The 2026 Global Design Challenge is Here!

Lights for Us, Darkness for Them:

Engineers Protect the Night

ITEEA's Elementary STEM Council (ESC) and Secondary STEM Council (SSC) invite students worldwide to participate in the 2026 Global Design Challenge. Students will tackle a real-world engineering problem involving outdoor lighting and owl habitats, designing and testing solutions that balance human needs with environmental responsibility. The deadline to submit is Tuesday, December 15, 2026.

Students create and test a solution that keeps a community walking path safely illuminated while protecting a nearby owl habitat from unnecessary nighttime light.

Students design, build, and test a model lighting system using quantitative data to demonstrate how their solution balances trail visibility and habitat protection.

The winning team in each division will receive a complimentary one-year ITEEA Group Membership for their school, an invitation to participate in ITEEA's 2027 STEM Showcase, and one complimentary hotel night at ITEEA's 2027 Annual Conference in Louisville.