This week, year 9 completed a two-day event, using their collaboration skills to try and solve some of the world’s most prevalent nature and climate problems. The year group was split into teams of 5-8 and given issues to work on. These were Restoring & Protecting Nature, Fixing Climate Change, Cleaning Our Air, Reviving Our Oceans and Building a Waste-Free World. We spent last Friday building the core premise of our idea, with some more complex components. When the groups returned to Earthshot on Tuesday, we began our final presentations. Asked to consider the real-world applications of the ideas, we considered things like budget and who our target audience is. Over the course of the workshop, we developed ideas, carried out research, and used our problem-solving skills to create the best version of our plans. Come Tuesday afternoon, we presented them to two judges.

They decided which ideas were to reach the finals at Harrow School, where the entirety of Year 9 will be visiting this coming Monday to support each category’s winning teams. These winning teams were:

The Wildflower Lottery: when you buy a lottery ticket, you can plant it. If a special plant grows, you win the lottery. (Restoring & Protecting Nature)

Piezoelectric Cars: Putting piezoelectric crystals in car tyres to power them. (Fixing Climate Change)

Electric Car Accessibility: putting around more electric chargers so people are more encouraged to use electric cars. (Cleaning Our Air)

76 Rivers: barriers will be put in place to stop plastic reaching the ocean, and will instead be collected. (Reviving Our Oceans)

Farmcycle: produce is grown in a hydroponic farm and sold in a shop below with reused packaging. (Building a Waste-Free World)

It has been fantastic to see so many people finding innovative ways to fix our planet’s biggest issues. We look forward to accompanying them to their final presentations and watching as they use their passion and team spirit in the Grand Finale this Monday.

Poppy Das, Year 9