Microsoft today announced a new program for its global student technology competition, the Imagine Cup, called ‘Solve This’ to help connect intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofits with the students competing in the Imagine Cup. IGOs, NGOs and nonprofits often encounter difficult challenges while working to address tough global challenges and now will be able to seek the help of the students to develop solutions to real-world problems. Global IGOs and NGOs including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are among the first organizations to participate.

Now in its ninth year, the Imagine Cup is a Microsoft-sponsored global competition with more than 325,000 students representing 100 countries and regions entering the competition last year. The 2011 competition is already underway and the first round of Imagine Cup finalists from the United States was also announced today. There are several environmentally-themed projects from game design teams, including:

Game Design – Windows and Xbox

• Plump Pixel, California State University, Chico - Project: The team created “Green World,” an educational game blended with real-time strategy and simulation where the player takes on the role of a city planner whose responsibility is to provide a sustainable level of energy to the city while keeping the environment clean and free of pollution.
• STC, University of Houston - Project: The team developed “Deep Sea,” a game designed to protect the ocean environment and promote innovation in keeping oil rigs safe.

Game Design – Mobile

• SDEG, University of Texas San Antonio; Texas A&M University, San Antonio; San Antonio College - Project: The team created a mobile video game, “Renuvia,” which allows players to travel the world and fight pollution by using green technology, recycling and renewable energy.
• Team AAMP, University of Houston - Project: The team developed a mobile game, “Operation Clean Sweep,” where the player has the objective of cleaning up rivers polluted by their adjacent cities.
• Team Inspiration, University of California, Riverside- Project: The team developed a mobile game, “Trash Boy,” where players prevent trash from entering the ocean to protect fish.

The Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals will be held in New York City July 8–13. To learn more about the Imagine Cup and Solve This program, read the press release, or visit the Imagine Cup web site.