Congratulations to our 2023 Competition Winners, the City Converters from Farnsworth Middle School with their city “Pine Peak”! Amazing job by all teams who participated this year. We can’t wait to see you again next year!
1st Place – Farnsworth Middle School (City Converters) – “Pine Peak”
2nd Place – Broadalbin-Perth Junior/Senior High School – “Terrapolis”
3rd Place – Coxsackie-Athens Middle School – “Mediterriania”
4th Place – Blessed Sacrament School – “Sandi Winds”
5th Place – Berlin Middle School – “La Ciudad Verde”
Welcome to Capital Region Future City Competition!
The competition comprises of teams of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who develop a futuristic city based on the theme of the year. This year, teams will tackle the Climate Change Challenge by choosing a climate change impact and designing one innovative and futuristic climate change adaptation and one mitigation strategy to keep their residents healthy and safe. These teams write an essay, create a model to scale, provide a project plan, and present to judges on their futuristic city at this event.
The amazing impact this event has on our local community, schools, and students is incomprehensible. This competition goes beyond just a one-day competition by teaching students how to apply math and science to real world problems.
We’re in person!
Future City is returning to an in-person competition format in 2022–2023. If another Covid outbreak threatens these plans, Future City will work with your Regional Coordinator and post updated information in your educator dashboard.
Important Competition downloads:
2022-23 Future City Handbook »
Program Details
Future City Competition is an educational program for middle school students to explore their creative and innovative imaginations to design a city of the future. Students will learn how to apply math, science, engineering and technology to develop a realistic future community and compete for regional prizes, including a trip to Washington, DC to compete in the National Competition.
The Team
Consists of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in math, science and engineering. There is a limit to how many students may work on the project. This year we will be implementing a maximum cap of 20 students per team, with a minimum of three students per team. At the regional competition in January, only three students will represent their team and present their city for judging. If there are more than 20 students interested in being part of a team, consider creating multiple smaller sized teams. However, be aware that each registered school/organization is limited to sending a maximum of three teams to compete in the regional competition. Each team of students will work with their teacher and engineer mentor to complete all phases of the program while engineering their version of a “future city.”
Students will:
- Create a Project Plan, which mimics the engineering design process.
- Build a physical 3D model of their city using creative materials such as recycled goods.
- Demonstrate their writing skills through an essay that:
- answers the assigned engineering design problem,
- describes major features and highlights found in the team’s future city,
- Enhance communication skills though a team presentation.
The Teacher
An energetic coach to oversee activities. The teacher will participate as a facilitator and advisor to the team members.
The Engineer Mentor
The mentor serves as an advisor to the students. The mentor’s advice can be in the form of technical help as to how science and engineering can be applied to the city, how to build cities, and how to make technical presentations. The mentor will also be able to teach the students about what different types of engineers do and how the profession impacts society. The mentor does not need to be an engineer but someone who who works in the technical field and is willing to show students how to connect Science, Technology, Engineering and Math concepts to reality and futuristic designs.