Innovation Challenge

Get ready for this uniquely Smith learning experience that challenges you to blend your innovative interests with your academic pursuits. Grab a friend, deeply explore a problem, design a solution that aligns with at least one global development goal, and showcase your creativity for the community.

2027 Keyword: Transformation

The Conway Center issues yearly keyword challenges where interdisciplinary teams of Smith undergraduate students tackle real-world issues. Over the course of the spring, you’ll unleash your creativity, explore problems, and showcase your United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) aligned solution while developing your social change-maker skills. 

The culminating event—Joypalooza—each April is not just about the $50,000 award pool, it’s about the recognition of your journey of discovery and learning throughout the experience.

Joypalooza 2027 will take place on Friday, April 9 from noon to 6 p.m.

Save the Date!

Wednesday, December 2

Our Challenge Launch Party will take place on Wednesday, December 2, where we’ll unveil our challenge statement.

Dive In

Ruha Benjamin says imagination is a way to challenge unfair systems. She calls it a resource, a battleground, and a place to rest. In our collective imagination, we can make sense of the world and we can remake it. Imagination helps us ask “what else is possible?” Futures thinking helps us look at what’s happening now and ask “where might things go?” Together, they let us question what exists and explore what could be different. They help us see problems clearly before we design new solutions.

Through the Co-Innovate for Change Challenge, you work to develop your imagination and future-thinking skills. First, you need to look at a real problem and try to understand where it came from and who it affects. Then, you imagine what could change? What would a better version of this look like—in five years, or fifty? And then you design something real that helps get us toward the version of the future that you imagine.

  • Dream Team: Partner with 1–4 other students who represent at least one major that differs from yours. If you have not yet declared a major, you will need to find team members pursuing study outside of your current course departments.
  • Impactful Solutions: Identify a problem and design a solution that ensures that everyone, regardless of background or identity, has the opportunity to live with dignity, security and equality.
  • Global Awareness: Ensure your project aligns with global sustainable development ideals.
  • Creativity Unleashed: Flaunt your innovative thinking and dedication to making a positive change.
  • Scale Up: Think big and project how your idea could create substantial impact

The goal of your journey through the Imagination Challenge is to start simply, imagine better, and then take action.

  • Application support session*: February 3
  • Deadline to apply: February 7 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Milestone 1 deadline: February 28
  • Milestone 2 deadline: March 28
  • Joypalooza: April 9

*Support session will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Neilson Library 103.

Over the course of the Challenge, your team will be scored according to the following rubric:

  • Collaborative Brilliance: How well are your team members working together?
  • Commitment to Change: To what degree is your team demonstrating dedication to creating a positive and lasting impact?
  • Financial Sustainability: To what extent has your team planned for near- and long-term financial support for the project?
  • Global Alignment: How effectively does your project contribute to global sustainability goals?
  • Innovative Spirit: How creatively did your team approach the problem?
  • Lessons Learned: How well is your team highlighting lessons learned and insights gained throughout the process?
  • Progressive Journey: How well is your team showcasing progress, acknowledging pivots and learning?

Resources

Photo by Erin Long

Past Challenges

2026 Imagination Challenge

Students drew inspiration from Ruha Benjamin’s “Imagination” to investigate the root causes of global, national, or local problems to surface unheard voices and explore lived experiences while using their imagination and futures thinking to design bold, impactful solutions.

2025 Justice Challenge

Students cultivated projects that addressed systemic injustices and inequalities such as food, health, tech, wealth justice, and more.

2024 Joy Challenge

Students cultivated innovative projects that ushered in joy while contributing to the advancement of at least one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.