Brief 1:

Apply AI

How might we empower

communities to use AI to
tackle the local challenges
of climate change?

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 In partnership:
Brief 1:
Apply AI
There is one award
available for this brief:
Apply AI award
of £2,000

How might we empower

communities to use AI to
tackle the local challenges
of climate change?

Background
• The climate emergency is already reshaping AI commonly relies on machine learning algorithms:
communities worldwide. We are not on track to limit the use of statistics to allow an AI system to spot
warming to 2.5°C by the end of the century, let alone patterns in that data and learn to solve problems.
the 1.5°C set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
• A crucial component in designing AI is, therefore,
• Shifts in temperature fuels economic disruption, conflict, the use of datasets. These collections of information
natural disasters, water scarcity, food insecurity and serve as the fuel for training AI algorithms, and shape
more, forcing us to reconsider all aspects of our lives. the capabilities and limitations of AI systems. Strong
datasets contain a wide range of examples and patterns.
• While the climate crisis is a global threat, its impacts
are unequally experienced - with diverse and unique • It is crucial to ensure that datasets are unbiased,
challenges in different regions and communities. representative, and inclusive. Biases in datasets can
Unfortunately, those who have contributed least lead to AI systems making unfair or discriminatory
to the ecological predicament are often the ones decisions at scale, further perpetuating inequalities.
who suffer the most severe consequences.
• In this way, datasets and machine learning can
• To overcome these challenges, a paradigm shift is be used to build novel AI systems that deliver:
required, empowering individuals and communities • Personalisation: tailored approaches that support
to respond to the effects of climate change head-on. the distinct needs of communities and places.
Local communities possess invaluable knowledge,
• Creativity: immersive experiences in virtual learning
resources, and a profound understanding of their own
environments could simulate real-world experiences
needs. By harnessing this wisdom, local communities
and enhance community understanding.
worldwide can best tackle the specific challenges
they face from their different starting points. Taking • Accessibility: less time and fewer resources used on
urgent, collective action will ensure we don’t miss our administrative tasks or monitoring, lower costs for
opportunity to create a more balanced and just world. engagement, enabled participation in climate action.

• Technology, despite its undoubted contribution How to approach the brief

to the climate crisis, also holds the potential for
transformative innovation which can support us • Identify a pressing climate challenge faced by a
in reconnecting with nature, and enabling people and local community (anywhere in the world) that you
the planet to flourish. One technological innovation personally have access to or knowledge of. This could
which could deliver invaluable and timely solutions to involve tackling degradation of a local environment,
local communities is artificial intelligence (AI). promoting sustainable practices, dealing with extreme
weather changes, or combating climate misinformation.
• AI is the broad discipline dedicated to the creation
of ‘intelligent’ machines. It is an applied field of • Like any emerging technology, AI requires equitable
computer science that draws on our understanding and inclusive consideration to ensure it is used
of intelligence - the ability to learn and solve problems responsibly. How can AI benefit society without
- to build novel computer systems that can help reinforcing bias or unfairness? Could AI help build
us to solve the difficult challenges we face. trust amid disinformation? Can AI help spot patterns
to inform better decision-making? How can we
• One of the core aspects of AI is the ability to process build computer systems that invent new ideas whilst
and analyse data or information about the world. behaving in reliable ways? Who owns the content

RSA SDA Competition brief pack 2023–24

 generated by these systems and how can we ensure Partner information:
equitable ownership? Consider the ethical implications
of your idea. Google DeepMind’s operating principles Deep Mind
show how a company might consider its ethical Google DeepMind is a scientific discovery company,
commitments when creating and using technology. committed to ‘solving intelligence to advance science and
benefit humanity’. Solving intelligence requires a diverse
• Consider culture, geography, infrastructure, relevant and interdisciplinary team working closely together – from
technologies, and whether your idea could be scaled scientists and designers, to engineers and ethicists – to
and replicated in other locations. pioneer the development of advanced artificial intelligence.

