Publication Focus
Sustainable Innovations Using Inspirations From Nature To Solve Real-World Problems
This journal aims to empower youth and communities to create positive change in the world through nature-inspired innovations.
Global impact:
Learn how these young innovators have addressed some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity and the environment.
Cutting-edge interdisciplinary research:
Explore the original research articles and capstone projects produced by the students after conducting rigorous scientific investigations.
Nature-inspired solutions:
Discover how these young innovators learned from nature's strategies and applied biomimicry and green chemistry principles to design solutions using the best practices of industrial design.
Comprehensive Thinking Process:
To avoid unforeseen consequences, responsible innovation requires considering all aspects of the solution from the start. The “Whole Systems Design Thinking” approach was used to design these solutions, which aims to combine social, economic and environmental factors, interrelationships, and phenomena into a holistic design solution.
Brine Bricks – A Biomimicry and Green Chemistry based solution for Desalination Brine Disposal
Amita Gowda, Grade 11
Due to severe droughts, desalination is an important source of freshwater. The problem is that for every 1-liter of fresh water produced, 1.5-liters of brine is also produced. The challenges incurred in brine disposal, prohibits the expansion of desalination plants. So, my question was, how to safely process and recycle brine, instead of dumping it into the environment? I explored various brine disposal technologies and found that Thermal-based Zero-Liquid-Discharge treatment had comparatively fewer side-effects. I decided to use Biomimicry to further improvise this method. I mimicked the Himalayan Salt Mountain, which had many minerals in it. I also learned that Himalayan salt tiles/bricks are currently being used in constructions. My hypothesis was, “If the salt along with the mineral impurities in the brine is first crystallized, then it can be hardened to form bricks.” My experimentation with household materials, showed that the recrystallized salt with added mineral did not hold strong, so I explored the addition of other compounds to speed up the hardening process. I adopted Green Chemistry principles and tested starch. The coagulation happened without any additional energy and just used water as a solvent, and also the hardening process consumed 50% less heat energy. I now had an effective biomimicry and green chemistry-based brine rock creation process! In order to eliminate any environmental impacts, I designed a Crystallization Tray to ensure the whole process takes place in a well contained and controlled container. Solving the brine disposal issue will enable desalination plants to produce more usable freshwater.
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Pathogen Resistant and Elimination Surface
Pranav Akella, Grade 11
This research article addresses the issue of surface-acquired infections. Currently, high-use surfaces accrue numerous harmful pathogens, which then are transmitted to and infect thousands of people every year. Current solutions address parts of the problem, but are riddled with flaws that make them either ineffective or unviable, such as not considering human error, cost, and difficult means of implementation. This research article presents a solution that not only is effective but also eliminates many of these flaws. The solution implements nature’s methods of pathogen resistance through the utilization of nanopillars and electric current. Through these methods, it is able to ensure a surface stays virtually pathogen-free, while also being easy to implement and easy to maintain. This solution can ensure high-use surfaces stay pathogen-free with minimal effort and maintenance and can help eradicate surface-acquired infections for good.
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Swarm Intelligent Mobile Application in the Detection and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease
Gurseerat Kaur Kakar, Grade 11
This research paper intends to design an accessible innovation that allows for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in the general population. Alzheimer’s is a gradually progressive neurological disease that causes problems in memory, thinking, and general functioning by causing the brain to shrink. Today there are 55 million cases worldwide, and by 2050, it will officially become a global pandemic. And unfortunately, there is no current treatment that has proven to work, allowing it to become the sixth largest cause of death in America. Therefore, attainable prevention for the population is key in order to prevent this large rise in cases. The solution is a unique mobile application that will apply swarm intelligence, along with nature’s other time-tested strategies, to accurately diagnose and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The apps on today’s market that attempt to be support systems or provide online games to assist Alzheimer’s patients don’t contain any accurate method of collecting real data from the user’s distinctive condition. This app is unmatched due to its implementation of an emerging type of artificial intelligence to healthcare to gather and analyze data from various parts of the user’s brain. This data is then used to assist the user in creating a healthier lifestyle, indulge in specifically chosen games meant to strengthen the user’s neural connections and ultimately their cognition, and lastly, provide an analytic report for the user to take to their physician if intervention is required so the user is able to live a longer, more memorable life.
Read the Research ArticleUrban Heat Island Reduction: Enhancing Health, Energy Efficiency, Local Economies, and Ecosystems
Saniha Dogganahalli, Grade 12, American High School, Fremont, CA
This project investigates strategies to mitigate urban heat islands and their direct and indirect impacts on human health, energy consumption, and the local economy. By emulating nature’s canopy and promoting urban vegetation, the project aims to reduce the extent of heat islands, foster climate change adaptation, and enhance local ecosystems. The hypothesis is that these strategies will lower energy consumption in surrounding buildings, encourage outdoor activities in shopping areas even during hot days—thereby improving mental and physical health—and support local businesses.
Read the Capstone ProjectUrban Organic Growers Alliance – United effort to cultivate and distribute fresh organic produce
Francisco Angel – Grade 10, Newark Memorial High School, Newark, CA
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Amita Gowda, Freshman, College of Engineering, Santa Clara University, CA
This project seeks to explore how we can increase the local cultivation of diverse grains, fruits, and vegetables to reduce costs and make fresh, healthy food more affordable and accessible year-round. By encouraging and supporting community gardens, utilizing open concrete spaces, and promoting backyard growers, we seek to foster active participation and sustainable growing practices inspired by natural ecosystems. Our hypothesis is that these efforts will lead to soil regeneration and the implementation of innovative soil-less growing methods, enabling the year-round cultivation of diverse crop varieties. This approach not only helps maintain lower costs but also maximizes the nutritional value of the produce, ensuring equitable access to healthy food for all urban residents.
Read the Capstone Project