Overview

The Big Problems, Big Ideas Innovation Project focuses on the challenges of mankind across the globe: the latest innovations, man-made problems, and environmental threats. Based off of the ten different topics below, students design a semester-long project to alleviate one of these issues. These topics are simply given as suggestions to inspire ideas, as students are encouraged to brainstorm their own solution to global challenges as they see fit. 
​Endangered Species
  • Impact on the Oceans
  • Biodiversity
Environmental Issues
  • Pollution
  • Climate Change
  • Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Healthcare
  • Preventable Diseases
  • Vaccines
  • Access​ ​
Water
  • Sanitation
  • Drinking Water Purification
  • Water Scarcity and Water Security
Transportation
  • Electric Cars
  • Autonomous Vehicles
Agriculture
  • Food Waste
  • Sustainable Crops
Poverty
  • Income Disparity/Universal Basic Income
  • Homelessness
  • Improving Foreign Aid Effectiveness - The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality, by Angus Deaton (Summer 2017 Common Book Experience)
Energy
  • Renewable Energy​​
Banking
  • Rural Access
  • International Access
  • Low-income Banking Options
Natural Disaster Preparedness ​
  • Floods
  • Landslides
  • Earthquakes
  • Hurricanes

Previous Projects

Spring 2020

Third Little Pig Homebuilders

​Group Members: Noah Patterson, Jackson Farris, Todd Harrison, Parker Johnson, Connor Meadows
​Description: Poor quality low-income housing cannot withstand natural disasters. This group project offers low cost 3D printed housing using recycled plastic and concrete. This is a concept for low-cost housing that could be constructed in impoverished communities internationally. The approach promises cheap, durable housing that can be constructed extremely quickly and will withstand natural disasters better than existing
low-cost housing options. The use of concrete and recycled plastics offers a more eco-friendly and sustainable option.

Spring 2019

Cube Community Program

Group Members: Tristan Killgore, Melanie Marshall, Grace Trulove, Julie Warchol
Description: Cube Community Program is a solution to one of the most devastating worldwide problems: homelessness. The program offers capsule housing for the homeless in large urban areas in the U.S. These capsules would provide heating and cooling capabilities, lighting, and other basic accommodations. However, they would also remain cost-effective, designed to use space efficiently. Many alternative housing solutions for the homeless restrict the autonomy of residents, for example, curfews and strict rules surrounding visitors. Cube Community Program is different in that there is specific avoidance of restrictive guidelines. In order to ensure safety, regulations would be similar to that of an apartment building, and there would be camera surveillance along with an in-person security guard.

Paved

Group Members: Alex Ramsayer, Chris Long, Jim Tierney, Ben Bailey, and Jacob DeRusha
Description: Paved looks to solve two immense challenges facing the modern world. The first is the issue of plastic waste. Amounts of plastic waste continue to rise as years go by, while the vast majority of this waste is not recycled. The second issue is the deterioration of roads in developing countries. The loss of roads is a huge financial burden on the infrastructure of developing countries. The combat both these problems, Paved offers the unique solution of converting plastic waste into stronger, more durable, environmentally-friendly roads. For every mile of road built, Paved would be recycling 1.6 tons of plastic waste, while also providing a cost-effective road solution for developing nations. 

Hard-Cours

Group Members: Elise Kaminsky, Eric Sahli, Mark Hoffman, Matt Trzesniewski
Description: Hard-Cours ​is a company looking to decrease unemployment through a unique strategy of increasing opportunity while providing technical education. Hard-Cours would offer economical education in technical fields to individuals uninterested or unable to pursue higher education. By partnering with businesses, Hard-Cours plans to bring manufacturing to underprivileged areas, so individuals with newly acquired technical skills may find employment. 

InvAID

Group Members: Olson Cannon, Connor Funck, Lauren Pan, Daniel Schmidt
Description: InvAID looks to solve two separate problems with one single solution. Invasive species plague many different areas. These non-indigenous flora and fauna can inhibit the healthy growth of an entire ecosystem. The goal of InvAID is to reduce the amount of an invasive species in an area, and then use all potential nutritional benefits from the species to create cost-effective, healthful nutrient wafers. These nutrient wafers would be packed with vitamins and easy to transport, making them optimal for combating malnutrition across the globe. InvAID aims to partner with foreign aid companies in distributing nutrient wafers in areas of need.

Spring 2018

Fission Chips

Group Members: Stephen Poptic, Connor Aycock, Russell McKenzie, Kobie Wood, Bryant Mathis
Description: As people argue about the various ways to energize the world, ranging from solar, wind, natural gas, and oil, one energy option is avoided at all costs. Because of the fear sparked by the Cold War and nuclear meltdowns like Fukushima or Chernobyl, nuclear energy is rarely a part of the discussion. However, nuclear energy is far safer and much more efficient than it has ever been before and should be brought up as an option. Fission Chips helps start that conversation.

Token Go

Group Members: Maddie Van Balen, Austin Johns, Austin Poff, Ryan Scoggins, Colton Kline
Description: Token Go is a ride-sharing application based on monthly subscriptions. The subscription entitles you to a certain number of tokens that can be used to "pay" for rides to and from work. The app matches users with other people who work in the same area. It is a system where subscribers can either accept rides or be the driver. When driving you will be "paid" in tokens proportional to how many people you have in your car, as well as by the distance you will be traveling. These tokens can also be used at gas stations that we partner with for incentives such as money off gas or snacks and drinks. The main driving force for Token Go is to decrease the amount of traffic in some of the most congested cities in the world, which will hopefully result in an overall decrease in air pollution.

Synthetic Sand

Group Members: Michael Valverde, Rob Giagnorio, Ryan Allen
​Description: Synthetic Sand is a replacement for current sand used in concrete. There is a global sand shortage due to over-mining that this product is aimed to help alleviate. Synthetic Sand has a lower thermal conductivity that allows for improved thermal insulation as well as a lower elasticity modulus, which improves its resistance to cracking. Because this company has a strong focus on environmental health, the goal is to one day spread it all around the world.