discussion / Human-Wildlife Conflict  / 30 June 2017

HWC Tech Challenge - General Discussion

Join the Human Wildlife Conflict Tech Challenge!

In India alone, an average of 400 people and 100 elephants are killed every year as a result of human-wildlife conflict. In the past four years, 101 people have also lost their live to tigers in India. In the Arctic, hundreds of 'conflict polar bears' have been killed over the last two decades. These species are all listed as vulnerable or endangered on the IUCN Red List. 

We need better solutions - and we need your help!

If you're an engineer, designer, innovative thinker or maker, WWF and WILDLABS challenge you to create a new or improved tool to prevent conflict between humans and wildlife.


We're looking for tools that focus on an innovative early detection system for one of the two following contexts: 

  1. Asian Elephants in the North Bank, Assam, India
  2. Carnivores: 

Polar Bears in Greenland, Alaska, Svalbard, Canada or Russia; and/or,

Tigers in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand or Myanmar.

The two winning solutions (one for each context) will receive a prize of up to 30,000 EUR each. With this prize, you will refine your solution and field test it with the support of WWF's landscape teams. 

To participate, complete the HWC Tech Challenge Application Form and submit it to the [email protected]

The deadline for submissions is 16:00 GMT, September 12th 2017.   

 

Ready to develop your idea? 

We' ve set up this HWC Tech Challenge group as a space for challenge participants to connect directly with the field conservationists who work at the frontlines of human-wildlife conflict. This thread is a place to ask any general questions that come up during your design process, call for collaborators, or to find out more about human wildlife conflict. 

Good luck! 

 




Is this the first time this challenge has been run? If not, could you provide a link to details on previous years winners, please.

Hi,

I have two questions:

1.

I'm wondering if we can use electronics that normally we buy in Internet, like Arduino or Raspberry Pi.

I see that is not difficult to buy in India in Internet, but maybe not in a "Local shop"

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-price-of-Raspberry-Pi-in-India-and-where-can-you-get-it-for-the-cheapest-price

 

2.

Terms and conditions say:

Development of a business case for further upscaling of the Solution and to make it freely available on the local market in the wider landscape and preferably in other regions as well in cooperation with experts on this topic;

But if our solution is only  software (and a manual of use), and use existing components that people can already buy and assemble...

We don't need a business case, we plan to release the software as a free software, and cover the development with the award. 

With this kind of model (without business model) can we apply?

Thanks!

 

 

Hi Lot,

1. Yes, any type of technology could be used, especially if it is easy to get. We did indicate that we'd prefer to find tools that would be available on the local market, but in case of technical equipment, sometimes there is no other way than ordering through internet, which we udnerstand.

2. Yes, also without business case you can apply. We included this text for 'hardware' mainly or things that can only be purchased from the developer initially. Then it would be good to think about a business case for wider application of the tool. Wodnerfull that you are in fact looking into open access software,!!

Hope this helps1

Best regards, Femke

Hi,

We have a question about one of the questions in the form: We don't understand well:

"Accessibility (only needed for several people, or entire community?) of materials"

What this exactly means?

If the people should have phisical access to the installed equipment? Or accesibility to buy the materials?

Thanks!