Future City Competition Takes Place in Buffalo

The New York Western Region Future City competition took place on Jan. 25 in Buffalo. Future City is a hands-on and cross-curricular educational program that brings STEM to life for students in grades 6, 7, and 8, with a special focus on reaching girls and under-represented and under-served students.

The 2025 competition theme, Above the Current, challenged participants to design a floating city. The student designs took into consideration the impacts of sea-level rise. Each team was comprised of three or more students, one educator, and one mentor. The students alone presented each design and answered questions at the competition.

Rebecca Kohlman, PE, PTOE, a transportation design engineer at Erdman Anthony’s Rochester, New York, office, was one of the competition’s volunteer judges.

“These teams showcased some incredibly innovative ideas for the future. It’s inspiring to see the next generation of engineers bringing bold, creative solutions to the table,” Rebecca said.