JCU Announces Fall 2024 Triggering Change Competition Winners
John Cabot University is pleased to announce the winners of the Fall 2024 Triggering Change Competition. Triggering Change is a two-minute pitch that can be done individually or in pairs, and that aims to develop creative solutions to inspire action on sustainability. This semester, the competition focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) numbers 10, “Reduced Inequalities,” and 12, “Responsible Consumption & Production.” The winning and finalist pitches demonstrated creativity and provided interesting solutions to the challenges posed by these two goals.
Winners
Isaac Rogers (Ball State University)
Isaac proposed “EcoKit”, a way to keep university events waste conscious. It’s supplied directly to students, who manage and clean the dining tools, so as to reuse them. EcoKit is not limited to universities, and it may have the potential to expand to other sectors, like weddings, parties, and corporate events.
“Triggering Change helped me think outside the box. The idea is to come up with small yet creative solutions to ensure sustainability on campus,” Isaac said. “It also inspired me to believe that, even as a student, I can still formulate ideas and change the trajectory of humans’ impact on the world.”
Aryan Dhama (Oxford Brookes University)
To avoid massive food waste, Aryan proposed ways in which students can better manage their food. People should shop for ingredients with purpose and plan their meals carefully. As Aryan said in his pitch, “Let’s make food planning a habit, not just for a better budget, but also for a better planet.”
“This experience provided me with a valuable opportunity to reflect on my relationship with sustainability and has inspired me to approach nature and climate issues more thoughtfully,” said Aryan. It helped me recognize the impact of our daily activities on the environment and underscored the importance of cultivating a sustainability mindset.”
Finalists
Gabriela Bittencourt (John Cabot University)
Gabriela proposed “Skillz”, an app through which students can offer their skills and personal assistance to other students, “helping them earn while they learn.” It creates a sense of community, while offering both economic and experiential opportunities to students from different backgrounds.
“Participating in the Triggering Change competition was a great opportunity to deepen my studies in sustainability, a critical issue for society nowadays,” said Gabriela. “During the competition I was able to learn from experts, connect with other students with similar interests, and carry out a practical project to promote change. It was overall a great and fundamental experience for me.”
Maria Alessia Palmieri (John Cabot University)
Maria Alessia proposed a more conscious approach to waste for students on campus, centered on avoiding littering and recycling food containers, participating in campus clean ups, and being more active in student associations that promote responsible consumption and equality.
“Participating in the Triggering Pitch Competition was an opportunity to learn more about how daily choices impact both our immediate environment and global sustainability,” said Maria Alessia. “Every item we consume everyday tells us a story of resource extraction, production, and waste. This realization is what urged me to advocate for more responsible consumption habits, as our collective actions – even the small ones – can significantly influence environmental outcomes and social equity.”
“This experience taught me that collective action is powerful; when individuals come together to advocate for responsible practices, they can inspire broader societal shifts,” Maria Alessia added.
Oliver Claxton (Oxford Brookes University)
Oliver proposed a two-step solution to the waste caused by the plastic packaging of potato chips. First, by strengthening the partnership with Terracycle, a non-profit organization dedicated to recycling. Second, by implementing a QR code on the packaging indicating the closest recycling drop point, which would reduce the size and number of landfills.
“Participating in this competition has provided me with a unique opportunity to develop my knowledge of broader ecological, and social issues that impede sustainable development globally. In addition, the experience made me focus on a particular issue in-depth and utilize my imagination to create an innovative solution with a lasting impact,” said Oliver. “For example, I believe that targeting potato chip companies will make a huge difference in raising awareness and increasing the availability of recycling centers, but only if the solution addresses the issue of the paradox between profit and sustainability.”
Alejandro Flejitas Calzadilla (Oxford Brookes University)
In his pitch video, Alejandro broke down the difference between reusing and recycling, highlighting the impact that each approach has on conserving resources and reducing waste.
“Participating in the Triggering Change Competition has deepened my understanding of SDG 10 and 12, especially within the context of the circular economy and the need to prioritize reuse over recycling,” said Aleiandro. “I’m truly proud to witness real-life experiences from people actively working toward these Sustainable Development Goals and to see how each of us can contribute our own ‘grain of sand’ to make a difference.”
Siena St. James (John Cabot University)
Siena proposed a way to avoid electricity overuse and reduce our individual impact on energy waste by simply making a habit of unplugging our devices when not in use. This would help us save 19 billion dollars worldwide.
“Triggering Change has helped me reconsider the way I use electricity, how much unnecessary waste I am producing in my life, and ways in which I can decrease this burden,” said Siena. “I also learned how easy it is to educate my friends on how to be more sustainable! Having the honor of participating in this competition allowed me to hone my ability to do scientific research and my video editing skills.”
Congratulations to all!
Learn more about sustainability at JCU.