• This brief requires a co-design approach to build and The company’s breakthroughs include AlphaGo,
strengthen local relationships. Consider the ways in AlphaFold, more than one thousand published research
which you could bring together different stakeholders papers (including more than 20 in Nature and Science),
across the community and platform local voices, including partnerships with scientific organisations, and hundreds
more than human stakeholders (eg the biodiversity of of contributions to Google’s products (in everything from
the place you’re focusing on). Explore your stakeholders’ Android battery efficiency to Assistant text-to-speech).
unique struggles, aspirations, and insights.
Judging criteria
• We want to see evidence that you have thought about
the longevity of your proposal and its role in enabling Your entry should demonstrate a design
communities to thrive. There are multiple elements to thinking approach to the brief and clearly
consider – such as what could be a sustainable business communicate the following principles:
model or how community governance would work. How
can your ideas be captured and translated into action by Social and environmental impact:
communities, policymakers, funders, and other players? Social: How is your approach benefiting people and
generations to come? How have you considered
• Think about wider systemic barriers that may be diversity and inclusion in your proposal? How have
preventing your audience from participating in you brought in different voices and perspectives?
collective climate action. How can these barriers be Environmental: How does your proposal make a
addressed? For example, access to technology is a positive difference for the natural world in your chosen
current challenge for many communities and you need context? How have you considered effective use of
to ensure your proposal considers digital inequalities. resources including materials and processes that can do
more good short and long term for people and planet?
• We encourage you to bring together multiple
disciplines and approaches to address the complex Rigorous research and compelling insights:
challenges within this brief. Explore ways of building a How have you combined your own first-hand research
multidisciplinary team or inviting different perspectives with a review of existing research and wider trends?
– from those with knowledge of AI and climate science, How are your insights and proposal grounded in
to local experts, to subjects including geography, people’s needs and desires? How have you considered
sociology, politics, etc – to enrich your research. the potential of your chosen place and the glocal
context? How did you get feedback and incorporate
For the purposes of illustration only, viable responses new ideas through prototyping and iterating?
could include:
• AI powered energy grids: Husk Power Systems is Systems thinking:
pioneering the use of AI-powered minigrids to provide What’s the bigger picture? How have you considered the
clean energy access in rural areas of Asia and Africa. The root causes of the challenge you’re exploring? How does
rapid deployment of over 200 AI-powered community your idea connect to a wider set of issues? What might
solar minigrids combats the climate crisis by leveraging AI be some unintended consequences of your proposal?
to provide modern, affordable, clean, and reliable energy.
Viability:
• AI protects endangered African wildlife: RESOLVE’s
Have you considered potential models for how your
TrailGuard AI camera, powered by Intel’s Movidius
proposal could work in the real world? How could it
Myriad 2 vision processor, uses real-time computer vision
be funded and sustained financially with the resources
to detect poachers, preventing harm to endangered
and skills needed? What are potential barriers? How
species and aiding in the fight against climate change.
would you measure success? How could your proposal
• Weather predictions: DeepMind’s Deep Generative be adaptive to changes over time?
Model of Rain empowers short-term weather
predictions. By accurately predicting rainfall amounts, Creativity and innovation:
timing, and locations, it equips decision-makers in sectors How is your idea different from existing interventions?
like water management, agriculture, and emergency Are there unexpected or surprising elements in
planning to combat the climate crisis effectively. your proposal? How is it an imaginative and hopeful
… and many more are possible. alternative for the future?

RSA SDA Competition brief pack 2023–24

Entry requirements
(Briefs 1-5)

Open Online entry

briefs If you are unable to submit online, please contact us

by email at [email protected]. As you prepare
your submission, please ensure that:
The competition will open for entries • You do NOT include your name, university/college or
via sda.thersa.org on 31 January 2024, other identifying marks anywhere on your submission.
and the final deadline for entries • None of your PDF submission files exceed 10MB
is 16 March 2024 at 4.00pm GMT. – this is the maximum size for each individual file/
board when you submit online.

We are open to submissions in alternative formats

- such as audio or video. Please contact us for more
information if this would help you participate.

Submission requirements
For all briefs EXCEPT the Centenary celebrations
brief, the submission requirements are:

1 x A3 PDF hero image with a one sentence 4 x A3 PDF boards outlining your proposal –
description – a single ‘poster image’ that conveys 4 pages describing your proposal and responding to
the essence of your project and includes your project the 5 sections of the judging criteria. Number each
title plus a one sentence description. For example: board in the top right-hand corner in the order they
‘Bare technology: a product and service design should be viewed by the judges. You may include
proposal to convert old computers (e-waste) into relevant hyperlinks in your boards, however we
simpler, more straightforward, accessible computers cannot guarantee this will be viewed by the panel.
for older people’. Your hero image should aim to
bring your concept to life – make sure it is vibrant For details on the submission requirements for
and engaging. Your one sentence description is very the Centenary celebrations brief, please see the
important, make sure you take some time to craft Centenary celebrations entry requirements and
an impactful message. guidelines. Please note that late submissions will not
be accepted, and all entrants are encouraged to
1 x A3 written summary – a single A3 PDF page that submit their work in good time before the deadline.
summarises your big idea using the following format:

• Problem (50 words max). What is the specific

problem you identified within the brief topic?
Who experiences this problem, and how does
it impact them?

• Process (75 words max). How did you investigate

this issue and what were your key insights?
What journey did you go through to get to
your final proposal?

• Proposal (50 words max). What is your proposed

intervention? How will it address the problem?

RSA SDA Competition brief pack 2023–24

Competition timeline

07/09/23
Briefs soft launch
The 2023–24 RSA Student
Design Awards competition
briefs go live on sda.thersa.org. Sept–Oct
Online launch events
Sign up to our newsletter to
learn about our in-depth brief
Nov–Dec launch sessions held by our
partners and the SDA Team.
Workshops and events
Free learning workshops and
events based on all brief themes.

31/01/24
Submissions open
Go to sda.thersa.org to
14/02/24 submit your proposal.

Early bird deadline

Submit by 4.00pm GMT
on 14 February 2024 for a
reduced entry rate of £25. 28/02/24
Needs-based
bursary deadline
Submit your application for a
needs-based bursary to cover the
cost of your submission by 11.59pm
16/03/24 GMT on 28 February 2024.

Final deadline
Submit by 4.00pm GMT
on 16 March 2024. March–May
Judging
Entries will be evaluated
in a two-stage process:
Early June shortlisting and interviews.

Winners announced
Stay tuned for the
big announcement. Late June
Awards ceremony
Join us to celebrate the
2023–24 RSA SDA Winners.

RSA SDA Competition brief pack 2023–24