Imagining possible futures has always been part of the human condition. The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s upcoming exhibition, Designs for Different Futures, will highlight innovative designs that address the values, needs, and desires of society in our ever-changing world. Through this lens, the future has never looked more exciting or more challenging. From lab-grown organs and robotic companions, to smart cities and outer space tourism, the exhibition presents more than 100 designs for different futures, both far and near. These designs respond to unprecedented challenges and promising opportunities – from combating social inequality, environmental degradation, and resource scarcity to promoting technological innovations, scientific advances, and new forms of social and cultural expression.
PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT AN ORIGINAL ESSAY THAT RESPONDS TO THE FOLLOWING CONTEST PROMPT
Technology today seems to advance at an exponential rate. What was unimaginable 10 years ago has already become the status quo. With technology developing as quickly as it does, designers and innovators are able to imagine ever greater and more creative ideas for a multitude of possible futures. However, we often can’t predict the ways in which these new technologies come to be exploited towards inequitable and unethical ends. What are the benefits, limits, and even dangers of new technologies that you imagine could impact our future in both positive and negative ways?
$10,000 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
The winning essay will be published, and the winning author will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards his or her post–secondary education. The Raju Foundation will also fund an additional $5,000 for the winning author to have the opportunity to work with the curatorial team at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to acquire a work from the Museum’s fall exhibition, Designs for Different Futures, to be included in the permanent collection of the Museum. This acquisition will be made in the name of the winning author.
RULES & ELIGIBILITY
The contest is open to high school students in grades nine through twelve attending a public, private, parochial, charter or home school located in the tri-state area (Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware); students must be under the age of twenty.
CONTEST REQUIREMENTS
- Contest Opening: February 15, 2019
- Submission Deadline: June 15, 2019
- Essays must be between 500 and 1,000 words in length
- All entries must be an original work and any resources must be clearly cited using MLA guidelines
- Type-written, double spaced, size 12 font
- All entries must be emailed as an attachment
ESSAY SUBMISSION
Essays must be submitted electronically. Submissions must be accompanied by the following information:
- Full Name
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Mailing Address
- School
- Grade
- How did you hear about the Essay Contest?
EMAIL TO
[email protected]
Subject Line: Essay Contest Submission – [Last Name, First Name]
