Never taken part in CityZen? Find out why you should get involved with the ICE’s game-changing schools competition.
The ICE’s CityZen Award has been a huge hit with 16- to 18-year-old students all across the UK.
Part digital game, part project pitch, it opens the world of civil engineering to students in an exciting and engaging way.
Mentors help to make CityZen possible.
Here’s why all members should consider becoming STEM ambassadors and participating in this game-changing competition.
What makes ICE CityZen great
I love the format of the competition with four weeks of online digital gaming content ahead of a practical video task.
The online content catches the eye, quickly and dramatically, but very skillfully forces the sort of thinking that will then be transferable into the video task.
It encourages teamwork and communication throughout, two vital elements of any successful project.
The ICE CityZen Award has now extended its competition period for 2024-25 from September to March 2025.
This will give students more time to complete the CityZen game and the optional project pitch task to the best of their ability.
Enter the ICE CityZen Award 2024-25
Registration is now open for the 2024-25 round of the ICE CityZen Award.
As well as the main award, this year sees the launch of a new competition for 14-to-16-year-olds: the ICE CityZen Pollution Control Challenge.
Find out more and register your interestWhy I became a STEM ambassador
I became a STEM ambassador as I enjoy interacting with students and trying to inspire them into a career that I love.
It's interesting to see how they deal with situations and concepts I take for granted but are new to them.
I didn’t have the opportunities they have, and I want them to get the best out of all available sources.
The CityZen competition is a brilliant advert for civil engineering.
It celebrates the virtues of teamwork, creative thinking, communication, sustainability and stakeholder management.
How mentoring has benefitted my career
I’ve always been struck by how quickly students engage with new material and new mediums.
Far more quickly than if it’d been me – back in my own school setting.
Mentoring students in the CityZen competition encourages me to stay current.
I adapt how I present and engage with students of differing backgrounds and cultures.
How we can reach a more diverse audience of students
To have true diversity we need to do more to highlight how civil engineering is a career for everyone.
To have the best teamwork and innovation in any given situation, you need to use the broadest variety of talent you possibly can.
This of course includes women.
Having more visible female mentors may encourage more female students to take part.
Why schools and students should take part
Schools should take part as it’s a purpose-built platform which can be seamlessly integrated into a curriculum.
It’s ready-made to introduce students into the world of civil engineering.
It busts the myth that it’s only about bridges, showing them that there’s a far wider and larger world of infrastructure.
It will generate exposure for their school and ultimately may lead to recognition and awards, with positive publicity.
It’s very fun!
The students were able to have mini competitions among themselves – seeing who could get the best scores in the individual game tasks.
This prompted them to be keen and innovative and think about how they could better themselves – which ultimately, they did do.
Seeing the fun and enjoyment students have making their videos and all of the creative processes involved is, for me, the best part of the CityZen Award.
There are also brilliant prizes for both schools and students.
This includes certificates for all participants, cash prizes up to £2,000 shared between the students and their school, and a VIP three-course meal at the ICE headquarters with the president.
Why having a STEM ambassador mentor matters
Giving students support and advice can be the extra catalyst they need to gain the confidence to pursue a particular path.
You might provide the encouragement they needed to take what seemed like a difficult plunge.
I know firsthand from speaking to students that they’ve found the online elements fun and challenging.
And the video task allows them to be creative and view engineering in a totally different way.
The skills you need to take part as a mentor
Being approachable and a good communicator are two key skills every good STEM ambassador should have.
Be clear, concise, know your audience, but also be prepared to listen and give advice.
The ICE also provides a mentor guide to assist you through the competition.
The main point to make is anyone can do this, and peer support is available to help you build on the skills you need.
Dive in!
Don’t waste time wondering if you can be a STEM ambassador (as the simple answer is yes, if you’re already thinking it) – dive in and start having fun.
You will likely get more out of it than the students do and grow as a person, educator, presenter, communicator.
If you know of a local school that hasn’t signed up and you have a contact there, press them as to why not. Offer your services as a willing mentor.
It could help bring more interest in the competition.
There are teacher and student guides available on the ICE website which they can browse before signing up.
The ICE CityZen Pollution Control Challenge
The ICE CityZen Pollution Control Challenge is made up of one round of the CityZen game where students are challenged to solve a river pollution problem.
There are certificates for all and great prizes for the top three teams.
The ICE is asking ICE members and STEM ambassadors to reach out to schools and teachers to let them know about this exciting new opportunity for 14–16-year-olds.
Interested in becoming a STEM ambassador?
It’s free to register through the STEM Learning organisation, who also provide guidance for engaging with young people.
Sign up as an ICE STEM ambassador
Once you’re a STEM ambassador, you can register your interest to become a mentor for ICE CityZen.
