STEAM Tank provides New Jersey students a platform to experience real-world problem solving. It allows them to think like entrepreneurs and design and create whatever they can dream using the fields of STEAM – science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. In STEAM Tank, students create innovative products and solutions to problems, which they enter into a competition. Winners at the regional level compete in the finals at NJSBA’s annual Workshop, before a judging panel of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
The deadline for receiving completed applications is Jan. 31, 2019. The U.S. Army and NJSBA will evaluate all entries and invite teams to participate in the regional competition. Entrants will be notified of the decision by Feb. 8, 2019. Schools are encouraged to submit multiple teams for entry.
STEAM Tank consists of three regional challenges for three grade levels, elementary, middle and high school. Selected teams pitch their ideas to the judges in the designated regional locations, and winners of the regional competitions will advance to compete at the STEAM Tank finals held at the NJSBA’s Workshop Conference at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
The three regions are north, central and south. The northern region includes Sussex, Passaic, Bergen, Warren, Morris, Essex, and Hudson counties; the central region includes Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties; and the southern region includes Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May counties.
The competition asks the district teams to invent something new, modify an existing product, or identify a situation or real world problem that needs resolution. Teams are provided criteria and a panel of experts judge their designs and/or solutions.
Teams presenting must consist of at least two, but no more than five, students and at least one educator. Each team is allowed to present only one idea. Once a team has its idea registered and is accepted into the STEAM Tank regional competition, the team educator can request access to the STEAM Tank playbook that includes an FAQ sheet and rubric. The final judging of the STEAM Tank Challenge submissions will take place at the NJSBA/NJASA/NJASBO Workshop on Oct. 22 and 23, 2019. The award ceremony will take place at the New Jersey Education Association’s Convention in November 2019.
STEAM Tank Requirements
If your application is accepted to proceed to the regionals, you will receive further information regarding mentoring, scheduling, and entrance fees which cover some of the administrative costs. (See below for dates and locations.)
Submissions require either a two-minute video or a 500-word narrative with a complete description of your team’s pitch.
Please use this link to enter your submission https://bit.ly/2zKFLPH.
For additional information, please email steamtank@njsba.org.
STEAM Tank Regional Competitions
North – March 9, 2019, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at NJIT Campus Center Atrium in Newark, N.J. 07102
Central – March 16, 2019, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Camp Evans InfoAge Science History Learning Center, 2201 Marconi Rd., Belmar, N.J. 07719
South – March 22, 2019, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the U.S. Army Reserve Center, 390 S. Woodbury -Turnersville Rd., Blackwood, N.J. 08012