From creative podcasts and engaging comics to 3D models and poetry, last year, eighth-grade scientists in Rachel Bringewatt’s and Andrew Chiaraviglio’s classes tackled global water and energy challenges with ingenuity, passion, and purpose. These are their inspiring end-of-year projects.
Hydropower in Brazil and Paraguay
Tej Prabhu, Margot Perkinson, and Mahika Kadumpalli created Energy 360, a dynamic podcast aimed at making renewable energy topics accessible to non-scientists. In their pilot episode, they took a humorous and approachable dive into hydropower, examining its extensive use in Brazil and Paraguay—where it generates the majority of electricity—to explore its potential as a global solution in the fight against climate change.
Sugarcane Biomass
Reed Stallings and Vivi Willis conducted a case study on the Guatemala Sugarcane Biomass project, which converts fibers left from sugarcane harvests to create a clean and renewable energy source. They created a 3D sculpture modeling the mechanism and process by which the fibers, known as bagasse, are burned to heat water, creating steam that is piped to a turbine powering an electric power generator. The remaining char from the bagasse can be used as a fertilizer for future sugarcane crops.
Desalination Plants
As climate change worsens droughts, desalination, the process of converting seawater into freshwater, has become essential. Yet many plants rely on non-renewable energy. In their compelling short story and companion audiobook Project in Paradise, Charlotte Lavin and Sofia Townsend-Lopez explore a real-world solution: a desalination plant in the Canary Islands powered by renewable energy like wind and solar. Through relatable characters and an accessible storytelling style, they bring the science of desalination to life, highlighting its potential benefits for audiences who might not otherwise engage with the topic.
Seawater HVAC Systems
Tara Viswanath and Jackson Gupta developed a science advocacy comic aimed at encouraging business owners and developers to invest in seawater air conditioning (SWAC) systems. Designed to be both engaging and accessible to a general audience, the multi-page comic brought the technology to life with vibrant illustrations. It clearly explained how SWAC systems work, highlighted their ecological advantages over greenhouse gas-emitting traditional AC systems, and showcased their potential cost savings for end users.
Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
With creativity and keen insight, Somer Parekh and Ved Vainateya explored the Marselisborg Wastewater Treatment Plant in Denmark, an exemplar of sustainable innovation. Through a poignant poem, they underscored the vital importance of clean water, using emotional appeal to spark interest in the often-overlooked topic of wastewater treatment. Paired with a detailed PowerPoint presentation that offered a deeper scientific dive, their work highlighted how the plant reduces water pollution, generates renewable energy, and achieves carbon-negative operations.
Off Grid Boxes
Blake Deutsch and Derek Qi crafted a compelling infographic showcasing their research on Off Grid Boxes—innovative, all-in-one systems that provide solar energy and purified water. Focused on their deployment in Tanzania, where 70% of the population lacks reliable access to clean water and 16% live without electricity, the infographic used clear visuals to illustrate the region’s water and energy challenges. It also broke down the technology behind Off Grid Boxes in an accessible way, demonstrating how these systems generate clean water and power.