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Toxic Algae Lifecycle Disruption and Removal System
Author : Shaina Patel, Grade 9
High School : Hamden Hall Country Day School, Hamden, CT, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : October 29, 2020
Toxic algae blooms in our water bodies are a growing concern to both human health and the environment. This innovative design solution is an effective, energy efficient, and eco-friendly multi-part solution which disrupts the algae lifecycle and permanently removes algae and cysts from freshwater ecosystems. Each solution design contains various inspirations from nature, allowing the processes of sequestering CO2, filtering chemical runoff, blocking sunlight, and capturing algae from bodies of water much faster and safer for the environment. This design surpasses the effectiveness of any current solution as it utilizes nature’s time-tested strategies. By addressing more than one factor, the success rate of this solution design will be much higher.
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Effective Safe Air Disinfectant Purifier
Author : Isaac Yang, Grade 11
High School : Washington High School, Fremont, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : August 26, 2020
The device is both an air purifier and a disinfector while also being energy efficient and eco-friendly. The air purification features several layers each inspired by nature and having a role to play in cleaning the air. The disinfector features a revolutionary new idea of using enzymes to destroy pathogens. This new technology outclasses the use of UV-C radiation as people and life, in general, are able to coexist while the air is being disinfected. Innovation flows throughout the entire device, whether it be in the dye-sensitized solar cells, or the biodegradable filter wraps. By embracing nature’s time-tested designs, this solution is effective no matter how the pathogens evolve.
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PŪR-CIGARETTE
Author : Akash Raman, Grade 11
High School : Cranbrook Kingswood High School, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : August 26, 2020
Many innocent lives, both people and animals, have been taken due to fatal diseases caused by smoking, specifically second hand smoke and the littering of cigarette butts. The seemingly harmless, hardly visible cigarette smoke might look enjoyable to experience in your everyday commercial, but it actually contains up to 70 dangerous carcinogens, such as nicotine, formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide that could kill you. The problems of smoking also include the littering of cigarette butts, which also contains toxins and plastic. Innocent animals eat these and die painful deaths. How can we solve these problems to provide safety to our environment and protection of our loved ones?
Using the innovative techniques of biomimicry, the study of how nature can solve our everyday problems, I have created a design called the Pūr Cigarette device. It consists of a covering called the Cigarette Sheath for the smoker to cover the cigarette and smoke. The smoker does not even have to carry a lighter because there is an inbuilt one that is activated through a button when the cigarette touches the back of the filter. This device filters the smoke as the smoker is smoking. Attached to the Cigarette sheath is a device called the Cigarette Butt Recycling System that separates the components of the leftover cigarette butt and makes it easier to recycle. There is also a separate Room-Air Filter which improves the general air quality of any room with cigarette smoke.
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River Waste Collection and Disposal System
Author : Lieth Elbzour, Grade 11
High School : Dixon High School, Dixon, IL, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : August 26, 2020
This research paper addresses the overwhelming issue of plastic wastes in our oceans and rivers. My design aims to reduce and dispose of all waste floating around in rivers before it enters larger bodies of water. Plastic wastes harm marine life and eventually will begin to harm us.
There is already tons of waste in the ocean, the trap system I have developed targets trash that hasn’t reached the ocean yet. In order for there to be a sustainable marine life in our future we must start little by little.
Biomimicry was the main inspiration for my solution design. My design is based off of one of nature’s many filtration systems. The filter works with just the movement of the river pushing the debris. The debris then ends up in the waste bin. The waste bin can adjust its height based on the water level. This is all powered with renewable energy such as solar and wind and operates autonomously.
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Nuclear Fusion
Author : Hari Srinivasan, Grade 11
High School : Quarry Lane High School, Dublin, CA, USA.
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
The purpose of this research article is to provide an answer to a question that might progress human technology and production to new avenues. Finding a renewable and clean energy source is a very difficult task, as each clean energy source has its own complications that prevent it from universal usage. However, one of these is nuclear fusion which has been hypothesized to be the best method of energy production, but was never proven due to complications with money and efficiency. This research article strives to give a solution.
The solution is based on biological methods of energy production. Biology and evolution has done millions of years of trial and error to test which is the most efficient way for an organism to gain energy. While the comparison between biological organisms and a nuclear fusion power plant is not one to one, we should still consider the biological brilliance of our energy production process. The solution takes inspiration from design strategies of biological energy production as well as pre-existing fusion reactors.
