Picking a Project: eCYBERMISSION Inspiration

So, your students have decided to do eCYBERMISSION. Now, what? Coming up with a project idea can be the most challenging part of the entire eCYBERMISSION process. There are two elements of an eCYBERMISSION. 1. The project should address a problem in the local community. 2. The project should employ science or engineering to study or solve the problem. At eCYBERMISSION, we want students to have the freedom to study a problem that they’re interested in, but sometimes narrowing their interests to one thing can be tricky. If your students are struggling to come up with an idea, use the following inspiration topics to guide them to their perfect project.

2022 National Finalists, Challengers, used drones as a reforestation method after fires

Environment

Environmental projects have grown in popularity in recent years due to the prevalence of environmental issues in the news. Some popular projects address:

• Plastic Pollution
• Deforestation
• Freshwater Availability
• Air Pollution
• Clean Energy

Human Health and Disease

Every single person on the planet has dealt with sickness. Whether it’s a minor cold or a long-term condition, many eCYBERMISSION projects focus on addressing ways to improve the health and wellbeing of people. Some topics include:

• Nutrition
• Sports & Exercise
• Disability Access
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Smoking & Vaping

Safety

From fighting fires to tripping hazards, many students focus their eCYBERMISSION projects on making their community safer. General safety topics include:

• Safe Driving
• Construction Safety
• Elderly Accommodations
• Child Safety
• Sports Injuries

Helping the Disadvantaged

Helping your community means helping everyone within it. A common area of interest for eCYBERMISSION students is identifying groups of people in their community to serve. Some good places to look for projects include:

• Food Banks
• Nursing Homes & Elderly Care Centers
• Local Nonprofits
• Animal Shelters
• Hospitals

2022 National Finalists, Cloudy with a Chance of Robotics, used machine learning to help their local food bank organize and sort donations. 

Energy

With the world focused on searching for clean and renewable energy sources, many eCYBERMISSION students focus their projects similarly. For inspiration, students look to:

• Solar Power
• Battery Life & Recycling
• Powering Hard-to-Reach Locations
• Carbon Sequestration
• Decreasing Energy Use

Education

Being in school all day makes education topics extra relevant for students. If your students have an interest in bettering their school, have them consider the following for project ideas:

• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Learning Disabilities
• Teacher Burnout
• Student Engagement
• Mental Health & Wellness

Animals & Conservation

Every classroom has at least one animal lover, which makes animals and conservation a popular area of interest for eCYBERMISSION teams. Some popular topics include:

• Invasive Plants
• Animal Habitat
• Local Endangered Species
• Human Impacts
• Community Awareness
• After-School Programs

Infrastructure

Whether in a car on the road or sitting in a school building, infrastructure is the foundation of every community – literally. Popular topics for students interested in this subject include:

• Road Maintenance
• Building Safety
• Parks and Playgrounds
• Sidewalk Repair
• Bike Lanes

These are just a few of the areas that your students can explore with eCYBERMISSION. In reality, the project possibilities are endless! When your students are thinking of what problem they’d like to address with science or engineering, encourage them to look at their own life and the things that affect them and the people they love. We can’t wait to see what incredible things they do!

eCYBERMISSION registration is open! Register today at www.ecybermission.com/register.

Faith Benner
AEOP Senior Communications and Marketing Specalist