Eighteen talented middle and high school students have taken a top spot in the 2019-2020 World of 7 Billion student video contest for their videos about the effect of human population growth on climate resiliency, economic opportunities, and water systems. The winners tackled topics ranging from microfinance and urban sanitation systems to climate justice, and overfishing. Check out their winning videos and learn more about them now!
Students were challenged with educating viewers about their chosen topic and how it relates to human population growth including at least one idea for a sustainable solution. “These students showed a sophisticated grasp of some really complex issues, as well as innovative ideas,” said John Seager, president of Population Connection. “This is a great project for stimulating students’ research, writing and video production skills on some of the biggest challenges facing the world. That’s why so many science and social studies teachers are including it in their lesson plans each year,” added Pam Wasserman, Population Connection’s Senior Vice President for Education.
More than 5,000 students in grades 6-12 from 35 countries and 46 U.S. states and territories participated in this year’s competition that ran from September 2019 until the close of submissions in late February 2020. A panel of 41 judges—including college and high school educators, filmmakers, and topic experts—selected the winners.
Improving Climate Resiliency Winners
*View all winning videos on improving climate resiliency and read bios of the student filmmakers.
High School
First Place
- Cover Crops Against Climate Change, Lexis Sablan
Barrigada, Guam
Second Place
- Sick of Climate Change, Emma Chestnut
Houston, Texas
Honorable Mentions
- Climate Migrants, Tripp Myers, Hunter Hamer and Owen Kleis
Towson, Maryland - The Unjust Killer, Rana Duan
Sugar Land, Texas
Middle School
First Place
- Helping Climate Migrants, Ruth Mekuria
Los Angeles, California
Second Place
- Ruminant Livestock and Climate Change, Jensen Coonradt
Aurora, Illinois
Ensuring Economic Opportunities Winners
*View all winning videos on ensuring economic opportunities and read bios of the student filmmakers.
High School
First Place
- When We Help Women, Sophia Greenberg
Coppell, Texas
Second Place
- Microfinance – People Empowering People, Tyler Martire and Pearson Harrington
Baltimore, Maryland
Honorable Mentions
- Take Action Against Wealth Inequality, Nyi Lin Htet Zin
Mandalay, Myanmar - Urban Greenhouse Grocery Stores, Isabelle Job and Sophie Jeffery
Wenham, Massachusetts
Middle School
First Place
- Breaking Free from the Cycle of Poverty, Annika Chan and Emmy Yand
Kirkland, Washington
Second Place
- We’re Not Off the Hook Yet, Ava Varasno, Mae Curiale and Luna Espinosa DeRosas
Glen Head, New York
Sustaining Water Systems Winners
*View all winning videos on sustaining water systems and read bios of the student filmmakers.
High School
First Place
- Sanitation Infrastructure, Bryan Nguyen
Tustin, California
Second Place
- Anti-Plastic Party, Raenelle Torres, Glenna Curioso, Riko Mizuta and Scarlet Ramelb
Waipahu, Hawaii
Honorable Mentions
- Agricultural Pollution, Lilli Goodrich
Austin, Texas - Sustaining Water Systems – Your Dangerous Waste, Rebecca Possidel, Samantha Ramirez and Denise Rubinstein
Valley Stream, New York
Middle School
First Place
- Waste Disposal, Devin Sullivan and Kai-Yu Zhang
Brookline, Massachusetts
Second Place
- Global Effects of Agricultural Pollution, Rishika Pillai and Anuncy Jesayen
Coppell, Texas
Want to use the contest next year or share with future students? The contest is easy to use whether you meet with student in-person, or can be completed as a virtual learning assignment.
Sign-up today and you’ll receive updates and information on the 2020-2021 contest as it becomes available.
