BrainyBotz STEM Challenge 2026: Young innovators to design cooler homes

What if beating the heat begins not with an air-conditioner, but with an idea? That is the question posed by the BrainyBotz STEM Innovation Challenge 2026. The contest invites children aged eight to 16 to explore practical ways of cooling homes without depending on expensive air-conditioning systems or high-cost equipment. Themed ‘Beat the Heat: Cool Homes for All’, the challenge places everyday heat and its impact on families as an opportunity for young minds to innovate.

Participants, working in teams of two to four, are expected to investigate why homes become hot, understand the science of heat transfer and develop solutions using locally available materials. The emphasis is on affordability, safety and scalability, with proposed solutions aiming to reduce indoor temperatures by 4–8°C.