Complete Story
04/30/2025
Future City
The 2026 Ohio Region Future City Competition will be held on Saturday January 10th, 2026! If you are interested in volunteering as a judge, please hold this date on your calendar. The event will take place at a brand new location this year - the OSU Fawcett Center located at 2400 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43210.
For those that need a refresher, Future City is a hands-on cross-curricular educational program in which 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students tackle an important question: How can we make the world a better place? This year’s theme, Farm to Table, challenges students to build a city 100 years in the future that eliminates food waste from farm to table and keeps their citizens healthy and safe.
Judges are needed the morning of the competition and work in teams to evaluate the students' solutions to citywide sustainability issues, helping inspire the next generation of engineers and urban planners. Specifically, judges score the students’ scale models and oral presentations on the day of the competition. Judges may also assist with scoring the team essays in December. Here are more details:
Why Volunteer as a Judge?
As a judge, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Engage with bright, passionate young minds.
- Support STEM education and inspire future leaders.
- Network with other professionals who share a commitment to education and innovation.
Event Details
- Date: January 10, 2026 (backup date for inclement weather is January 24)
- Location: OSU Fawcett Center
- Time: TBD, but typically about 4-5 hours in the morning.
- What: Judges score the students’ scale models and oral presentations. Judges work in teams to evaluate the students’ solutions to citywide sustainability issues, helping inspire the next generation of engineers and urban planners.
Who Can Be a Judge?
Professionals from all backgrounds are welcome, especially those with experience in engineering, urban planning, architecture, environmental science, or education. Faculty and current undergraduate or graduate students are also welcome!
In addition to judging opportunities, Future City Ohio is always looking for sponsors, so if your company is interested in sponsoring a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, please let them know!
If you're interested in joining as a judge in January, please reach out to Scott Lowry at sdlowry@hntb.com for more details.
Future City starts with a question – how can we make the world a better place?
To answer it, middle school students imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future that showcase their solution to a citywide sustainability issue.
Click here to view webpage
Mentors
Mentors work alongside the Educator and act as a coach and role model, share real-life STEM experiences, offer technical guidance, and help translate academic concepts to the real world of engineering and city design.
Time Commitment
About 15-25 hours throughout September – February
Who can be a mentor?
Engineers, technicians, urban planners, Project managers, architects, undergrad or graduate students studying a related field.
Judges
Judges are a vital part of Future City and serving in this capacity is fun and rewarding. Judges score team deliverables, provide feedback, and help determine the overall winners. Serve at the regional (January – see regions for details and locations) and national level (February – in Washington DC) competitions.
Scoring rubrics and training provided by DiscoverE (written and video)
Engineers created this competition. Its success is dependent upon continued support from industry professionals and those in the STEM community.
Time Commitment
About 4-8 hours on weekends in January (Regional) and February (National)
Who can be a judge?
Engineers, technicians, urban planners, PM professionals, architects, STEM professionals, and STEM industry partners
Sign up to be a judge – Click here to register
