Welcome to Future City New Jersey!
2025-2026 Future City Theme: Farm to Table!
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 New Jersey Regional Competition Winner!
– Team Isla del Mar from JerseySTEM
Congratulations to all of the 2024-2025 NJ Regional winners!
1st Place – Team Isla del Mar – JerseySTEM
2nd Place – Team Nusa Harmoni – Thomas Grover Middle School
3rd Place – Team Cidade dos Sonhos – Iselin Middle School
4th Place – Team Paraiso Aquatico – Cedar Hill Prep
5th Place – Team Aqua Roma – Unity Charter School
6th Place – Team The Big Easy – Kenneth R. Olson Middle School
7th Place – Team Aquaterra – Harding Township Middle School
8th Place – Team Jeanara – Forrestdale School
9th Place – Team Galleggiante – Maple Place Middle School
10th Place – Team Novo Rio – Hoboken Charter School
Farm to Table Resources
Food Waste & Circular Economy
• How Much Food Does the World Waste? (World Resources Institute)
This article explores the staggering scale of global food waste and its impact on climate change, land
use, and water consumption, highlighting key stats and solutions.
• Fighting Food Waste with Circular Economy (Skip Shapiro Enterprises)
An overview of how circular economy principles can help reduce food waste by designing waste out of
the system and keeping resources in use longer.
• Fighting Food Waste Using the Circular Economy (KPMG + Fight Food Waste CRC)
This research-backed report looks at strategies to apply circular economy models to the food supply
chain in order to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and create new business opportunities.
Agricultural Innovation & Energy
• Green Energy Powered by Agriculture (Kalfresh Bioenergy)
Discover how an Australian farming community uses agricultural waste to power a biogas facility,
producing renewable energy while reducing emissions.
Sustainable Packaging & Edible Alternatives
• The Very Last Bite: Edible Packaging Made from Seaweed (RESET)
Learn about seaweed-based packaging innovations that are both edible and biodegradable, aimed at
reducing plastic waste in the food industry.
• #RethinkPlastic with Evoware (Evoware)
Evoware showcases their mission to eliminate plastic waste through seaweed-based, edible, and
compostable packaging solutions designed for the food sector.
• Seaweed-Based Packaging to Eliminate Waste: Evoware (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
This case study explores how seaweed packaging can contribute to a circular economy by replacing
single-use plastic in everyday food products.
• Edible and Nutritious Packaging with Seaweed-based Material to Decrease Plastic Waste
(AIM2Flourish)
Highlights an innovative business that creates nutritious, edible packaging from seaweed, reducing
plastic waste and improving food access.
• Eat This Food Packaging Instead of Throwing It Away (EcoWatch)
A roundup of edible food packaging solutions that aim to reduce landfill waste and promote
sustainability across the food supply chain.
Upcycling & Sustainable Food Packaging
• From Trash to Table: Will Upcycled Food Save the Planet? (The Guardian)
This article discusses the growing movement to transform food waste into edible, marketable products,
and how it can help feed a growing population sustainably.
• Sustainable Reusable Packaging in Frozen Foods
Explores how reusable packaging solutions are emerging in the frozen food industry, reducing waste
and extending shelf life.
• Compostable Packaging in Frozen Foods
Highlights companies adopting compostable packaging for frozen food items, offering an alternative to
traditional plastic films.
• ProAmpac Flexible Packaging
Showcases sustainable flexible packaging innovations for food storage, including recyclable and
compostable options designed to prevent spoilage and reduce waste.
• Bonduelle, ExxonMobil, and Drukpol collaborate on recyclable freezer film | Packaging Europe
An example of industry collaboration to develop recyclable packaging films for frozen vegetables,
supporting sustainability in cold-chain logistics.
• Packaging Can Work Harder to Prevent Food Waste
Looks at how smart packaging design, from portion control to temperature indicators, can directly help
reduce consumer food waste.
Sustainable Transport, Energy, & Agriculture
• Shell Cows Driving Trucks
A fun look at how manure from dairy cows is being used to power trucks, showcasing the potential of
agricultural waste in clean energy solutions.
