EngineerGirl - 2025 Writing Contest: Innovating Smarter

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<div class="sectionnavigation hierarchy-navigator topsection-3" style="margin-top: 18px;"> <nav> <ul class="menu-level2 nav nav-pills nav-stacked" style="margin-left: 0;"> <li class="hNavItemOff1"><a href="/128750/EngineerGirl-Writing-Contest">Writing Contest</a></li> <li class="hNavItemOff1"><a href="/128602/Ambassadors">Ambassador Program</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </aside> </div> <div class="dynamicCenterColumn"> <h1 class="pagetitle"> 2025 Writing Contest: Innovating Smarter </h1> <div class="contentCMS"><p style="font-size: 20px; color: #1273b6; text-align: center;" class="formatContent_firstParagraph"><b>Write a piece describing a common object you would make "smart". Tell us what it would do, how it would help people, and what could go wrong.</b></p> <p style="text-align: center; clear-both; margin-top: 32px; padding-top: 32px; border-top: solid 2px #2F3731;"><a href="#enter" class="linkTextBlock">Grade Level Specifications</a>   |   <a href="#deadline" class="linkTextBlock">Deadline</a>   |   <a href="#contest-info" class="linkTextBlock">Judging & Prizes</a></p> <p>"Smart" objects are electronic devices that perform some level of computing, and they connect with other devices via the internet. These devices create all sorts of new possibilities for ways that the objects in your home can help you, but that means they also come with new risks.</p> <p>Imagine an object you wish to make smart – a household appliance, a toy, a piece of furniture, or other technology. Think about the information your smart device would need to function and consider risks or problems you might encounter by making your object smart.</p> <h2 class="distinctive" id="enter">To Enter the Contest</h2> <h4><u>Elementary School (grades 3-5)</u></h4> <p>Select an item that you would like to make smart, then answer the following questions in your essay:</p> <ul> <li>What object have you chosen to make smart? Describe its purpose and how it is currently used. What would you like it to do for you?</li> <li>Smart objects sometimes use personal information about you. Often, they have access to this information through other accounts such as Amazon or Google. What information would your object need? Where would you get it?</li> <li>Are there any problems with using personal information? What issues may occur? Explain how you would address those issues.</li> </ul> <p>Your submission must be no longer than 800 words.</p> <h4 style="padding-top: 14px;"><u>Middle School (grades 6-8)</u></h4> <p>Select an item that you would like to make smart, then answer the following questions in your essay:</p> <ul> <li>What object have you chosen to make smart? Describe its purpose and how it is currently used. What would you like it to do for you?</li> <li>Smart objects sometimes use personal information about you. Often, they have access to this information through other accounts such as Amazon or Google. What information would your object need? Where would you get it?</li> <li>Are there any problems with using personal information? What issues may occur? Explain how you would address those issues.</li> <li>Devices that connect to the internet will likely face attacks. Attackers try to steal important information or stop things from working. What are at least two methods that designers of smart devices use to keep things secure? How would these methods be useful for your smart device?</li> </ul> <p>Your submission must be no longer than 1,000 words.</p> <p>You may also include a reference list of up to 5 resources, but this is not required. Each resource should be listed using the APA citation style. The reference list does not count toward your essay's word count.</p> <h4 style="padding-top: 14px;"><u>High School (grades 9-12)</u></h4> <p>Select an item that you would like to make smart, then answer the following questions in your essay:</p> <ul> <li>Smart objects sometimes use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their functionality. Think of an object that could be useful with smart functionality and AI. Describe its purpose and how it is currently used. What would you like this object to do for you?</li> <li>Smart objects sometimes use personal information about you. Often, they have access to this information through other accounts such as Amazon or Google. What information would your object need? Where would you get it?</li> <li>Are there any problems with using personal information? What issues may occur? Explain how you would address those issues.</li> <li>Devices that connect to the internet will likely face attacks. Attackers try to steal important information or stop things from working. What are at least two methods that designers of smart devices use to keep things secure? How would these methods be useful for your smart device?