116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
NewBoCo: Middle school students build future cities
This year’s competition is Jan. 18 at Kirkwood center in Hiawatha
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
What will the cities of tomorrow look like? Will underground transportation improve our morning commutes? Could ocean energy power entire civilizations?
These are the bold ideas Iowa middle school students are exploring, designing and preparing to showcase at the Future City Regional Competition on Jan. 18 at the Kirkwood Community College Linn County Regional Center in Hiawatha.
The Future City Competition isn’t just an academic exercise for middle school students -- it’s a journey into the possibilities of tomorrow.
Hosted regionally by The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo), the competition challenges students to envision, design and build a model of a city set 100 years in the future.
This year’s theme, “Above the Current,” pushes participants to design floating cities that tackle sustainability and ensure the health and safety of their citizens.
Program sparks creativity, excitement
Andy Fiedler, NewBoCo’s K-12 student program coordinator, emphasizes the value the program brings to Iowa’s middle school students.
“Looking to the future is exceedingly important for all people, but is pretty uncommon for young people,” he said. “This program forces students to think about all aspects of the future and gives them the freedom to make really big decisions about how their citizens will live inside their theoretical communities.”
Students at McKinley Middle School in Cedar Rapids have participated in the Future City Competition for more than 25 years.
For Stacy Karam, who teaches PACT (Program for Academic and Creative Talent) for grades 6 to 8, the Future City program is more than just an academic challenge.
“Students refine teamwork, communication, research and reasoning skills while exploring science, technology, engineering and math,” she said. “They investigate current and future technologies used in city design and engineering concepts while having fun with their friends.
“The creativity and excitement this project sparks are unmatched.”
NewBoCo mission
NewBoCo’s mission is all about accelerating world-changing ideas and equipping individuals with the skills to succeed in an increasingly technical world.
The Future City Competition fits into this mission, giving students hands-on experience with STEM concepts and problem-solving skills that reflect real-world challenges.
“We are proud to be able to host Future City,” Fiedler said. “Hosting this event for the state could not be more aligned with our goals.”
Each year, the winning Future City team from Iowa advances to international competition in Washington, D.C.
“In Washington, D.C., they keep us regional coordinators very busy with different volunteer roles,” Fiedler said. “But anytime I’m helping out at this huge international event, and I run into the Iowa team and teachers, parents, etc., it’s like seeing your friends in a crowd. It’s a source of pride seeing fellow Iowans representing us so well on an international stage.”
Challenges, rewards
Organizing an event of this magnitude comes with hurdles, primarily securing enough volunteers, including both in-person and virtual judges.
“Our primary need is for judges to read essays or evaluate presentations, city models, and Q&A sessions,” Fiedler said. ”Getting people to give up their Saturday morning is a big ask, but once they see the immense value of the program, many return year after year.”
The rewards, however, make the effort worthwhile. “Seeing students excel at something very structured, academic and voluntary is so exciting,” Fiedler said. “It’s amazing to see them go above and beyond with their research and deliverables.”
Want to help?
The schools participating in the Future City competition can’t provide judges due to conflicts of interest, so NewBoCo depends on volunteers to ensure fairness and quality judging.
“The more judges we have, the better the results.” Fiedler said. “A diverse and engaged judging pool ensures that the best team represents Iowa at the national level.”
No previous experience is necessary to volunteer -- just a willingness to inspire the next generation of thinkers and doers. If you’re interested in volunteering for the Future City competition, visit https://newbo.co/education/k-12/future-city/ for more information.
Jessica Abdoney is marketing and communications coordinator at NewBoCo. Comments: jessica.abdoney@newbo.co
Daily Newsletters