The need to tackle Zika has grown urgent. We know how to make vaccines, but a safe Zika vaccine is estimated to take over 7 years. For each year we delay, an estimated 64 million pregnancies are at risk; and the burden of Zika patients will overwhelm health care infrastructure in the tropical and temperate Americas. We can't wait.

Our priority is to stop Zika infections now. Therefore, The Zika Foundation and the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, supported by major global health teams and philanthropic organizations, are hosting a conceptual design competition using an open-teaming innovation event using the highly successful Aggies Invent program format. The goal is to apply new discoveries about the Zika mosquito using trans-discipline expertise to halt the spread of the Zika virus through the rapid development and implementation of low-cost, sustainable solutions that have not been considered to date. Individuals or teams can choose from one of three innovation tracks as developers or mentors:

1. Vector (mosquito) control
2. Immune households
3. Community sustainability

Innovate Against Zika will occur in two phases:

• Phase I is a conceptual-design competition occurring August 19 – 21. The top-performing teams will be awarded cash prizes for further development of prototypes and implementation strategies, which should take into consideration community and cultural aspects of technology deployment in Zika-burdened communities. 
• Phase II is a prototype demonstration and implementation program competition occurring mid-fall 2016. The top performing teams from Phase I will be invited back to present their prototypes and execution plans. Teams will compete for additional prizes for technology deployment.

The Zika Foundation and Texas A&M College of Engineering know that the innovators and rapid-change makers of this world will be able to address such a pressing issue. We invite undergraduate and graduate students, clinicians, faculty and research staff from all disciplines, including Engineering, Entomology, Architecture, Public Health, Women's Health, Communications, International/Cultural Studies, Community Engagement and Virology. Participants from industry and government are also encouraged to attend.

To see a video on the CAMTech Zika Innovation event held earlier this year, visit The Zika Foundation website athttps://zikafoundation.org/hacking-zika/.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the application form  in the link below by Monday, July 25th.

https://tamu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2aDPpNlssZTwNEN

Questions can be directed to:

Magdalini Lagoudas
Executive Director, Industry & Nonprofit Partnerships
Instructional Associate Professor
Engineering  Academic and Student Affairs
Dwight Look College of Engineering | Texas A&M University
104 EABC | 3127 TAMU | College Station, TX 77843-3127

m-lagoudas(at)tamu.edu
http://engineering.tamu.edu/easa