• Shell Eco Marathon Ethanol
This student innovation challenge features biofuel-powered vehicles and encourages young engineers
to design sustainable transportation solutions, including ethanol made from agricultural sources.
• Driving Decarbonisation in Food Production (Partnering with Yara International)
Shell and Yara International are partnering to cut carbon emissions in agriculture, using renewable
energy and low-carbon fertilizers in food production.
• Sustainable Feedstock (Transportation and Agriculture)
Details Shell’s initiatives in using sustainable feedstocks like used cooking oil and agricultural waste, to
produce lower-carbon fuels and materials.
• Shell and Raizen Deal
Explains Shell’s investment in Raízen, a leading bioenergy company producing ethanol from
sugarcane, and its role in advancing sustainable agriculture and transport fuels.
Competition Day
Regional Competition Date: January 17th, 2026
Rutgers University, Livingston Campus Student Center
84 Joyce Kilmer Avenue
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Registration for schools listed under Group 1 will begin at 8:00 AM. Registration for schools listed under Group 2 will begin at 8:30 AM (see “When should we arrive?” section below).
The competition is scheduled to end by 6:00 pm.
Program
While Future City is first and foremost an engineering experience, competition day provides an opportunity for students to gain additional insight into what a future in engineering can include. On Competition Day, students can expect to not only display their model and give their presentation, but also attend multiple fun and educational workshops during the day. Lunch is provided for the students, along with a t-shirt designed around the theme of the competition. In the past, Competition Day has included:
“Meet the Professionals”
ASCE Dream Big Movie
Engineers Without Borders
PSE&G EERC Energy 101
ATTENTION: VEHICLE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR PARKING.
Please use this link to register vehicles prior to January 17th:
You will then be permitted to park in the following parking lots: Lots 105, Green & Yellow Lots.
Competition Day FAQs
Who can attend the competition?
Students: For each team participating in the Regional Competition, only the three students who are presenting may attend. National Rules do not allow student alternates to participate in the regional competition unless they are replacing a team member who was unable to attend. In the event that a team member will be replaced by an alternate on the competition day, the Region Coordinator, Judging Coordinator, and Competition Day Coordinator must be informed by email of the substitution at least one week in advance. No student substitutions will be allowed without prior notice.
Students that are not presenting may not attend the competition.
Family Members: Due to space limitations at the Livingston Student Center, we cannot accommodate the parents and family members of every student, so we ask that teachers and parents work together to limit the number of guests for each team. Parents are only allowed in the competition room when their child is presenting and they must remain quiet at all times so they do not interfere with the judging process. If any parent interferes with the judging process, points will be deducted from their child’s team.
Teachers & Engineering Mentors: For each school participating in the Regional Competition, one teacher and one engineering mentor may attend. If your school has more than one teacher or mentor, please contact the Competition Day Coordinator.
When should we arrive?
Arrival times are in two groups and based upon approximate travel time to the competition site (see below).
Only teachers may register teams. Anyone else attending the competition can wait in the food court area until their team has been registered.
Group 1 – 8:00am Registration
Group 2 – 8:30am Registration
Where do we drop off the models?
The Livingston Campus Student Center has a drop-off area in the front of the building. Please use this area to drop off city models. There will be tables set up inside the building to temporarily store models while teachers check in their teams.
Where can we park?
The Green, Yellow and Lot 105 have been assigned for our use on competition day. A permit will be required for all lots! Please park in these lots only and NOT in any metered space. Those who choose to park elsewhere may be ticketed and fined for parking without a permit.
Please use this link to register vehicles prior to competition day: https://rudots.nupark.com/events/Events/Register/905d8a0c-d860-42fb-97e4-efcf7ad52dc6
Click here for the Livingston Campus map.
What paperwork are we required to bring?
The model expenses and other paperwork is required to be submitted via CMS or a Google form prior to competition day. You may contact the Competition Day Coordinator for information about the required paperwork. Teams that do not have all their paperwork completed and signed will not be allowed to complete the registration process and participate in the competition day activities, including judging.
The paperwork that must be submitted prior to competition day includes the following:
- Media Waiver Form(s) – Make sure that you have your media waiver forms for each student, teacher, and mentor. A student may not compete without this form filled out, signed, and submitted.
