ROME, NY — The Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI), in partnership with the Griffiss Institute (GI) and Innovare Advancement Center, announce that they are now accepting applications for school team signups for the 2022 AFRL Challenge Competition.
The AFRL Challenge Competition is an annual STEM initiative for local high school students. The intent of the competition, held during Spring Break, is to provide a more realistic view into the types of high-tech problems the Nation faces and how researchers go about dissecting and solving these complex challenges. Participating in this competition provides students a new perspective in the field of engineering, science, and/or math, depending on the problem’s origin.
The AFRL Challenge Competition gives many of the participants a broad view on the field of engineering, in addition to learning more about the work that takes place at the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, the Griffiss Institute, and the Innovare Advancement Center.
Teams receive the challenge problem at the start of the week and have the next three days to work on trying to solve it. AFRL engineers and scientists are on hand to answer questions regarding the challenge problem throughout the week. At the end of the week, judging takes place followed by an awards ceremony to support, congratulate, and recognize the technology leaders of tomorrow.
For many of the participants, being able to spend a week bouncing ideas off local engineers will be an incredible benefit and opportunity.
Only one team per participating high school; two students, ages 16 years or older, and a one teacher/coach/mentor, may sign up.
This year’s competition will be held in-person at the Innovare Advancement Center located at 592 Hangar Road, Rome, NY. The date of this year’s competition is Monday, April 11 – Friday, April 15, 2022.
Participation is limited to the first 8 teams to register.
Teams can register here: www.griffissinstitute.org/challenge-school