NEET Competition
Applying Systems Thinking to Challenges in the MIT Campus Food System
1st Place Prize: $300 TechCASH2nd Place Prize: $150 TechCASH$20 TechCASH for each participant
Hosted by New Engineering Education Transformation (NEET) in collaboration with MIT Office of Sustainability
Tackle a challenge related to the MIT campus food system and present your ideas using a systems thinking approach to win TechCASH in this competition hosted by the NEET program in collaboration with the MIT Office of Sustainability.
Participants must attend ONE of the information sessions below AND the team presentations to participate in the competition and receive any TechCASH.
Information Sessions (Choose One):● Tuesday, March 17, 6:30 PM–7:30 PM (Virtual or 3-001)● Wednesday, March 18, 6:30 PM–7:30 PM (Virtual)
Team Presentations:● Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 PM–7:30 PM (Virtual)
Announcement of Winners:● Monday, April 6, EOD (Email)
Join New Engineering Education Transformation (NEET) and the MIT Office of Sustainability to learn how to apply systems thinking to real-world problems, collaborate in an interdisciplinary team of students, and propose viable solutions to people who can implement them on campus!
For this competition, student teams (2 to 4 students per team) will select a challenge related to the MIT campus food system, explore it, apply a systems thinking framework to map it, brainstorm solutions to the challenge, and map the optimal solution using the same framework.
On Tuesday, March 31 at 6:30 PM, teams will remotely present their respective challenges and solutions to the judges who will decide on the winning teams based on solution validity and viability.
The winning teams will be announced via email by Monday, April 6.
The first place team will receive $300 TechCASH and the second place team will receive $150 TechCASH. The first and second place TechCASH prizes will be distributed evenly among each team member.
Each participant will receive $20 TechCASH. Each participant must sign up (with a team or without one—we will help you find a team).
Open to all MIT undergraduates. RSVP by 10:00 AM, Monday, March 16.
Example Challenges
Waste contamination in circulation spaces
Large amounts of food waste are discarded in non-organic waste bins in circulation spaces across campus (corridors, hallways, etc.) and vice-versa.
Waste contamination during outdoor events
Large amounts of food waste are discarded in non-organic waste bins during outdoor events on campus and vice-versa.
Food waste in dorms
Large amounts of food ordered to dorms end up being discarded instead of being consumed or recovered.
Carbon-intensive food consumption
Attempts to encourage lower consumption of meat and dairy across campus dining spaces have not been fully effective.
RSVP Deadline: 10:00 AM, Monday, March 16, 2026
Open to all MIT undergraduate students. Limited spots available.
Feel free to read the short article below by Dr. Rea Lavi, competition facilitator, in preparation for the competition. Please reach out to Dr. Lavi at ude.tim%40ivalaer with any questions.