Samsung's "Solve for Tomorrow" contest which offers students a unique learning opportunity by encouraging them to solve pressing problems in society, has concluded. The winner of the contest was the Gün Kardeşler team with their project of a biodegradable plaster made from pomegranate bark.

The winners of "Solve for Tomorrow," the science contest organized by Samsung worldwide and held for the first time in Turkiye this year in collaboration with the Habitat Association, were announced. High school students from different regions of Turkiye showed strong interest in the contest and competed with their projects in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). More than 600 students and volunteer teachers applied for the program and 132 teams from 26 provinces participated. The contest's jury was composed of experts from Samsung, the UN and the Habitat Association and some well-known climate activists.

Turkish climate activist Oğuz Ergen, one of the young leaders of the 'Generation17' initiative run globally by Samsung and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), shared his presentation, The 6th Extinction, on the climate crisis with the participants.

In the contest, teams presented their projects to the judges. The judges then evaluated their projects and selected the top three. All students who participated in the contest received STEM kits as gifts, while the top three teams were rewarded with vouchers for Samsung products. The winner of the contest was the Gün Kardeşler team with its biodegradable adhesive dressing made from pomegranate bark. Second place went to Team Lance, which developed a monitoring system to prevent leaks in municipal water supply systems, while third place went to Team Yeşil Gezegen, which developed a solution to recover the energy consumed by washing machines.

"Our mission is to shape the future," said Ömer Barış Gökpınar, CMO of Samsung Electronics Türkiye, who spoke at the closing ceremony of the contest. "Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is an important part of our commitment to society and our planet. Young people who think creatively and develop innovative solutions through the use of breakthrough technologies will reshape the future. We strongly believe in the potential of Turkish youth."

The "Solve for Tomorrow" program, which Samsung has been running on a global scale since 2010, provides a foundation for developing community innovation ideas aimed at solving communities' most pressing problems. The program is designed to foster interest and skills in STEM education. It encourages youth to solve challenges and eliminate risks facing their communities by implementing them.

The program promotes the development of a deep understanding of the environment in which participants live while enhancing their skills in critical and creative thinking, communication, and collaboration, which are critical factors in the future of workforces and societies. Students can apply to the contest with their projects that offer solutions to the 'Climate Crisis' (Reducing Carbon Emissions), 'Sustainable Waste Management' (Recycling), 'Renewable Energy' and 'Smart City Applications'. They participate in Design Thinking Workshops and receive mentoring support as part of the contest.