Students at One World are problem-solving for 2050

April 3, 2015

Through a new UF event called One World, undergraduate students shared their ideas about how to save the world.

Cameron Outlaw's idea is One Solution, an online platform that allows people all over the world share local issues and answers.

Nick Algozzine believes that clean water is the key to saving the world. His idea, the water saber, is a solar-powered water purification device that could provide potable water to people in areas that do not have it.

Casey Parker believes it is essential to control mosquito populations and, in turn, their ability to spread diseases. She created the lethal ovitrap, a new type of device to catch and kill mosquitos.

At University Auditorium March 13, One World gave six student innovators a platform to share their ideas with an audience of UF students, faculty, staff and corporate partners. It was the first event held by Challenge 2050, a project created by the Department of Agricultural Communication and Education to figure out how to accommodate a projected population of more than 9.6 billion in 2050.

The One World participants discussed their ideas about how to prepare for issues like overcrowding, food security, energy and water management and climate change. They had their ideas and presentations judged by a panel for a chance to win $1,500.

This was the inaugural One World event, according to Tony Andenoro the Challenge 2050 project coordinator, assistant professor in the College of Agricultural Communication and Education and coordinator for the campus-wide leadership minor.

“We are the only university in the world who is involving undergrads in the process of developing solutions to address what we do with the global population,” Andenoro said. “In the future, we want to expand it to include graduate students, get more faculty lines and partner with other universities.”