we asked her a few questions to learn more about her entry.

q: what is your innovation? describe it for those who have never heard of it.

a: this innovation combines chemistry, physics and engineering to create a potential filter device that can help decrease greenhouse gases to a normal healthy state that promotes optimal conditions for life on earth.

q: what was your inspiration behind this innovation? how did you come up with this idea?

a: my inspiration for the idea came to me when i was sitting in a seminar about beach renourishment. i was listening to all the problems we are facing not only in our oceans but around the globe. i became curious and turned my curiosity to problem solving … i knew in order to help a lot of our problems we must not only stop the addition of greenhouse gases, but begin to decrease them as well.

q: what was the process behind creating your submission? why did you choose to communicate your innovation through this video format?

a: i applied because i (met) the wonderful director of challenge 2050 and he suggested that i apply for one world … i presented my idea here at the one world event at uf. i decided to share my idea because i truly want this to happen to help better our world. i choose this video format because it was easier for me to voice my idea.

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: this innovation is certainly important to me because i see true value in the health of our planet and i truly believe that we can begin to fix the damage we have caused it just takes the right steps to get there.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked them a few questions to learn more about their entry.

q: describe the food recovery network.

a: the food recovery network (frn) is a organization with chapters at 184 colleges around the nation. frn goes to local restaurants, school dining halls and other events that would otherwise be throwing out their food at the end of the day. instead of the food going to waste, frn delivers however much it collects on a regular basis to local homeless shelters.

q: what was the process behind creating your submission? why did you choose to communicate your innovation through this video format?

a: we contacted the food recovery network chapter at the university of maryland, which is actually where the organization was founded, and visited the campus on one of their recovery nights. we thought that this method would be the best way to showcase just how much food goes to waste and would also make it more of a personal experience for viewers because you get to follow the process and meet the people involved.

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: we’re both very interested in the concept of food waste, especially when it comes to perfectly edible food. we have both written pieces for planet forward about the relationship between food production and the environment, and wanted to continue with this topic for our video. this innovation is also very important to sara because she will be starting a chapter of the food recovery network at gw this coming fall. we find this to be one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities, because of the food production process and the sheer number of people that live in cities. there are so many environmental resources that go to waste when food is wasted (e.g. water, energy). the food production process and food waste are also large contributors to co2 emissions. so wasting food ultimately results in a lot of harm to the environment, especially in cities where there are so many more people to waste food. this is an effective way to reduce food waste, because it can reduce the number of co2 emissions and also help contribute to feeding people in cities who may not have access to healthy meals.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked him a few questions to learn more about his entry.

q: describe your innovation in simple terms for those who have never heard of it.

a: (a floating farm is) a multi-layer floating platform capable of producing fresh and healthy food closer to our growing cities. facing the current challenges of cities growing, land consumption and climate change, i believe projects like the smart floating farms can help change some of the existing paradigms which have led us to the present situation, and open new possibilities which can improve the quality of human life and the environment. (a floating farm is) based on a floating platform multi-layered strategy which combines aquaculture (fish), hydroponics-aeroponics (crops) and photovoltaics (solar power & other renewable energies). we aim that these floating farms can be located close to areas where food is needed, causing a positive social and economical impact, with the potential of creating new emergent economies…

q: according to your submission, your innovation was inspired by fish farms in asia. were there any other inspirations behind your innovation?

a: once i was struck by this quote: “it is not about fashion, it is about survival.” i have always been aware that as architects we have a crucial role and responsibility in society and that design has a major transformational potential. apart from some visits to fish farming villages in southeast asia, i have been inspired by many other sources such as: the ’60s projects and pioneers, environmental movements, authors, such as jeremy rifkin or david harvey, watching climate change documentaries and specially by my memories of childhood while in my father’s family coffee farms.

q: if you had the opportunity to place your floating farms in any ocean or lake to start, where would you put it? why?

a: it really depends on the location and local requirements. in (a) case of a flooding situation, like in bangladesh … it could be a helpful alternative solution to help feed people. in (a) case of countries where land is scarce and have massive imports, (such as) singapore… it can be located closer to growing cities. but if i have to give an answer now, i’ll say the starting location would be where food production for the society is more urgently required.

q: what was the process behind creating your submission? why did you choose to communicate your innovation through a video format?

a: i started a personal research on the food-risk subject some time ago, (and) started putting together some basic sketches of a potential floating design and started discussing the ideas with other people … later on, i produced a first preliminary design which already incorporates the “multi-layer” logic, (or) the production of different types of food in a single multi-story platform. some renders/images of the projects were produced and also a first preliminary investment summary, with the help of an mba student with a background in economics.

i’ve always liked watching movies and thought the best way to make a story understandable in an easy way was to start producing a short video which described the process from inception to design solution.