While this solution may not be the definitive answer on how to construct a nuclear fusion reactor, it should guide nuclear fusion research closer to the answer with more biological inspirations. While money is always an issue, the benefits of mastering nuclear fusion heavily outweigh the costs.
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Micro-flow: Household Microplastic Filter
Author : Saniya Shrotriya, Grade 11
High School : Milpitas High School, Milpitas, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
Many microplastics land in the ocean via household drains. This research article aims to describe the features of a microplastic filter that people can implement in their daily lives in order to resolve this issue. The device includes three separate filters for optimal results. The topmost filter allows larger waste to be trapped to prevent any obstructions in the microplastic portion of the filter. The next segment is for microplastics smaller than 0.5 mm. This includes a series of grooves that allows microplastics to flow through and eventually stick to a sticky mucus layer. The rest of the microplastics greater than 0.5 mm are trapped in a small sealable bag at the end of the filter. Biomimicry is incorporated throughout the article to create efficient filtration solutions. Marine animals and organisms are the main source of inspiration as they contain their own filtration systems.
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Safe Desalination Brine Disposal and Treatment system
Author : Saiganesya Jonnalagadda, Grade 11
High School : Armador Valley High School, Pleasonton, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
This research article aims to address the problem of toxic Brine being produced and reduce its harmful effect on the environment. My design solution will increase efficiency in the Desalination Plants and also allow for a much cleaner output from the plant. Biomimicry was an inspiration for my solution design, and it allowed me to study living organisms that remove toxic chemicals and reduce the salt levels in the solution.
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Carcinogen Detection to Prevent Cancer
Author : William Zhao. Grade 9
High School : Lowell High School, San Francisco, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
The best way to reduce cancer and other diseases is to just avoid getting it entirely. In this paper, I will look through what causes cancer and other diseases and go through solutions that will help people be aware and avoid these carcinogenic substances. The solution chosen will also contain a hub and sensors to detect the most common types of air pollution where you will place it in your house or your workspace. The data collected will be compiled and shown in an easily accessible app, which will also act as a barcode scanner to detect if there are any carcinogenic ingredients in the products you purchase. In the end, I aim to achieve a solution people can easily integrate into their life without interfering with them too much, and help people become aware about these dangers rather than letting them stay in the dark.
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Integrated Circuits Fabrication Design to Improve Electronics Recycling
Author : Sydnie Noguera, Grade 10
High School : John F. Kennedy High School, Fremont, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
Electronic waste or E-waste as some people call it is a problem in our world today. E-waste not only contributes to waste but is also toxic to the environment and us. Electronics can be recycled but it can be difficult to do so which is why many people throw them out. It is extremely hard and labor intensive to separate all the materials in electronics and that is why it is hard to recycle them. People call this problem, a mixed materials problem. I am proposing a solution to help with the mixed materials problem through a new design for the Integrated Circuits (IC) fabrication layers, which will enable easy removal and separation of the various layers and the materials.
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Agricultural Land Recovery Methods
Author : Troy Anthony Jose, Grade 10
High School : James Logan High School, Union City, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
The research I conducted was based upon the problem of land degradation. Land degradation is when land is affected negatively with chemicals and salt changing the soil health, or when the soil is eroded. I specifically focused on the effects the agricultural industry has on land degradation. My solution includes smart resource management, with new technologies to help the efficiency of the farm. It also includes the removal of chemicals and salts, through the two filtration systems I have designed using nature’s models and strategies. The Smart farming methods depicted in my solution was also derived by studying nature’s models and offers sustainable ways to avoid further damage, control weeds and pests, and maintain the soil in a healthy state. All these parts of my solution when implemented together should help recover the land to its original healthy state while also preventing run-offs and reducing carbon emissions.
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Renewable Energy Powered Plane
Author : Rohan Makkar, Grade 10
High School : Washington High School, Fremont, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
This research paper was designed with the consideration to address the large problem of carbon emissions. This design is an attempt to cut away more than 5% of worldwide carbon emissions, a number that would only grow as the world develops. My renewable energy plane design would completely cut down all these emissions. This technology will be a big step towards a greener future. This is inspired by biomimicry, because the best fliers in the world are birds, the fastest swimmers are sharks, and the most efficient at energy collection are plants. These methods used by nature are much more efficient than those used by humans.
