resource use. The competition itself focuses on building confidence and teaching students to address major challenges through innovation.

The winning middle school team will earn a $10,000 donation for their school's STEM programme. The prize money will support further learning and development in science, technology, engineering, and maths.

The finals bring together creative solutions from young minds across the globe. Verdancia's design highlights how future cities could reduce waste through technology and smart planning. The competition's outcome will determine which school receives funding to expand its STEM education efforts.