Scientific American magazine has teamed with InnoCentive to help solve some of the most pressing scientific, technological and policy problems. Awards for solvers are cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $1 million. Open challenges include:
Design of Student-centric Websites for Open-Enrollment Colleges and Institutions – The Lumina Foundation seeks fully coded examples of a front-end user interface that community colleges can use to meet the needs of their students. Solutions are due April 30, 2013 and the challenge reward is $100,000.
Accelerated Stability Testing of Oil-in-Water Emulsions – This challenge seeks a method and predictive model for accelerated stability testing of oil-in-water emulsions. The seeker specifically desires a predictive mathematical model based on the properties of the emulsion after preparation. The maximum award for this challenge is $100,000. Partial awards of $15,000 to $30,000 may also be made for purely theoretical contributions. Solutions are due May 12, 2013.
Synthesis for Si(O1-zXz)y (X = B, C, N, S, Cl) – The challenge seeks a method to synthesize Si(O1-zXz)y (X = B, C, N, S, Cl; where 0.2 < z < 0.5; 0.5 < y < 1.5). The challenge reward is $30,000 and solutions are due April 28, 2013.
For more information about these and other challenges, see the link below:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/openinnovation/?WT.mc_id=SA_innocentive_pavilion_email_B