Arctic Innovation Competition finals scheduled Friday
October 15, 2013
907-474-7042
10/15/13
The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management will award more than $20,000 in cash prizes Friday, Oct. 18 after the final round of presentations in the 2013 Arctic Innovation Competition.
The competition, in its fifth year, drew a record-breaking 327 ideas submitted by 251 competitors. Entrants were asked to propose new, feasible and potentially profitable ideas for solving real-life problems and challenges.
The semi-final presentations begin in the UAF Wood Center Ballroom at 1:30 p.m. and the "AIC Jr." division for youth 17 and under will start at 4 p.m. The final four presentations will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the BP Awards Ceremony and Reception at 6 p.m.
A panel of judges will choose the winners. Cash prizes include a grand prize of $10,000, $5,000 for second place, $2,000 for third place, $1,000 for fourth place and 16 awards of $100 each. The competitors from AIC Jr., sponsored by Kinross Ft. Knox, will share $1,100 in cash prizes.
Semifinalists include Brian McKinnon, who designed a personal watercraft to work on Alaska rivers, and Canadian dentist Les Kalman, whose Honeyflo idea combines fluoride and beeswax. Other intriguing ideas include a tooth-mounted camera, Follow-the-Leader GPS hat and retractable studs for a wheelchair.
“The AIC is unique because it offers a phenomenal forum for inventors to present and be free with their ideas,” says Mickey Renkert, who is traveling from Colorado to compete. “It shocks me that more universities are not doing this.”
The event is open to the public; all attendees will be eligible to win an Alaska Airlines ticket.
ON THE WEB: www.arcticinno.com
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