Cities of the Future

To celebrate the launch of 'Cities of the Future' documentary, STEPS have a competition for school aged children.  This competition asks students to imagine stepping 50 years into the future and finding smart cities designed to be totally sustainable.

Imagine stepping into the future and discovering that renewable energy is our primary power source, space-based solar power provides solar energy 24 hours a day, everything is recycled, and you travel in individualised pods that run on little or no energy. 

This isn’t science fiction. Engineers are making plans for a sustainable world right now, and it’s coming to the big screen!

How to access Cities of the Future

To be granted access, please follow these three steps:

•    Register your interest via our dedicated registration page. 
•    STEPS will send you a screening link the week of Tuesday, 24 February.
•    Please check that your network permits access to Vimeo.com.

Note: You will not receive a registration email following completion of the registration page. Please get in touch with steps@engineersireland.ie if you do not receive the link by Friday, 28 February 2025. 

Engineer the Future

Cities of the Future: Educator's Guide

This guide provides multidisciplinary lesson plans and activities rich in STEM, language, and social sciences that are related to key themes in the film. Each lesson presents students with an engineering challenge inspired by the work of real engineers. The guide is provided by MacGillivray Freeman Films in partnership with the ASCE and references are made to grades in the American education system.

Download

Competition: Engineer the City of the Future

The Engineers Ireland STEPS programme has teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency to launch the Engineer the City of the Future Competition that challenges primary and secondary school students to engineer how Irish cities will look by 2050. 

The competition aims to introduce engineering in a fun way and encourages students to develop their problem-solving, creative and communication skills.

The challenge

The year is 2050. Imagine the city of the future is powered by a circular economy: how would you design a city using renewable resources and materials we already have?

  • If you were an engineer, how would you build a city that is safe and healthy for people, plants and animals to live?

  • What materials would you use to build our city and what types of clean energy would you use to power it?

  • Can you take inspiration from nature to engineer clean air to breath, clean water to drink and capture carbon emissions?

  • Could you use materials that some people throw away?

Engineering is at the forefront of making cities better for everyone: clean air and water, sustainable food production, renewable energy, accessible public transport, and low carbon emissions. Brainstorm ideas and create innovations that show what Irish cities could look like in 2050.

This competition is for individuals, rather than those working in groups.

Age groups - Download Worksheets Here

There are two competition categories: 

  • Primary school students
  Download Primary worksheet
  • Secondary school students
  Download Secondary worksheet

 

This competition is for individuals, rather than those working in groups.

How to enter

1. Watch Cities of the Future to inspire your ideas.
2. Download and complete the challenge worksheet for your age category.
3. Submit pages 3 and 4 of your completed worksheet via email or post to the addresses below.
4. We also encourage you to submit any design drawings, videos, prototypes, photographs, texts etc. that explain the functional engineering elements of your City of the Future!

Marking scheme

Idea Engineers are very creative. We love to see your creative ideas.  20 points
Engineering Elements Have you included engineering elements? Do you have a design drawing?  20 points
Bringing your idea to life:    
  • Materials
 Engineers make things people use every day. Write the materials you will use on your challenge worksheet.  20 points
  • Sustainability
 Engineers need to think about their impact on our environment. Make sure to consider this.  15 points
  • Inclusive design
 Engineers should create design for all of societies needs.  15 points
Bonus Photography and Video Content Presentation and communication are important skills for an engineer. You need to be able to explain your designs and work. Do you introduce yourself (or your team) well in the video? Do you explain your idea clearly?  10 points

Prizes

Primary School Prizes

Secondary School Prizes

1st place: €250 One4All Voucher and Admission to Explorium

In addition to your individual prize, win a for your school:

LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential Set - €379.99 Value and LEGO® Education BricQ Motion Essential Set - €174.99 Value

1st place: €250 One4All Voucher and Admission to Explorium

In addition to your individual prize, win a for your school:

Secondary School: LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Set - €499.99 Value

2nd place: €100 One4All Voucher and Admission to Explorium

2nd place: €100 One4All Voucher and Admission to Explorium

3rd place: €50 One4All Voucher and Admission to Explorium

 3rd place: €50 One4All Voucher and Admission to Explorium

 

Terms and conditions

•  Only one entry per student is permitted. This competition is for individuals, rather than those working in groups.
•  Entries can be submitted via post or email. Please include your name, age, school name, teacher name and school telephone number.
•  Entries via post to ‘City of the Future’ Engineers Ireland STEPS, 22 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 D04 R3N2.
•  Entries via email must be titled “Cities of the Future” in the subject line. Send to steps@engineersireland.ie
•  Deadline date: all entries must be submitted by Friday, 2 May 2025.

 

Only winners will be contacted. Winners will be contacted in May.