The Mayor's K-12 Smart City Challenge
Inspired by the SA Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan
ANNOUNCING THE
SA SMART 2024 VIRTUAL LAUNCH
Join us for a conversation with Mayor Ron Nirenberg
and environmental quality experts.
Learn about the 2024 topic!
Thursday, October 5, 2023, 4:00-4:30 p.m.
Return here for connection info on the day of the event.
2024 CHALLENGE
Environmental Quality
"EQ in SA"
Propose a product, service, or strategy that improves how we take care of and use San Antonio's natural environment.
San Antonio means...
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Residents
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Companies
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Government departments/agencies
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Non-profits
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Any other organization
Environmental Quality...
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Land, air, and water
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Energy and usage impacts
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Parks and green spaces
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Proximity and equity in access
Quality of life means...
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Cleaner spaces
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Accessible opportunities
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Healthier residents
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In light of all our city's goals
ABOUT SA Smart
Between 2018 and 2040, 1.1 million new people will call San Antonio home. While this future creates many challenges, it also creates opportunities. One opportunity is to drive student learning through smart city challenges. Join us as we create learning opportunities for students rooted in the challenges faced by our city.
What is SA Smart?
SA Smart is the Mayor's K-12 Smart City Challenge. Student teams in grades 6-12 will research a San Antonio-specific smart city problem and propose a strategy, product, or service as a solution.
What events happen in SA Smart?
SA Smart starts with a fall Virtual Launch. Then teams prepare an idea, register, and join a required late January or early February Launch Clinic that includes professionals and mentors. Through March, teams work on their Research Pitch Deck. Finalists are selected, and in April and May, finalists get help from mentors. In late May, finalists deliver their pitch at Mayor's Cup Competition Day.
Who can participate in SA Smart?
The competition is open to any 4-6 member San Antonio area team sponsored by a school or education service provider, for students in grades 6-12, with a teacher or responsible adult acting as their sponsor.
What will students do?
What will they learn?
Students select and research a problem related to the competition topic. Their research will likely include STEM topics, and may also include entrepreneurship, civics, policy or other topics. Using a template we provide, they'll share research results and recommend a strategy, product, or service using a pitch template we provide. Students will also learn a lot about what it means to live in and develop a smart city.
What's the benefit for teachers?
The topic provides a foundation for real-world problem exploration by students. The competition design applies the concepts of Project-Based Learning (PBL) and of STEM and STEAM education. Teachers will see these concepts in action. Resources include teacher slides and a student handbook for optional use in classrooms. Teachers can choose to grade program deliverables.
What will Competition Day be like?
SA Smart Competition Day will be a professionally run, high energy event where students present their research and recommendations. An awards ceremony will be held, and prizes awarded to the best performing team/s. Finalists will generate ideas for the next year's competition.
What will the prizes be?
The winning team will receive the Mayor's Cup. 2nd Place and possibly 3rd Place awards will be given based on bracket size. Digital badges will be awarded to all finalists. Additional prizes will be determined with sponsors.
Who is the SA Smart team?
SA Smart is a cooperative effort between the Mayor's office and local STEM education and other non-profits. The program is led by SAMSAT. Other long-term partners include City of San Antonio Planning Department, City of San Antonio Innovation Department, Geekdom, Smart Energy Education, CPS Energy, Education Service Center-Region 20, and the Alamo STEM Ecosystem. A Steering Committee manages the effort, and they select judges for the final competition. See our Partners & Team page for details.