We invite youth ages 14 to 24 to submit a 3-minute video, presenting an issue they care about and a proposed solution.

Winning solution-projects will be presented to senior officials in the Obama administration, broadcast on screens in every Best Buy store on the planet, presented at a VIP reception in Washington, DC. Winners will be flown to Los Angeles for the Awards ceremony co-hosted by Sony Pictures Studios. Prizes include an Apple MacBook and iPod Touches, and Sundance Film Festival 2011 Film School Pass.

The deadline for submissions is April 18, 2010. Winners will be selected by both a VIP Jury and public online via partner YouTube.

Details of the competition are on the What’s Your Issue- Film Your Issue Website – http://www.whatsyourissue.tv

Stories of Change – Vol 2 : Youth Making A Difference

1) Your invention venture, CALLMAT, aims to address the problem of water contamination by offering a technology that would remove toxic metal ions and pollutants. Why are you so interested in this issue?

Currently I am staying in Vellore (Southern India) which is famous for leather industries which have lead to chromium (one of the toxic metal ion) poisoning of natural resources. On seeing the people adversely affected by the polluted water I was prompted to address this issue for sustaining the coming generations and emancipate the present one.

2) In simple terms, how does CALLMAT work?

It is an invention comprising of a simple mat which when suspended in water extracts all the metal ions and pollutants we are targeting. After using once it can be treated with a solution which makes it ready to be re-used.

In short, Usability and Accessibility coupled with cost effectiveness for rural masses and small scale industries are the key factors in designing CALLMAT.

3) What gave you the confidence and ability to invent a new technology to address the problem of water contamination?

It is the inherent strength to do new things with a different method of thinking. I believe everyone wants to have clean water and environment; we have to just provide them hassle free ways to do so.

4) At what age did you start thinking or behaving like an inventor? Who or what influenced you?

In my childhood I used to have a closet in my home where I kept all newspaper cuttings, magazines, non-functional machine parts and my own tool kit as I was very enthusiastic about inventions and technology.

If I look back to my life, there has been one person who has consistently influenced me and he is none other than my father. He is my hero who has influenced me spiritually, academically, socially and in all the way anyone can. Apart from him, well Ashoka’s Youth Venture has influenced me a lot too. I have learnt a lot and the way I look at the issues I address in my ventures has completely changed.

5) What type of inventor or social entrepreneur would you like to be?

I do not believe in very high level of research and inventions. I want to revolutionize the milieu of life of rural masses by inventing simple and cost effective technologies that would solve the grass root issues. I believe outputs are an inventor’s responsibility but bringing outcomes out of it requires a social entrepreneur. I would like to be a perfect combination of both.

6) What important philosophy or ideas shape your thinking today?

My philosophy is to stay awake, without being over ambitious stay focussed on my ventures and bring maximum outcomes from them. My final aim is to be altruistic to others particularly to the down trodden masses.

Web of Life from Charles Tsai on Vimeo.

Forgive this personal post but on this global Blog Action Day, I’d like to share with you a story I did back when I worked for CNN.  It was the first in a series of videos about biodiversity, a subject I had just learned about at the time.

Biodiversity helped me see the world in a new way – not as a collection of species – but as a web of interdependent life, ecosystems within ecosystems.  Everything is interconnected.

In my reporting, the gopher tortoise, a threatened species found in Florida, presented itself as the best ambassador for biodiversity – a model for how we might conduct ourselves in the world.

You see, the gopher tortoise digs tunnels underground to protect itself from predators.  But in so doing, it also offers refuge to hundreds of other species.

Unlike the gopher tortoise, we seem to forget that millions of other species share our planet and our actions often determine whether they live or die.

As the world contemplates climate change on this historic day and how we should minimize its negative impact, let’s also seize upon a positive vision of who we can be.  Let’s think about how we can be a student – rather than the enemy – of Florida’s gopher tortoise.

Charles Tsai
Director of Virtual Program
Ashoka GenV

To address this problem, Hemant teamed up with classmates in 2009 to launch CALLMAT, a multipurpose pollutant removing mat.

