The IDEAS Social Innovation Challenge is MIT’s 20+-year-old annual program for student social innovators. This program is a great opportunity for students to apply their skills and what they learn in classes to complex real-world social and environmental challenges. The program offers practical and educational workshops, advisors, feedback, and funding of up to $20,000 for MIT-student-led projects.

Since 2001, IDEAS has enabled MIT student-led teams to apply their education and expertise in collaboration with community partners to address social challenges around the world. This process culminates in an annual showcase and awards ceremony where teams learn to develop creative solutions in partnership with community networks. To date, over 200 awarded IDEAS teams have implemented innovative service projects in more than 45 countries that have touched well over two million lives over the years. Half of IDEAS alumni teams are active today!