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This professor wants to power Puerto Rico with a little help from Reddit

Justine Calma

October 17, 2018 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Puerto Rico, San Juan

After Hurricane Maria devastated much of Puerto Rico, much of the country was left without power and some were subsequently left sick due to fumes from generators. After receiving a call from a relative in his home county, Professor Monxo Lopez of New York City’s Hunter College was determined to create affordable solar for his home country.

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Forget autonomous cars — rural Japan is betting on self-driving buses

Fergus Peace

September 25, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan

Japan is taking major steps to putting autonomous buses on the roads in rural areas because there is a need for reliable transportation and not enough funding as more young people move to the cities. It has the potential to save labor costs and provide more reliable transportation options while delivering necessary data to companies looking to expand driverless technology. However, this also requires more detailed mapping, which is often not available for smaller and more rural roads.

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Africa's Fastest-Growing City Sees Benefits From More Female Engineers

Anne Kidmose Jensen

September 19, 2018 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Tanzania, Dar es Salaam

In Dar es Salaam, the percentage of female engineers has leaped from 4% to 9% after the creation of a program providing mentorship opportunities and a monthly grant to encourage women to join the field. The program, partially funded by the Norwegian government, might also help the economy and Tanzania's infrastructure by creating a "more sustainable force of engineers."

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Ensenada shows U.S. police departments what drones can do to fight crime

Gustavo Solis

August 30, 2018 |

San Diego Union-Tribune |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Ensenada

Police in Ensenada, Mexico, have been using drones since October 2017 and it has led to more than 500 arrests and a 10 percent drop in crime. The drones have fostered faster response times and help police decide how to allocate resources appropriately, while highlighting risks before officers approach a property. Officials in Chula Vista, Calif., are working with the same drone company to start a similar program, which could prompt changes in federal policies on using drones in the U.S.

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What are coastal nuclear power plants doing to address climate threats?

John Vidal

August 08, 2018 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Somerset

The World Nuclear Association counts 50 nuclear power plants being built, with 150 more in the planning stages. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, nuclear plants on coasts began to be built with contingencies that account for sea-level rise. But new studies suggest that many such plans rely on outdated climate change projections.

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Allbirds wants to fix your sole

Elizabeth Segran

August 01, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

An unlikely duo teamed up to create a sustainable shoe. Using wool, tree fibers, and sugarcane, they've created shoes that are sustainable and—in some cases—wholly recyclable. The latest innovation is the petroleum free EVA sole. Theirs is manufactured from sugarcane and is carbon negative. Simply switching the material from petroleum to sugarcane was all it took; they were shocked no other company had tried. Their method is open source, so other companies can use the sustainable technology.

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Wastewater treatment is a problem in the rural South. Who is working to fix it?

Melissa Brown

July 26, 2018 |

The Montgomery Advertiser |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Haynesville, Alabama

In the South's rural Black Belt, wastewater management is an issue, but local activists, government officials, and civil engineers are working together to create a new type of sanitation system that works for the geography. The approach also includes public information campaigns to educate people about proper maintenance and stop rumors that can prevent that maintenance.

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'A dignified alternative': the special cart for homeless people to keep their stuff

Ashifa Kassam

July 13, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Canada, Toronto

People experiencing homelessness might now have one less worry, as students and engineers are designing a cart for homeless individuals to effectively store their belongings. The prototyping process involved hearing from future users. Though this cart will not solve homelessness, it will target on aspect of the problem, mitigating one stressful factor about being homeless.

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The Bricks Helping to Rebuild Gaza

Elizabeth Davies Harriet Noble

July 02, 2018 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Palestine, Gaza Strip

To rebuild Gaza, Green Cake manufactures construction blocks out of locally-available ash and rubble. It’s a low-cost and reliable alternative to importing supplies from Israel.

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Plastic of the Future

Sena Christian

June 19, 2018 |

Comstock's Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Sacramento, California

Traditional plastics like those used in disposable bottle production can be broken down into smaller pieces when recycled, but aren't completely biodegradable. Bioplastics, a technology that has recently gained traction the plastic packaging market, is plant-based, making it at attractive option for reducing plastic waste.

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