- Competition Expenses Form and Receipts for purchases by the team.
- Honor Statement for each team.
What do I need to know?
The competition room has three points of access, the one closest to the food court is for volunteers and judges only. Students, parents, teachers, and mentors should use the two access points at the other side of the building (walking away from the food court and following the hallway to the left).
We will be having the top three teams re-present in the judging hall in front of the students, teachers, and parents. The three final presentations will be judged and will help to determine the overall finish of the top three teams. If your team is not in the finals, please do your best to maintain a quiet, orderly area around your students as the three final teams make their presentations.
The Future City New Jersey Competition t-shirt is provided for the three presenting students on each competing team. Additional t-shirts will be available for purchase at $10 per shirt, please visit the registration desk after 11:00 am for more information. If any schools would like to pre-order additional shirts, please contact the Competition Day Coordinator.
How can I support Future City New Jersey?
The New Jersey Future City Competition is a non-profit group run by volunteers. The solicitation of grants and donations makes it possible to organize this competition. This includes the rental of the facility, providing lunches and t-shirts for competing students, and prizes and STEM grants for students and teachers. If you are interested in making a donation to support future competitions, please visit the registration desk for more information on the competition day or please email the Regional Coordinator.
2024-2025 Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Other Sponsors
Special Awards
Special Awards change from year to year and depend on the theme of the competition. The awards, as well as the criteria upon which each city will be measured, is determined closer to the date of the competition. Typically, the types of special awards the students can win are similar to the below.
Most Environmentally Friendly City: Most innovative planning for preservation of the environment while enjoying a sustainable life.
Most Organized City: Best overall use of zones, transportation, and resource management that will allow a maximum return for the quality of life issues.
Most Sustainable City: City that best incorporates sustainability and an integrated approach to managing resources and infrastructure systems.
Most Creative Use of Materials: Most use of innovative materials, construction techniques, and overall construction of design.
Most Innovative Power Generation System: Innovative and efficient use of cutting-edge technology, alternative generation, and renewable resources in energy systems.
Most Innovative Design of Infrastructure Systems: Most efficient design if infrastructure systems including those for consumption, agriculture, industry, recreation, safety, communication, data, and transportation.
Best Economy: Most efficient use of economics to influence urban issues such as crime, education, public transit, housing, and local government finance.
Best Transportation System: Creative design of transportation system that allows both mobility and transport of goods and services.
Best Use of Engineering Principles: Best use of the ideas, rules, or concepts that need to be kept in mind when solving an engineering problem.
Best Futuristic City: Use of futuristic engineering concepts into city’s communications, energy, or transportation systems.
Best Zoning: The design that employs the best zoning practices, taking into consideration the high standards used by zoning boards to help protest the public’s safety and welfare.
Most Accessible City: Most Accessible Design for people with disabilities, the elderly, and others with mobility impairments. Design that accommodates the most innovative systems (e.g., transportation, public rights of way) for a community.
Safest City: Best use of systems and management of resources to ensure the safety and welfare of its residents.
Best Risk Management: Most innovative approaches to managing risk in an urban environment, including those to manage disasters and recover from extreme weather events.
Healthiest City: Best use of systems and management of resources to ensure the health and welfare of its residents and what specifically will guarantee for them an improved quality of life.
Contact Us
Region Coordinator
Erica (Sunny) Mullen – region_coordinator@futurecitynj.org
Treasurer/Fundraising Co-Coordinator
Rita Exposito – fundraising@futurecitynj.org
Judging Co-Coordinator
Andrea Almeida & Alba (Grace) Luz – judging@futurecitynj.org
Schools Co-Coordinator
Satish Patel & Aswina Ranasinghe – schools@futurecitynj.org
Competition Day Coordinator
Silvia Santos – competition_day@futurecitynj.org
Mentor Coordinator
Jacqueline Nam – mentor@futurecitynj.org
Activities Coordinator
Carlos Lopez – activities@futurecitynj.org
Media/Public Relations Coordinators
Eric Baskayan – media@futurecitynj.org
Program Advisors
Matt Lunemann
Scott Lubarsky
Jean Hansen
Lucas Baskayan
Allison Nichols