$20,000 to encourage Australian university students’ innovation in broadband and environment

Alcatel-Lucent will again sponsor the Alcatel-Lucent Australia Broadband Challenge for the Sustainable Environment, alongside the Telecommunications Society of Australia. This year’s challenge, which has total prize money of $20,000, is asking Australian university students to advance pioneering ideas about how broadband technology can be applied to help sustain the environment.

Andrew Butterworth, Alcatel-Lucent’s Managing Director for Australia, said: “Technology and the environment will play an increasingly critical role in Australia. Both are relevant topics right now because the national broadband network presents an important opportunity to continue to improve Australia’s commitment to the environment. Using high-speed broadband to gather and transmit environmental intelligence or minimise the human impact on our environment through the use of advanced broadband technologies are just two examples.

“High-speed broadband is Australia’s future and innovating ahead of building the infrastructure is critical, so that, as it is built, the benefits immediately flow. Who better to help with today’s innovation than our students?” continued Butterworth.

The winning students are awarded $5000 for themselves and $10,000 for their university department. Second and third place winners receive $3000 and $2000 respectively. The best entries, including the winning papers, will be published in the February 2011 issue of the Telecommunications Journal of Australia (TJA).

The 2010 Alcatel-Lucent Broadband Challenge for the Sustainable Environment will be judged by an independent panel chaired by the TJA's managing editor, Dr Peter Gerrand.

Entries close on 15 November 2010. For full terms and conditions and entry guidelines visit the ACS-TSA website.