WHS Announces 2017 STEM NEXTGen Border Security Challenge

Women in Homeland Security (WHS)’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) initiative is excited to announce an opportunity for students to bring their ideas, innovations, and out of the box thinking to the border security mission. WHS is now accepting applications for its 2017 WHS STEM ‘NEXTGen Border Security’ contest. The contest presents an opportunity for students to design a technology solution around the challenges facing the nation in securing the border.

“Technology has fundamentally shifted the way we think, and our next generation has grown up integrating technology into their lives like no other. Their ingenuity will spur the next solution to emerge,” said Kristina Tanasichuk, Founder of WHS and Chair of the WHS STEM Initiative. “ We want to help students understand the complexities of a problem and how technology can contribute to a solution.”

The WHS NEXTGen Border Security Contest seeks solutions that recognize the challenges of securing the borders of the United States and encourages students to research the issue and consider the challenges that have hampered efforts for a secure border. The winning solutions would recognize the difficulty managing porous and underground terrain, lack of reliable sensor monitoring/detection, inconsistency of information transmission to command centers, bad weather providing “false positives”, presence of law enforcement personnel, among others. More information and requirements is available at: www.WHSSTEM.com

“We see a completely different focus when students attend our hands-on field trips,” said Lori Gordon, PMP, Director, WHS STEM initiative and Senior Associate at HWC. “We can see a higher level of understanding and commitment to the mission of securing the country when students can see and understand the challenges. The contest is another way to get students to engage on the issues that impact the nation’s future.”

Students will have the opportunity to showcase their technology solution and ideas to national and homeland security leadership at the WHS STEM EXPO in the fall of 2017. Monetary and other prizes will be awarded. This and future opportunities seek to connect students with the STEM careers and missions in homeland and national security. Applicants interested in shaping a solution for this issue of national importance may apply until AUGUST 30, 2017.

The application deadline is AUGUST, 30, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST. To apply, submit applications and supporting materials at www.whsstem.com. U.S. citizenship is required. Detailed information about the contest can be found at www.whsstem.com/contest.

Sponsorships are available and are tax deductible.