Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. announced its 150 regional finalists moving on to the next round of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge.

The Challenge asked Canadian students from Grades 6 through 12 to identify issues in their local communities and develop solutions using science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Examples of 150 regional finalist projects moving on include a mobile app to monitor water pollution levels, a fruit and vegetable production plan to spur healthy eating habits, and other innovative ideas.

These student teams now compete to be awarded one of four $20,000 Samsung technology grant packages as a Regional Winner as well as an exclusive event with Canadian rocket-scientist, Forbes ’30 Under 30′ and member of a Canadian contingent working on the European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover,

“These 150 regional finalists embody what Solve for Tomorrow is all about: innovation, teamwork, and a commitment to the future of Canadian communities,” said Mark Childs, Chief Brand Officer, Samsung Canada. “As we celebrate Canada’s 150th this year, we are excited to see inspired student solutions come to life that will have local, national and even global implications.”

Each of the 150 regional finalist schools will receive a Samsung technology packages to assist them in completing their next ‘assignment’ as part of the Challenge: documenting the implementation of their community solution in a three-minute video. Videos will go on to be reviewed by a panel of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow judges, with the top-scoring four schools being named Regional Winners in June 2017.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge intends to inspire STEM interest and 21st century learning opportunities in Canadian classrooms—an area of issue as less than half of Canadian high school students graduate with senior STEM courses though 70% of top jobs require expertise in science, technology, engineering and math*.

Together with Solve for Tomorrow ambassador, Natalie Panek, and educational organizations The Learning Partnership and Let’s Talk Science, the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge hopes to spark Canadian students’ passion for STEM to solve tomorrow’s problems today.

“Natalie [Panek] was a natural fit as this year’s Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Ambassador,” Childs explained. “[She is] someone who inspires the next generation, who understands the importance of STEM for Canadian communities of tomorrow—it was a natural partnership.”

To learn more about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge, visit solvefortomorrow.ca, or follow #SamsungSolve on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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