q: why is your innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: the important thing is to make people think and aware of the logics and purpose behind my innovation, that we as humans in this planet should change our way of thinking … and also be  exploring new alternative ways of producing and making food available to people today…

my vision is that in this “era of cities,” people will be able to have access to other source of healthy food production closer to their homes, located in their nearest river, lake or sea water space. i aim to implement the smaller scale prototypes using low impact methods and materials, while integrating local communities in the process … (to) generate awareness and expand to other world areas and grow in scale.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked them a few questions to learn more about their entry.

q: describe your innovation/the problem you are trying to solve in simple terms for those who have never heard of it before.

a: one-third of all food produced each year is wasted, and 20% is wasted because of how it looks. food is thrown out at many levels in the supply chain because it’s considered “ugly.” to raise awareness about the “ugly” food waste, we hosted the ugly food challenge at indiana university. the event included a photography workshop, where we taught participants how to make rejected produce look beautiful in photos, and a discussion about the impact of “foodie” culture on food waste.

q: what was your inspiration behind this innovation? how did you come up with this idea?

a: college students are very social media savvy and those skills can be put to use to spread awareness about the benefits of eating “ugly” food. this event prompted students to look at social media in a new way, examine their own prejudices about how food looks and think about how to make the iu campus more sustainable. by incorporating an interactive photography workshop, this event gave students the chance to be active participants. taking pictures of “ugly” fruit and vegetables is the first step in creating a culture that accepts misshapen and wonky produce.

q: what was the process behind creating your submission? why did you choose to communicate your innovation through this photographic format?

a: the process of creating this submission involved several collaborations. we applied and received a food & wine magazine grant in partnership with the website, spoon university to fund the project. the ugly food challenge was a hosted by two indiana university student organizations: spoon university and oxfam club. the hutton honors college co-sponsored the event and we received a donation of “ugly” produce from lucky’s market.

at the event, we had spoon photographers lead the photography workshop and teach participants how to make the produce look delectable. we choose to use this visual format to prompt discussion about beauty standards and give participants a behind-the-scenes take on food photography.

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: our ugly food event was important to us because it allowed us to collaborate and discuss food culture with our fellow students in a way that left many feeling optimistic about how to address problems of food waste. we both contribute to iu’s chapter of the food website, spoon university, where we write recipes and restaurant reviews among other articles. we felt that is it was important for our website to address all aspects of food, including waste.

though this “innovation” isn’t physical, it has important implications for food sustainability. many people are unaware of the amount of time and money that is spent on food photography to make it look flawless and delicious. by informing people about wasteful food photography and embracing the beauty found in food that is imperfect, we aimed to start a trend of buying “ugly” produce.

sustainable cities require collaboration among community members and diverse, interdisciplinary responses to problems. food waste happens at many levels in the food system and addressing consumer attitudes about ugly food is just one way to help reduce it. by focusing on a narrow aspect of the problem, we started a food sustainability conversation at our university and hopefully inspire future leaders in sustainability to use creativity and community-building events as a way to promote positive change.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked him a few questions to learn more about his entry.

q: describe the 11th street bridge park project.

a: the 11th street bridge park is a massive project being developed by the city and other organizations that looks to make productive use of the anacostia river area through a bridge park. what makes this project unique is their focus on the community and the environment, as opposed to the profit-driven projects that have gentrified these areas and displaces many residents.

q: what was the process behind creating your submission? why did you choose to communicate your innovation through this video format?

a: i chose to use a video format because this was also an assignment for my introduction to video production class. the process behind creating my submission involved finding the 11th street bridge park online and seeing how amazing the project was and setting up interviews. i had some really great renderings and graphics to work with, as well, courtesy of the company that’s handling design for the bridge park right now.

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: this innovation is important to me because too many of these development projects are looking for wealthy patrons and displacing local residents. instead of asking what we can do to attract other people to the area, we should ask how it can be improved for the people that already live there. through the bridge park, people will learn to care about the river and feel connected to it, which goes a long way towards sustainability. as the director told me, we protect what we love. this is one of the most essential methods for sustainable cities because it invests in the future of sustainability, through education and connection.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked her a few questions to learn more about her entry.

q: describe compost cab’s innovation in simple terms for those who have never heard about it.

a: compost cab is a company that picks up your waste for you — similar to garbage truck — except they only take your food scraps and use it to make fertile soil.

q: what was the process behind creating your submission? why did you choose to communicate your innovation through this video format?

a: i really wanted to do my project on compost cab but i was having a hard time getting in contact with them. after 5 calls and a few emails, i finally got a hold of them and set up a time to interview the founder, jeremy, and go to the compost site and farmers market. i had a really good time filming this video. the compost site was in the national arboretum. after i was done filming, i helped them unload all the waste and start the composting process. i think video is a really fun and interactive way to communicate (a message). it engages a variety of senses…

