Students learn life skills through building futuristic cities

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana middle school students competed in the Indiana Future City Competition at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on Saturday.

29 teams participated in the semester-long project, which included five parts. The teams created a virtual 3D map and built futuristic city models made from recycled materials. They then showed the cities to a panel of community judges.

This year's theme was "Rethink Runoff: Design Clean Solutions to Manage Stormwater Pollution." The students designed a futuristic city centered around preventing flooding and pollution.

"This project is very real world. Students have to think about how they will actually solve the problem," Carol Dostal, coordinator of the Future City Competition and IPFW College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science outreach director, said.

Dostal said the students learned important life skills, such as working together with a team and meeting a deadline, by participating in the competition. The students work with mentors from the community who guide them throughout the project.

The winning team will advance to the National Future City finals in Washington, D.C., February 17 to 23. The national grand prize is a trip to the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.