We're just days away from the start of Cisco Live US 2018,with plenty planned for on-site attendees and those following along from home! This year's event asks people to imagine the possibilities of a world with intuitive IT,where technology has the power to make anything possible.

We see this every day in our own corporate social responsibility (CSR) work, from our collaboration with nonprofit partners to the recent announcement of our Global Problem Solver Challenge winners. We're excited for attendees to discover what it means to be a global problem solver throughout the week as they make a positive impact on people, society, and the planet.

Being a part of Cisco Live's Social Impact Zone means we're giving them an opportunity to do just that. From Monday to Thursday, we'll be highlighting our commitment to positively impact 1 billion people by 2025 through a number of activities, presentations, and challenges. Here's what you have to look forward to:

Vote for your favorite Global Problem Solver

Our annual Global Problem Solver Challenge calls on teams of students and recent graduates to submit their world-changing technology ideas for a chance at Cisco funding, and we're bringing a special edition to the floor of Cisco Live.

Attendees and social media followers will have the chance to vote for one of three teams, with the top vote-getter receiving a US$25,000 prize at the end of the week. Those one site can come to the Social Impact Zone and meet each of the teams, learning more about their innovations and aspirations to solve a global problem before voting through the event's mobile application.

Neopenda, a medical device startup for neonatal technology solutions, dot Learn, a software compression startup making online education more accessible and affordable, and Liberty Mechatronics, who are using technology to make oil filtration more efficient, will all be presenting live demos in the Social Impact Zone.

And for our Twitter followers, voting is as easy as logging in and selecting one of the teams via a conversation card. Be sure to join the conversation on @CiscoCSR and engage with us using the#GlobalProblemSolvers and#CLUS hashtags!

Global Problem Solver Question of the Day

We want to know how you'd be a global problem solver by using technology more intuitively. From Monday to Thursday, we'll be asking attendees and social followers to answer our Question of the Day, either on our virtual reality graffiti wall or through daily Facebook polls. Those who submit compelling answers and vote for a GPS Challenger during the week will have a chance to win an Oculus Rift headset on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

Women on the Front Lines of Disaster Relief

Register for a special session with Cisco Corporate Affairs Senior Vice President Tae Yoo, who will be sitting down with Lauren Woodman, CEO, NetHope and Sue-Lynn Hinson, Manager of the Cisco Tactical Operations team. They will discuss the critical role that technology plays in disaster and humanitarian response; the challenges and risks these new opportunities present; and how companies like Cisco can leverage technology to improve relief efforts, and much more. The fireside chat takes place Monday, June 11 at 01:30 pm EST.

Build a pi-top computer

In Orlando, attendees will have the opportunity to build modular laptops powered by the Raspberry Pi in our Social Impact Zone, either on Monday or Tuesday. At the end of the week, the pi-tops will be donated to local Cisco Networking Academy students, providing a transformative learning experience and empowering students to become collaborative, critical, and creative thinkers. Reserve your place in the Maker Space today!

Other highlights

• Giveaways in the Social Impact Zone, including Google Cardboard headsets, global problem solver capes, Cisco CSR stickers, and more!
• In partnership with Clean the World, Cisco Live set a goal to assemble 10,000 kits that include soap, shampoo, and other hygiene items that will be donated to the local community in Orlando.
• Cisco endeavors to transform education and help build the workforce of tomorrow by fostering and developing IT talent. Through Valencia College in Orlando, two Cisco Networking Academy scholarships will be awarded to two students at Cisco Live 2018.

Follow all of the action on Twitter and Facebook. To join the conversation, use the#CLUS and#GlobalProblemSolvers hashtags. See you in Orlando, Florida!