In 24 Hours...

Interdisciplinary teams of University of Regina students brainstorm, research, and design viable solutions to wicked problems our communities face today. Participants have a unique opportunity to receive guidance from both faculty and business community members throughout the challenge, with their most valuable resource being the collection of knowledge and varied experience of their fellow team members. At the end of the 24 hours, each team presents their solution - emphasizing feasibility and impact - to a panel of judges and those attending. The competition wraps up with the top three teams taking home scholarships for their innovative solutions.

What is a Wicked Problem?

Highly complex and interconnected, wicked problems are issues that defy straightforward resolution due to their intricate nature. These problems lack definitive solutions and often involve numerous stakeholders with conflicting perspectives. Their complexity makes them challenging to define and address effectively. Examples of wicked problems in today's society include things like education design, financial crises, health care, hunger, income disparity, obesity, poverty, terrorism, and sustainability.

Long-term Impact

Through the collaborative nature of the Innovation Challenge, the Hill and Levene Schools of Business envision a community of passionate University of Regina students who are equipped with the skills, mindset, and networks to tackle complex problems of the present and future. We want students to walk away with hands-on problem-solving experience and the tools necessary to become catalysts for change in their respective fields.

Past Installment: September 2023

Taking place on the main University of Regina campus, the inaugural Innovation Challenge spanned September 22-23, 2023.

The Problem

The challenge kicked off with a presentation on the wicked problem selected, delivered by Victor Roman Morrow, Manager of Community Impact at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation. This year's challenge was focused on four interconnected issues we see in Regina today: Safe and Affordable Housing; Food Insecurity; Accessible, Timely, and Adequate Mental Health Services; and, Sustaining Aging Community Infrastructure. 

Following the presentation, participants heard from a panel of community leaders - Valerie Sluth, Praxis Consulting Ltd.; Andrew Stevens, Ward 3 Councillor and Associate Professor, Faculty of Business; and, Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO, YWCA Regina. The discussion explored the four issues at length and gave students a chance to ask questions before tackling one of them for their presentation.

Once teams settled into their rooms, mentors, offering expertise in business, engineering, and social change, visited each team. These mentorship sessions were pivotal as teams raced against time to comprehend the problems and develop viable solutions. 

Solutions

After an exhaustive (and sleepless for some) night, six solutions emerged:

Team 1 - Mind Ride - a mobile mental health therapy van;
Team 2 - Preserve UR Food - a food preservation and education service;
Team 3 - Quick ’n’ Easy - a low-cost healthy meal service that would deliver nutritious meals to low-income homes based on a selection of options via an app;
Team 4 - Our Sitka - a central hub for addressing the housing crisis by providing housing services, skills training, daycare, and more;
Team 5 - The Hope Initiative - a mobile app that would create community support and educational services for those with Opioid addictions; and,
Team 6 - SharePlate - a mobile app to connect communities in need with individuals who have an excess amount of food they are willing to share. 

Four judges evaluated the participants' work at the end of the 24-hour period: Peter Moroz, Professor, Faculty of Business; Mark Borgares, Vice-President & CFO eHealth Saskatchewan and ESG Specialist, Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.; Brett Waytuck, Dean of University Libraries and Archive; and Evelyn Cerda, Director, Partnerships & Innovation, Regina Foodbank. Teams faced the daunting task of presenting their solutions in 5 minutes and fielding the judges' questions.

The winners

After a brief intermission, the judges announced the winners of the inaugural Innovation Challenge:

Team #3 claimed the top spot and a $3,000 scholarship prize for their solution Quick’n’Easy. Securing second place was Team #1 with their creation Mind Ride, earning them a prize of $1,500. Team #6 clinched third place with their solution SharePlate, earning them a prize of $1,000.

Read an article written about the Challenge HERE.