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: i really wanted to find an innovation about trash. my dad worked on landfills and waste treatment plants when i was younger. it always baffled me when i was younger that we just buried all of our trash. in a city that is growing exponentially, where we put our trash is becoming a really important question. composting is a way to reduce the waste that we produce but also to reuse our waste and put it back into the cycle of earth. this innovation makes it easier for people and families to participate in this cycle of life.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked him a few questions to learn more about his entry.

q: describe this innovation for those who have never heard of it.

a: thousands of wastewater treatment plants around north american turn wastewater (what we flush) into class b biosolids, which essentially is fertilizer-made-from-poop that is too poisonous to be used in cities and can only be used in farms. a handful of wastewater treatment plants turn wastewater into class a biosolids, which is fertilizer-made-from-poop that is not poisonous and can be used in both cities and farms. dc water’s innovation is becoming the first wastewater treatment plant in north america to install the cambi thermal hydrolysis process. this process uses wastewater to create power and class a biosolids without a composting step, allowing for biosolids to go straight from the plant to the ground. by eliminating the composting step, dc water decreases very significant transportation and energy costs while increasing the amount of biosolids it is able to produce.

q: why did you choose to communicate your innovation through this video format?

a: video is an effective method of communication the innovation of biosolids, because the medium helps the reader view the steps that biosolids have to go through and adds flavor to an otherwise boring subject.

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: while seemingly simple, the cambi thermal hydrolysis is an essential method to helping sustainable cities. the un estimates that by 2050 70% of the human population will be living in cities. this number becomes problematic, because urban soils lack nutrients and are not opportune for agriculture. with many residents and decreasing spaces for agriculture, city dwellers will have to start producing their food locally. the cambi thermal hydrolysis provides a method to not only recycle wastewater but also turn the wastewater into the highest-quality fertilizer that can be reused in the community, helping localize cities’ agricultural efforts while decreasing the amount of food that cities have to ship-in.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked him a few questions to learn more about his entry.

q: describe the dc streetcar.

a: the dc streetcar is a new innovation by the district department of transportation which currently runs along the h street corridor. it is a trolley system that allows residents to travel up and down this busy street, getting cars off the road and improving traffic.

q: why did you choose to communicate your innovation through this video format?

a: i feel that video is the best way to express new innovations as viewers can visualize the concepts.

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: washington’s population is currently surging and is estimated to be well over a million in the near future. d.c. also has the worst traffic in the nation, in front of cities like new york city and los angeles. it is necessary to continue to build off the current public transportation system we have in order to decrease the amount of cars on the road.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked them a few questions to learn more about their entry.

q: how did you hear about rooftop roots? describe their innovation in simple terms for those who have never heard of it.

a: we heard about rooftop roots while researching ideas for our final project in our sustainability class. we found the organization and contacted thomas, the executive director of rooftop roots, to see if he would be interested in allowing us to film. rooftop roots is an organization that partners with nonprofits, businesses, homes, etc., to grow and produce in urban areas, often on rooftops. the produce goes to the community and local food banks. community members get involved in the growing process so it serves as an educational opportunity that brings people closer to their food and reconnects them to local food chains.

q: what was the process behind creating your submission? why did you choose to communicate your innovation through a video format?

a: we chose a video to communicate our innovation because the rooftop garden was so beautiful and seeing the creators of the garden in person made the entire innovation come to life. physically talking to the gardeners and curators of the sustainable rooftop masterpiece makes their success become a reality to the viewers. we wanted people to really see the food they are connecting with in their local food system.

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: when you live in an on-the-go city like d.c., it’s easy to lose sight of where your food is coming from. growing food brings people back to the source and encourages healthier options, as well as protects the environment by limiting carbon dioxide emissions from transporting produce. we think it is essential in aiding the creation of sustainable cities because learning where our food comes from is one of the first steps in the education process to making cities more resilient for the future. we need to understand the foundational elements before making a change to our habits.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)

we asked the team a few questions to learn more about their entry.

q: what was your inspiration behind your innovation? how did you come up with this idea?

a: our inspiration behind our innovation — addressing how urban farming is promoting and improving the quality of health and food access in the state of mississippi — was the decrease of family-owned, african american farming because the government is buying all of the lands. also, this video was created to show everyone the growing epidemic of obesity in mississippi.

q: what was the process behind creating your submission? why did you choose to communicate your innovation through this video format?

a: the process behind our submission was basically coming up with a strong and solid storyboard, and how it should be organized. … we decided to communicate through this format because most people genuinely learn visuals, so we decided to create a short documentary that was interesting, and informing, but also entertaining as well.

q: why is this innovation so important to you? why do you think it is one of the most essential methods to help sustainable cities?

a: this innovation is important to us because the food industry doesn’t just affect a certain group of people here in mississippi, it affects us all as a whole. with the government buying up more farms, that means more fast food restaurants will be built, which increases the obesity of mississippi. with the decline of farms, that also brings a drastic decline in farmers markets, and fresh food for the public.

(editor’s note: answers edited for grammar and spelling.)