WE4G is an online STEAM competition for middle and high school students. Teams use their creativity and interest in sustainability to engineer a prototype of a device or system to conserve water inside or outside the home, in industry, in agriculture, or in water treatment and distribution. They will learn from water industry professionals and through their own research about how climate change is affecting Southern California’s water supply.

Through teamwork, they will develop a concept, create a CAD model of their conservation solution, and build a small-scale physical model out of recycled/upcycled materials. The teams will also create a video journal and social media posts to document their progress and share their knowledge and approach with others.

At the conclusion, the teams will give a multimedia presentation of their engineering solution to a panel of water industry experts. WE4G culminates in an online awards event in late March 2024. Students will have learned valuable skills as they work on a conservation project. Importantly they gain early exposure to water industry careers and recognize their potential to be part of the solution for climate change.

• The program kicks off in October 2023 with a webinar for teachers and concludes in March 2024 with an awards ceremony.

• A WE4G Engineering Workbook guides teachers and teams through the program. The five elements are: 1) Define the Problem Through Research, 2) Plan the Project, 3) Build Your Solution, 4) Create a Social Media Campaign, and 5) Present Your Solution.

• WE4G is a competition; teams earn points for the deliverables they complete and submit by the key deadlines.

• WE4G is an online program so timely and frequent commu-nication is critical to a team’s success. Program staff will offer weekly virtual office hours from October to March.

For more information or to sign up a team, please email Mark Moss.