The team has envisioned a technology that will use immobilized calixarenes to remove toxic metal ions and pollutants from water. Easily suspended in collection tanks of water requiring treatment, CALLMAT will prove a cost-effective way to increase the supply of clean water to households and farmers.

CALLMAT is more than a project for me. When I am back to my hometown, I see so many children and laborers affected by heavy metal poisoning. And that is what gives me a kick to do something about it.

I would like to work with farmers at the root level as a part of my goal to find greener solutions to today’s environmental problems. I am sure that the combination of my scientific approach and their vast practical knowledge will show synergism and bring out fruitful results.

Goals:

1. To provide clean water to the villagers so as to upraise the standard of living and the prevailing health conditions.
2. To provide clean water for irrigation to farmers so as to prevent accumulation of toxic pollutants at higher trophic levels.
3. To prevent the disposal of hazardous metal ions and other toxic compounds from small scale industries into water resources and later penetration into ground water.
4. To produce energy from waste pollutants removed from water by developing microbial fuel cells

Note: click Full Screen option below for best viewing results.

These represent five of the most outstanding invention ventures from the 2009 Invent Your World Challenge – a partnership between Ashoka GenV and the Lemelson Foundation to inspire youth to invent a better future.

From nearly 300 entries from 30 countries, we have selected 45 to mentor, fund, and launch. Together, they offer convincing proof that young people all over the world are ready, eager and able to tackle our most difficult challenges – and they could use our support.

Our judges have chosen to recognize the following five for their innovation, impact and sustainability.

EXCELLENCE AWARD

VERSATILE System
Javier Fernandez-Han, 15
Houston, TX, USA

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

AVANZA
Pablo Alejandro Medrano, 23
Jovita Andrea Céspedes, 25
Salta, Argentina

Dynamic Photovoltaics
Eden Full, 16
Calgary, AB, Canada

Handibot
Vincent Thiberville, 20
Champs sur Marne, France

Rainwater for Humanity
Carolyn Aker, 18
Providence, RI, USA

We’d like to thank our judges, partners and all the youth who participated in the 2009 Invent Your World Challenge.

***UPDATE: If you would like to apply for seed funding for your invention or adapted technology project, please email bcarr@youthventure.org to request an application.***

Every project needs a clear vision and mission statement. Here’s an entertaining tutorial from GenV.net on how to come up with one.

One easy way to come up with a project idea is to find something that relates to your interests and hobbies. This video tutorial from GenV.net shows you how.

Interested youth can apply to be part of the IYCN’s Agents of Change program.

The IYCN Agents of Change program takes the IYCN movement from the grass roots to the international arena. We are proud to be partnering with a reputed organization such as the Centre for Environment Education on this project along with the UNEP’s South Asian Youth Environmental Network. This year, we plan to storm COP15, as an Asian Youth Sub-Continent Delegation with representatives from India, Srilanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan & Burma. We want youth from our neighbouring countries, from rural and urban India to be represented at this crucial global forum, where our climate future is decided.

The Agents of Change Program will include both young students and professionals, involved in massive lobbying , campaigning and direct action, at regional and national levels, to influence the political decisions and negotiations leading up to Copenhagen. Delegates will also be required to attend the Indian Youth Summit on Climate Change in July, 2009.

APPLY NOW

Now, picture this: Trucks releasing cleaner emissions and making fuel as they drive. Our proposed solution involves the growth of algae, of which oil is extracted for biodiesel production. Each truck would have an “algae panel” attached to its top, comparable in size to a solar panel and filled with water and algae.

It would be connected to the trucks exhaust system, so the emissions would pass through the panel before entering the atmosphere.

The carbon dioxide emitted from the trucks helps the algae grow, while the algae filters out the nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons. As the panel fills up with algae, systems would be set up at gas stations to drain out portions of the algae, leaving room for new growth. The biodiesel produced from the algae would be used to fuel the trucks.

Goals:

• Research algae types, trucking requirements and emission levels to determine design of system
• Test strains of algae for rate of growth, ability to feed off of CO2 and nitrous oxide emissions and oil content. Determine best strain to use.
• Construct a working prototype and test system. Make modifications.
• Apply for patent.

Here is a sample of algae that we have worked to grow.