</li> <li>Think about the potential risks associated with AI. Are there potential biases or other risks associated with using AI in the object you have chosen? How would you mitigate these risks and ensure that the AI in your smart object operates responsibly and ethically?</li> </ul> <p>Your submission must be no longer than 1,200 words.</p> <p>A reference list of up to 8 resources is also required. Each resource should be listed using the APA citation style. The reference list does not count toward your essay's word count.</p> <p> </p> <p>More <a href="/154409/2025-writing-contest-rules#tips" class="linkTextBlock">tips on how to write a winning entry</a> can be found in the complete rules & regulations.</p> <div id="read-rules"> <h2 style="margin-top: 36px; margin-bottom: 36px; text-align: center;">Be sure to read the full Rules & Requirements<br> <a data-objectname="2025 Writing Contest Rules and Regulations" href="/154409/2025-Writing-Contest-Rules" class="linkTextBlock">Read Online</a>  | <a data-objectname="2025 Writing Contest Rules and Regulations PDF" href="/154668/2025-Writing-Contest-Rules-PDF" class="linkTextBlock">Download PDF</a></h2> </div> <div id="deadline" style="clear-both; margin-top: 56px; padding-top: 36px; border-top: solid 5px #2F3731;"><img alt="February 1" class="img-responsive cmsContentImg" src="/File.aspx?id=154406&v=30370382" style="float: left; margin-right: 16px; margin-left: 56px; width: 150px; max-width: 100%; height: 150px; max-height: 100%;"> <h2 style="line-height: 24px;"><br> Entries can be submitted via the<br> <a data-objectname="EngineerGirl Contest Submission Form" href="/154451/2025-Writing-Contest-Submission-Form" class="linkTextBlock">Online Submission Form</a>*</h2> <h2 style="line-height: 24px;">by <strong>February 1, 2025</strong> at 11:59pm EST.</h2> <p class="formatContent_firstParagraph"> </p> <p>* Those with unreliable or slow internet connections may <a href="mailto:EngineerGirl@nae.edu?subject=2025%20Writing%20Contest%20Form%20Request&body=Please%20send%20a%202025%20EngineerGirl%20Writing%20contest%20entry%20form%20to%20this%20email%20address." class="linkTextBlock">request a fill-in PDF Form</a> that can be completed offline and submitted via email. These forms must also be <em>received</em> via email prior to the deadline above.</p> </div>  <div id="contest-info" style="clear-both; margin-top: 32px; padding-top: 36px; border-top: solid 5px #2F3731;"> <h2 class="distinctive">Other Important information:</h2> <div id="contest-judging" style="margin-top: 44px;"> <h2 style="margin-top: 16px; margin-bottom: 16px;">Judging</h2> <p class="formatContent_firstParagraph">Submissions will be judged by a slate of volunteers that include professionals from various engineering fields. In addition to checking that submissions meet all of the basic rules, they will be looking for:</p> <ol> <li>Presentation of engineering (~50%)</li> <li>Perspectives considered (~35%)</li> <li>Quality of writing (~15%)</li> </ol> <p>You can <a data-objectname="2025 Writing Contest Rubric" href="/15154409.aspx?invalid" class="linkTextBlock">download the rubric</a> that the judges will be using for reference.</p> <p><a href="/154409/2025-writing-contest-rules#judging" class="linkTextBlock">More Information</a></p> </div> <div id="contest-prizes" style="margin-top: 44px;"> <h2 style="margin-top: 16px; margin-bottom: 16px;">Prizes</h2> <p class="formatContent_firstParagraph">Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">First-place winners will be awarded <b>$1,000</b>.<br> Second-place entries will be awarded <b>$750.</b><br> Third-place entries will be awarded <b>$500.</b></p> <p>Winning entries, along with honorable mention entries, will be published on the EngineerGirl website.</p>  <p><a href="/154409/2025-writing-contest-rules#prizes" class="linkTextBlock">More Information</a></p> </div> <div id="read-rules"> <h2 style="margin-top: 36px; margin-bottom: 36px; text-align: center;">Be sure to read the full Rules & Requirements<br> <a data-objectname="2025 Contest Rules and Regulations" href="/154409/2025-Writing-Contest-Rules" class="linkTextBlock">Read Online</a> | <a data-objectname="2025 Writing Contest Rules and Regulations PDF" href="/154668/2025-Writing-Contest-Rules-PDF" class="linkTextBlock">Download PDF</a></h2> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dynamicBottomSection"> </div> </div> <footer id="footer"> <div class="footerCustomContent"> <div class="sponsor"> <div class="listTemplate Banner clearfix"> <p class="list-title">Sponsored by</p> <a class="sponsorBanner" href="/130860/clark-foundation"> <img style="border: 0" alt="A. 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