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  • Solution of the Week #9
    Posted by Paul H on November 29, 2011 at 1:15: PM MST

    This week’s Solution of the Week comes from Erik K. and his colleagues, who post a solution under the sustainability category.

    Every year millions of dollars are spent sending animal waste to treatment facilities where waste from zoos is treated in unsustainable ways. To save money and develop a more sustainable treatment method, this EPICS group at ASU poses a plan to treat animal waste at zoos with algae. This sustainable process can sanitize the waste and potentially be used as future animal feed.

    Check out their solution here.

     

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  • Solution of the Week #8
    Posted by Paul H on November 23, 2011 at 3:53: PM MST

    This week's Solution of the Week responds to the communities challenge: that is, it answers how we can foster strong, vibrant communities.

    Emilio G. proposes the idea of the reverse Groupon. But it is not just nopuorG. Rather, it is an online platform that helps users join together, when they all have an interest in buying something. These users then make an offer for a product that they would all like to purchase - that's anything from a bike to a computer. Companies can then choose or refuse to sell the product to the group. And that's "real buying power," says Emilio.

    Check out his solution here.

    1 Comments
  • Solution of the Week #7
    Posted by Paul H on November 16, 2011 at 1:46: PM MST

     

    This week’s Solution of the Week responds to the sustainability challenge; specifically, it answers how we can create a sustainable way of life.

    Jared D. posts a solution called “Safe Battery Disposal.” Noting the dangers of improper battery disposal, Jared suggests that ASU put battery drop boxes in strategic points all around campus. Once a month, ASU will take the collected batteries to safe disposal locations so that students and their drinking water are kept safe.

    Check out his solution here.

     

    2 Comments
  • Profile: Erik Johnston
    Posted by Paul H on November 15, 2011 at 11:26: AM MST

     Program Leader: Erik Johnston

    Program: School of Public Affairs, Center for Policy Informatics
    Years with ASU: 5

    Success Story at ASU: Our PAF 300 class learned to solve the problems in their community by participating in the 10,000 solutions project at ASU. We had solutions from solar energy, to increasing blood drives, to getting abandoned pets into homes. It seemed that civic participation is not only contagious, but addictive. The class came together the next week, contributed their own money, and helped to fund two projects through the Kiva project. The first was to a man in Kenya who needs a motorcycle to run his company as a shoemaker and a group of women in Costa Rica who will buy calves and feeds to create an education fund for their community.  

    What you need help with: We need more students to realize that their frustration with how things are going are just the first step to making a difference. The excuses for not improving our world are disappearing and if you want to help, the ability to be an entrepreneur is more possible than ever. 

    Contact Info: erik.johnston@asu.edu

     

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  • Solution of the Week #6
    Posted by Paul H on November 10, 2011 at 12:49: PM MST

     

    This week’s Solution of the Week falls under the sustainability category, which answers how we can develop a sustainable way of life. And it comes with a not-to-be-missed video.

    Trevor M. and his friends (known as Team Ride and Bike) propose bringing bike sharing to Phoenix. They plan to put solar powered kiosks along the light rail. At these kiosks, people will rent bikes (using cash or credit) and return them to any kiosk. There will also be a website and a Smartphone application to tell people where bikes are located and how many are available.

    Their project aims reduce pollution and oil consumption, and it also promotes a healthy lifestyle. Support their solution here.

     

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  • Solution of the Week #5
    Posted by Paul H on November 4, 2011 at 12:58: PM MST in Solution of the Week

    This week’s Solution of the Week comes from Shaena R. She proposes a solution to car theft, a pretty universal problem. She, like many other users, categorizes her solution under technology to show how we can use information and technology to create meaningful change.

    Her solution is to improve car security systems by hiding a camera in the car. When triggered by the car alarm, the camera will snap a shot of the thief and send it to the car owner’s Smartphone. Pretty cool.

    Check out her solution here.

     

    1 Comments