On December 7, 14 teams from across the globe gathered via Zoom to present their innovative solutions in the fourth annual Reimagine Our Future sustainability competition, coordinated and co-founded by NPRE teaching professor Leon Liebenberg. The competition brought together 249 students from 11 higher education institutions in the USA, UK, Ukraine, South Africa, China, Austria, Colombia, and Italy. The participants spent eight weeks selecting and researching sustainability challenges and crafting solutions through the perspective of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The competition challenged undergraduates to develop impactful, sustainable solutions across a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, health sciences, social sciences, art and design, earth sciences, agriculture, and architecture. Each team submitted a high-impact fact sheet detailing their ideas, which addressed key global challenges, demonstrating how diverse fields can contribute to sustainable development.
The overall winner of this year’s competition was Georgia Shear, a student from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Georgia’s project, which focuses on decontaminating water using the heat generated from compost heaps, captivated judges with its simplicity, sustainability, and low cost. The proposed heat exchanger could reach temperatures between 60 to 80 degrees Celsius and could be implemented for as little as $150, making it an ideal solution for rural areas facing water contamination. Georgia was awarded a $2000 prize for her innovative solution.
Excerpt from Georgia Shear’s award-winning idea, entitled “From Waste to Worth: Clean Water for All.”
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Two runner-up teams were also recognized for their creative contributions. Briana Harris and Kevin Bustamante Fontanel from Waubonsee Community College in Illinois proposed a groundbreaking 100% biodegradable water bottle made from waste-derived wax, cellulose acetate, and triacetin plasticizer. Their product could fully decompose within just two years, presenting a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic bottles.
The runner-up team, consisting of Briana Harris and Kevin Bustamante Fontanel, captivated the audience with their engaging and enthusiastic presentation.
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The team from the International Humanitarian University in Ukraine also impressed judges with their dual-purpose solution to regenerate soil by removing landmines while simultaneously tilling the soil and spreading seeds. Team members Ivan Stankov, Uliana Mihachova, Katheryna Vavryk, Uliana Frolova, and Marina Knyazeva noted that their solution addresses both environmental and safety concerns. Each runner-up team received a $1000 prize.
Professor Mike Yao of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's College of Media will mentor the top teams to help refine and advance their ideas further.
In her remarks, the event’s master of ceremony, Sandra Voskoboynikova, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinarity in driving sustainability. She explained that by tackling problems from multiple perspectives, students can inspire real-world change. She pointed to past winners in Reimagine Our Future who went on to launch their own startups, underscoring the long-term impact of such competitions.
Three teams each received a third-place prize for their impactful ideas. Students at the University of Quindío, Columbia presented a proposal for a circular economy model using composite materials from biomass and waste plastic. A team from the University of Illinois Springfield, USA, highlighted the critical role of bats in controlling pests for crops and actions for farmers to preserve bats and ecosystem health, while a team from UIUC proposed a collapsible solar fabric canopy to combat extreme heat and provide energy to disaster and underserved areas. These three teams received their awards from UIUC undergraduate Allie Garlin, a previous winner of the competition.
Special awards were also given to several teams. The Sustainable Health Solution Award, sponsored and presented by Professor Holly Rosencranz, went to a team from Ukraine for their proposal to deploy large-scale psychological therapy centers for traumatized soldiers and an educational platform for post-war society. The Climate Change Award, presented by Professor Donna Tonini from UIUC’s Center for Global Studies, was awarded to a UIUC team for their decentralized renewable energy trading scheme.
The Most Multi-Disciplinary Idea award was presented to two teams from the University of Birmingham, UK. One team explored using gene editing and integrated pest management to eliminate pesticides in sugar beet crops, while the other proposed a festival waste passport and linked app to reduce waste at large events and educate attendees.
Two teams received Sustainable Education Solution Awards. One, from the University of Birmingham, focused on demystifying recycling through school curriculum and standardized labels, while a team from UIUC proposed tackling food insecurity through workshops on canning or preserving food that would otherwise go to waste.
Professor Warren Lavey (UIUC, Law), co-founder of the competition, reflected on the students’ impressive range of solutions and their potential to offer hope in addressing global crises. He paid tribute to his late colleague, Professor Robert McKim (UIUC, Religion), who co-founded the competition and whose legacy continues to inspire future generations. McKim’s words resonated throughout the event: “We have all contributed to causing the problems, and we therefore all have an obligation to contribute to finding and pursuing solutions.”
Liebenberg emphasized that the competition gives students a chance to create solutions for sustainability. "It promotes open discussions and aims to inspire students to put these ideas into practice," he said. "This effort contributes to the changes needed for a better and more sustainable future for all."
Voskoboynikova thanked the more than 100 volunteer specialist advisors, judges, and university contacts who made the event a success. She announced that planning for the 2025 competition is already underway and encouraged future participants to stay updated on the competition website: https://www.herox.com/reimagine2024/.