• Overview
• My Dashboard
• For Teachers
• You Can Help!
• Alumni Center

2008 Winners

• 2008 Announcement
• GBP: From Trash to Treasure: A Portable Biomass-to-Synfuel Production System (Word) (Image)
  (FIRST PLACE GBP AWARD FOR 2008) The portable biomass-to-synfuel production system is essentially a mobile liquid hydrocarbon plant that is self sufficient (its feedstock is waste biomass provided by the client), environmentally friendly, and economically feasible. Mini-van sized and easily scalable, it is capable of producing anything from 250 gallons of fuel per week to a couple thousand. It literally converts biomass - trash -into today's treasure - liquid fuel.
• TIP: The Sound-Powered Traffic Management System (Word) (Image)
  (FIRST PLACE TIP AWARD FOR 2008) The Sound-Powered Traffic Management System is an innovative product that runs on the power of traffic noise and serves to improve traffic conditions.
• TIP: Methanol Fuel Cycle (Word)
  (FIRST PLACE TIP AWARD FOR 2008) The two main concepts of the Methanol Fuel Cycle are the emerging, radical idea of CO2 cell splitting and the well known existing concept of synthetic fuel production by the Fischer-Tropsch process. This idea is not completely new, but the way that we are applying is commercially, this process is not viable enough to be mass produced since the CO2 splitter is too "thermally demanding." The newest and most innovative component in the Methanol Fuel Cycle is a device that is composed of a semiconductor with two thin layers of catalysts that captures sunlight energy converts that energy into electrical energy and separates Carbon Dioxide into Carbon Monoxide and Oxygen.
• GBP: Stirling Engine and Molten Salt Power Plant (Image) (Word)
  (SECOND PLACE GBP AWARD FOR 2008) Imagine a world that functions solely on solar power. Everything in all of the cities and houses, from the energy generator to the traffic lights to even the refrigerator and television only rely only on solar power. As hard as it is to imagine, this world is not so far off in the future. In fact, we are already capable of creating such a world by combining SES Stirling Technology and molten salt.
• GBP: Real Time Traffic Information and Navigation System Leveraging Cell Phone GPS Signal Collection and Analysis (Word) (Image)
  (SECOND PLACE GBP AWARD FOR 2008) By capturing anonymous GPS signals that are automatically emitted by mobile phones, Advanced Traffic Information, Inc. (ATI) plans to convert these GPS signals into real time traffic data and to map them graphically on portable digital devices such as road navigation systems, cell phones, and PDAs. It also plans to offer data and analysis services to local municipalities and traffic authorities, and companies that operate vehicle fleets. Instead of building its own infrastructure and customer base, ATI plans to work closely with cell phone companies, navigation service companies, and others by offering ATI's service as an add-on service, the revenue of which will be shared with these partners.
• TIP: Waste the Waste (Word)
  (SECOND PLACE TIP AWARD FOR 2008) Our plan addresses one simple fact of both producers and consumers: producers create waste by producing, and people create waste by consuming. It will be the end of burial and abandonment of garbage, curbing the ecological harm associated with abandoning garbage. Instead of using landfills, trash will be sent to a central processing center. Here, the trash will be separated into recyclables and organics. Then the organics will be incinerated, and the solid particulate component of the combustion products will be captured and restructured into simple compounds depending on our needs. This method would reduce methane produced by decomposing garbage piles.
• TIP: Waste to Energy? - Microbial Fuel Cells (Word)
  (SECOND PLACE TIP AWARD FOR 2008) In this project, microbial fuel cells are identified as an extremely useful way to not only reduce waste, but to produce energy at the same time. This project showcases the problems leading up to this development of the microbial fuel cell, and this technical innovation plan will showcase a novel type of microbial fuel cell that was developed as a result.
• GBP: Generating Electricity by Working Up a Sweat (Word) (Image)
  (THIRD PLACE GBP AWARD FOR 2008) What we propose is to introduce new workout equipment that can convert an athlete's exercise into usable electricity. Not only do the users still receive the benefits of physical activity but they also become active members in fighting a changing climate. In the United States alone, there are about 23,500 health clubs and around 39.4 million members. On average, these members attends their club 92 days a year.
• GBP: Fuel For Thought - Towards A Greener Future! (Word)
  (THIRD PLACE GBP AWARD FOR 2008) This project proposes the use of Jatropha seeds to develop biodiesel that can be used to replace diesel in automobiles without the need of any design change in the automobiles. The idea is to approach companies that are already involved in supplying fuel to vehicles. If they were to invest in the production of biodiesel from Jatropha, our project, if accepted, can be implemented immediately, with minimum costs and maximum benefits.
• TIP: Nanotech Catalytic Converters (Word)
  (THIRD PLACE TIP AWARD FOR 2008) Nanotechnology is the study of particles at the power of 10 to the -9th of a meter. Working at such a micro-microscopic level allows room for endless opportunities. Our solution hopes to combine the zeroth Flattener and this relatively newer technology to mitigate the problem of Global Warming through Catalytic Converters of the new generation.
• GBP: RuBisCO: The Mean Protein (Word)
  (FOURTH PLACE GBP AWARD FOR 2008) The RuBisCO project involves introducing a mutated version of the RuBisCO protein into earth's plants, as it is mainly concerned with the capture of carbon molecules (CO2, CO, etc). By increasing the efficiency of this protein the plant's intake of CO2 increases substantially thereby its output of O2 increases by the transitive property and helping in the cleanup of the environment.
• GBP: Revopure Filtration System (Word)
  (FOURTH PLACE GBP AWARD FOR 2008) We propose a filter which made use of the chemical calcium hydroxide. The prospective usefulness of a filter which takes the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and uses it to create a constructive byproduct is undeniable. Such a filter has the potential of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tons a year, and, though it cannot possibly prevent global warming on its own, it certainly can act as a factor in doing so. The usefulness of this filter can be expressed in terms of the global opportunity of the product and the potential for the product to make a difference in the world.
• GBP: Energy Tracker (Word)
  (TOP TEN SEMI-FINALIST FOR 2008) In the global view, our energy tracker can help different kinds of people worldwide, whether they are poor, rich, or live in remote areas. This product has the potential to change people's energy lifestyles for the better by showing them how much energy they waste a year, or how they can save more money and be more energy efficient.