BE OPEN Showcases Sustainability Initiatives at COP29 and Honors Competition Winners

BE OPEN's Sustainable Initiatives and Competition Highlights at COP29

On November 16, 2024, BE OPEN convened an engaging session at COP29 in Baku to discuss its multi-year competition program aimed at supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This event was marked by the celebration of innovative projects from talented students around the globe.

The venue, known as the Extreme Hangout Zone, served as a perfect backdrop for BE OPEN to outline the motivations behind its student competition, which focuses on a distinct goal each year. To date, the program has addressed issues such as Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), and Climate Action (SDG 13).

Elena Baturina, the founder of BE OPEN, emphasized the foundation's commitment to nurturing creativity among the youth. "Every year, we receive hundreds of outstanding, well-documented projects from young individuals worldwide. Educating and motivating these young people to become agents of sustainable change is vital to moving forward. We strive to offer them a platform for discussion, self-education, and help them realize they are important," she stated during her address at COP29.

The session featured presentations from the winning teams, starting with the public vote winners: Tshepiso Motau, Tsebo Mokwena, and Bongeka Buthelezi, industrial design students from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. They introduced their groundbreaking project, the Swiftguard Early Flood Warning System, which is an integrated communication system designed to alert communities of impending floods. This advanced system includes a telemetry buoy, signaling tower, and a solar-powered alarm.

Emilia Ziolek, a product design and technology student from the University of Limerick, Ireland, was awarded the third prize and the Founder’s Prize. She presented her innovative concept to redesign the shape of tidal energy turbines using biomimicry. This approach aims to eliminate the rotating blades to reduce impact on marine life while enhancing energy conversion efficiency.

The first-prize winners, Darcy Rincón and Michelle Aljure, biodesign students at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, unveiled their system called Inspira. This project aims to introduce spirulina cultivation in low-income neighborhoods in Bogotá to combat malnutrition, create revenue opportunities, and improve community sustainability. It was a proud moment for the participants to have representatives from the Colombian embassy present to support the presenters.

Following the presentations, BE OPEN invited students in attendance to join the ongoing Designing Futures 2050 initiative, aimed at raising awareness among students and aspiring professionals about the urgent need for sustainable action in today's contexts. The competition seeks to contribute realistically to sustainable values by identifying and promoting ideas that support the global transition towards a sustainable future.

Winners of the contest will receive prizes ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 euros, alongside trip opportunities to major sustainability-related events. BE OPEN firmly believes that innovative creative approaches and youth engagement in significant actions, fueled by education and motivation, are key to achieving a sustainable existence in the future.