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Solution to Prevent Overfishing
Author : Pranav Bollineni, Grade 11
High School : Cupertino High School, Cupertino, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
The past few decades of overfishing have taken its toll on the fish population. Fish have always been a main source of food for the world, but with our growing population, overfishing has become a serious threat to our planet. Not only will it affect the fish population, but it will also affect the livelihoods of fisherman due to fish depletion. Because of this I wanted to help solve this problem. To do this, I turned to biomimicry, which is the process of looking to nature to find solutions to a problem. Biomimicry helped me design my solution, a trap to separate unsustainable and sustainable fish, and capture only the desired fish. I hope that my solution is able to greatly reduce or even solve the problem of overfishing.
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Power-lines Fire Terminator
Author : Amita Gowda, Grade 9
High School : Fremont Christian School, Fremont, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
The purpose of this research article is to design an original solution for an observation of an issue. My observation was on the wildfires in California and the frequent occurrences of it. When these wildfires meet our power grid, it turns into electrical fires and causes horrific devastation.
With the current extreme weather conditions and drought in California, it is not possible to completely stop wild-fires, but we could minimize the impact by stopping the wild-fires from becoming electrical fires.
I applied the new nature inspired innovation methodology, called Biomimicry, to research nature’s models and designed a solution called, Power-lines Fire Terminator (PFT) that would help utility companies to take intelligent and swift actions proactively and avoid future devastations.
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Innovative Leaf Inspired Microgrids
Author : Erika Tragin, Grade 9
High School : Skyline High School, Sammamish, WA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
The current electric grid has been contributing to climate change, not well protected from natural disasters, and is not resilient, resulting in blackouts.
This research aims at solving the problems of our current electric grid. It was inspired by nature’s models that have evolved overtime to solve similar problems effectively and sustainably for structures, safety precautions, energy production, and distribution.
My design targets the use of renewable energy, flexible, resilient, and scalable microgrid structure, and modern computer systems to better benefit the economy and the consumers. This solution uses the “Energy-as-a-Service” operational model and it addresses the 3Ds – Decentralize (Microgrid), Decarbonize (Renewable Energy Sources), Democratize (allow small energy production farms and consumers to contribute)- that are much needed in the energy sector.
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Innovative City Planning for Current and Future Demands
Author : Kushal Golechha, Grade 10
High School : Gunderson High School, San Jose, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
This research article will address the issues in the current city planning process. We will go over the actions we need to take in order to prepare for the future. My solution will focus on resolving problems involving traffic, security and vertical buildings. We will go over ways to manage congested traffic more efficiently, increasing security to ensure safety, expanding of living spaces, work areas, and parking. Biomimicry inspired me because I was able to see how nature creates its own solutions in unique ways for countless different types of problems. I used concepts of biomimicry to create a better system for city planning.
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True Green Vehicles
Author : Taha Khan, Grade 9
High School : James Logan High School, Union City, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
This research article aims to address vehicles that run fully on clean renewable energy, and to help make it a possibility. My solution offers specific ways to gather clean energy and to then power a safe and environmentally friendly coupe.
Since climate change is slowly affecting the Earth negatively, it is time to do something about it, and my solution can help fight that. Gasoline cars account for 10-15% of the green house gas emissions in the world. There have been attempts to produce “solar cars,” however they are not yet developed enough to be used for everyday use nor provide the same benefits.
If we observe nature, one will see that there are many different ways to gather clean energy in abundance. Most of my research is affiliated with biomimicry – technology based on nature, plants, and animals – to help achieve the gathering of clean energy to power an advanced car.
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Next-Generation Solutions to Renewable Energy Capturing
Author : Evan Harris, Grade 10
High School : John F. Kennedy High School, Fremont, CA, USA
Process Used : Whole System Design Thinking
Publication Date : July 24, 2020
Renewable energy sources are particularly important in the fight against climate change and for a sustainable future. However, each renewable energy source has problems, either affecting the environment or not producing enough to be a reliable source of energy for the masses. It is crucial that all the renewable energy capturing gets better, or else climate change will run rampant. This paper contains some next-gen, modern solutions that look to nature for answers. The natural world has had millions and even billions of years to perfect itself and its processes. By mimicking what it does, we can solve our most pressing problems when it comes to renewable energy. The solutions for land degradation, fish and bird death, and environmental disruption are all contained in this paper along with some new, innovative ideas that can change the way we harvest energy.