group of students working together
From January 30 to February 1, students from across various faculties came together for an intensive weekend of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving at the annual FSS Challenge. This innovation competition invites participants to harness collective intelligence to design practical solutions to pressing social issues. “We strongly believe in the experiential model of the FSSChallenge within the Faculty,” says Nathan Young, Interim Dean of the Faculty. “It is through these innovative academic approaches that we enrich our students’ learning journey.”

For this edition of the FSS Challenge’s, participants were asked to tackle one central question: How can we identify and counter disinformation?

From Ideas to Solutions

Students from diverse disciplines brought different perspectives, enriching discussions and strengthening solutions. Working in teams, students analyzed real-world cases and developed evidence-based strategies to address them. The Challenge combined theory and practice, asking participants not only to explain why disinformation was effective in each context but also to design realistic interventions. “The Challenge format encourages students to turn their research into concrete proposals,” shares Nathalie Saumure, Manager of Student Experience at FSS. “Each team delivers a short pitch, accompanied by a written report and a scientific poster to present their solution.”

Learning with Experts

The competition also relies on the generous involvement of professionals and practitioners. Serving as mentors, they guided teams, challenged assumptions, and helped strengthen ideas throughout the weekend. They also acted as judges for the final presentations. Their expertise is central to the quality and impact of the experience.

Spotlight on the Winning Team

This year’s winning team addressed the Public Safety subtopic, focusing on claims about the scale and origins of fentanyl trafficking, an area where disinformation can heighten fear, stigmatize communities, and distort policy debates. The team proposed an online browser extension, NoBS - your neutral online browsing support. NoBS warns readers about potential misleading or disinformation in the articles they are consuming online.

Congratulations to: Evelyn Ahmad, Victoria Bouchard, Sonia Chirila, Anissa Rahman, and James Ross.

Looking Ahead

The FSS Challenge once again demonstrated how students, supported by dedicated mentors and professionals, can develop thoughtful, actionable responses to complex social problems. We thank all participants, mentors, and judges for their commitment and look forward to the next edition!