Announcing the BU Climate Innovation Challenge Semi Finalists!
We are thrilled to announce the semi-finalists for the BU Climate Innovation Challenge! Hear the finalists’ pitches and find out who wins by joining us at the finale event on March 7!
4RtistsBoston
4RtistsBoston aims to reduce waste and improve access to art supplies by collecting donated materials from the Boston area and distributing them to art students who cannot afford supplies. The team, led by Megan Kwan, (CFA’27), will partner with local art schools to exchange reused materials and collaborate on sustainability initiatives through workshops and exhibitions.
Compost Boston
Compost Boston seeks to develop sustainable waste management solutions to address Boston’s urgent climate challenges. This bicycle-based collection service diverts organic waste from landfills, completing the sustainability cycle by returning nutrient-rich compost to the community. The team is led by Noah Robitshek, (ENG’25).
Eleven58
Eleven58 is developing an AI-powered smart trash can that automatically sorts waste to reduce contamination and improve efficiency in campus recycling programs. The intelligent trash can uses image recognition to identify and separate recyclables from non-recyclables in real-time. This streamlines the waste disposal process to benefit students and support university sustainability efforts. The team is led by Manon Fretault, (Questrom’25).
Growing Greenscapes
Growing Greenscapes aims to mitigate extreme heat/cold effects and promote climate justice by increasing greenery and signage. Their goal is to achieve net zero emissions by implementing sufficient greenspaces to offset emissions from buildings, transportation, manufacturing, and more. The team is led by Clara Armon, (ENG’27).
Idori
Idori is addressing the critical need for early sustainability education through an innovative combination of storytelling, plush toys, and interactive learning. Their approach aims to inspire a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship in 4-7 year olds by making complex issues relatable and hands-on. The team is led by Noah Sorin, (Questrom’24).
Increasing the Biodiversity of our Lawns: Rethinking the American Dream
This team seeks to address the lack of biodiversity in American lawns, which harms native pollinators, soil health, and increases chemical runoff. They propose transforming lawns by replacing grass with native wildflowers and grasses to support biodiversity, sequester carbon, and enrich soils. The team is led by Divyarathna Bhuvarahamurthy, (CAS’24).
Micro-Afforestation Project
The Micro-Afforestation Project aims to mitigate Boston’s urban heat island effect by strategically planting tiny forests in disadvantaged areas to create cooler microclimates. This community-driven effort seeks to enhance green spaces and connections to nature in order to improve quality of life and ecosystem resilience. The team is led by Megan Ryder, (SPH’25).
Recycle Rewards
Recycle Rewards seeks to tackle plastic bottle waste in Boston through a recycling reward initiative that provides incentives for sustainable practices. The team aims to increase recycling participation by expanding the bottle deposit program to include more bottles and tripling the refund to 15 cents per bottle. The team is led by Jeremiah Somoine, (CAS’27).
Terrier Exchange
Terrier Exchange proposes a Swap Shop to tackle the 230 tons of waste generated during college move-in/out. Donors will receive tickets to “purchase” reused goods, reducing consumption. The team is led by Urvika Gupta, (CAS’26).
WasteWiz
WasteWiz tackles inefficient recycling by addressing the widespread issue of waste misclassification. Their Spectroscopy-Enhanced Waste Classification System (SEWCS) uses spectroscopy technology to instantly identify materials and provide real-time feedback during disposal. This reduces contamination and transforms recycling behaviors. The team is led by Aru Pandey, (CAS’24).
Hear the finalist pitches and find out who wins!
