Google’s $2million Challenge Finalists
2 October 2014 at 11:57 am
Google Australia has revealed the 10 Not for Profit finalists in it’s $2million Impact Challenge and the global online technology giant has called on the Australian public to vote for its favourite project.
The national public voting campaign will see one project receive a $500,000 grant to help make their technology driven idea a reality.
An app to connect homeless people with social services, an online game to inspire indigenous student to learn maths and science and energy producing ‘biodigester’ toilets are just some of the Not for Profit projects are finalists.
The ten finalists are:
Finalist | Project |
Australian Indigenous Mentoring Association (AIME) | Online game to inspire young Indigenous students to learn maths and science |
Asthma Foundation NSW | Sensors and a mobile app to access and report real-time air quality data |
Alternative Technology Association | Solar lighting for remote households in East Timor |
Engineers Without Borders Australia | Biodigester toilets to provide sanitation and energy in Cambodian communities |
The Fred Hollows Foundation | Low-cost mobile camera to detect and prevent blindness caused by diabetes |
Infoxchange | App to connect homeless people with social services |
Penguin Foundation | Magnetic particle technology to remove oil from contaminated wildlife |
University of New South Wales (ASPIRE) | Online educational and career development platform for disadvantaged students |
University of Technology Sydney | Sensors to detect and report excessive groundwater depletion in arid regions |
Zoo and Aquarium Association, Australasia | App to crowdsource data from travelers about the illegal wildlife trade |
A panel of judges will also select three more projects to each receive $500,000 grants from Google.
“These 10 finalists stood out to us with innovative projects that use technology to make a big impact on important causes – ranging from tackling environmental crises to making education more accessible to helping Australians better manage their own health and assisting people in need,” Maile Carnegie, Managing Director, Google Australia said.
“We’re now asking Australians to vote for the finalists that inspire you the most.”
On October 14, will announce the winner of the public vote and three additional winners selected by a judging panel made up of Australian sporting legend Glenn McGrath, community and arts leader Kim Williams, Australian businesswoman and philanthropist Anne Geddes, Google Australia Managing Director Maile Carnegie and Google.org Director Jacquelline Fuller.
All four winners will each receive a $500,000 grant as well as mentoring and support from Google employees to help make their project a reality.
To support Australian Not for Profits using technology to tackle some of the world’s biggest social challenges click to cast your vote.
Find out more about each of the finalists’ projects here.
