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Green Campus Profile: MADMEC Contest

FROM BACTERIA-POWERED CELL PHONES TO ENERGY-GENERATING CAR SHOCK ABSORBERS, WE’LL HAVE SOME STUDENT PROJECTS THAT ARE IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES, ON THIS ENVIRONMINUTE.

THE CONCEPTS AND PROTOTYPES FOR THESE WILD IDEAS WERE DEVELOPED BY STUDENT TEAMS AS PART OF LAST YEAR’S M-I-T AND DOW MATERIALS ENGINEERING CONTEST.  THE CHALLENGE WAS TO DESIGN A DEVICE THAT HARVESTS, STORES, OR EXPLOITS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY.

THE RESULTS HAVE IMPORTANT REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS.  FOR INSTANCE, CELL PHONES THAT CAN BE CHARGED WITH PLANT MATTER COULD BE USED IN AREAS WITH NO ELECTRICITY.  AND A DEVICE THAT GENERATES POWER FROM THE VERTICAL MOTION OF YOUR CAR WOULD BE A VALUABLE ASSET TO HYBRID VEHICLES.

BUT THE PRIZE FOR THESE INNOVATIVE IDEAS WASN’T JUST MONETARY – WINNING THE CONTEST EMPOWERED THE STUDENTS TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Learn more about the MADMEC contest.

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