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Wildfires and blackouts mean Californians need solar panels and microgrids

David Roberts

October 28, 2019 |

Vox |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Localized, distributed energy systems are popping up around California. As the larger electricity system becomes less reliable in the face of wildfires, more individuals are turning to microgrids and solar energy with help from organizations like Clean Coalition and Stone Edge Farm Microgrid. While still happening on a small scale, such energy systems may become more popular as its sustainability in a changing climate shows to be more resilient.

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Flock Safety Says Its License Plate Readers Reduce Crime. It's Not That Simple

Louise Matsakis

October 24, 2019 |

Wired |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Austell, Georgia

Cobb County, Georgia installed new license plate surveillance technology, loaned to them by the Atlanta-based company, Flock Safety. After installation, the test area saw a dramatic decrease in crime, to which Flock took credit for but experts say the connection could be due to a number of things. Furthermore, while surveillance technology has been correlated with decreased crime, communities have called into question issues of personal privacy versus public safety.

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The Navajo Nation is getting addresses, thanks to an open-source mapping program used in urban India

Zak Podmore

October 24, 2019 |

The Salt Lake Tribune |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Navajo Nation, Utah

The Navajo Nation will have the option of having physical addresses with the help of the Rural Utah Project which partnered with Google to implement open-source mapping technology. The technology was successfully implemented in India, where some residents who have never had home addresses were finally able to access government services, create bank accounts and receive mail for the first time. Navajo Nation members approached Google after hearing about the possibility at a conference where the technology was being hailed a success in refugee camps and slums across the world.

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How Telehealth Gives A Rural School More Mental Health Services

Carter Barrett

October 18, 2019 |

WFYI Public Radio |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Orleans, Indiana

In rural areas, gaining access to mental health care can be difficult, but is made even more challenging for students. To combat this, a farming and manufacturing town in Indiana is piloting telehealth access in schools that offers students the opportunity to connect with therapists via video chat.

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Staying afloat: The Ethiopian venture determined to bring healthy water to all

Anna Patton

October 17, 2019 |

Pioneers Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

A company based in Addis Ababa makes water filtration systems that simultaneously help rural and urban dwellers have access to clean water as well as keep the entire supply chain within Ethiopia. Despite challenges faced by the company to make a profit, the business is determined to keep economic growth centered in local communities rather than outsource production.

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Facing unbearable heat, Qatar has begun to air-condition the outdoors

Steven Mufson

October 16, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Qatar, Doha

In Qatar, where temperatures have reached unbearably high degrees, an engineering professor at Qatar University has designed a way to provide air conditioning to the outdoors. Although the method is arguably not a solution for climate change and could actually have negative impacts, it is successfully allowing people in the country to be able to leave the their homes, which in turn benefits the economy of the country.

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A Vision For Floating Buildings, Minus the Libertarian Politics

Lindsey J. Smith

October 16, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

A floating prototype in the San Francisco bay - envisioned by researchers at California College of Art - is testing the sustainability and possibilities of the creation of floating buildings. The structure, which has successfully integrated with barnacles and other marine life, is one in a number of visions of floating communities that respond to the rapidly appearing effects of climate change on coastal communities.

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Our Zoo is Greener Than Your Zoo

Brianna Baker

October 15, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Zoo has created an in-house, vertical garden – housed in a shipping container provided by the nonprofit, CropBox – to grow food for the animals. So far, it has shown to be a more sustainable way of feeding the animals, producing 275 lbs of greens per month and using 70-90% less water than traditional farming. The garden is just one of the zoo’s newest sustainability initiatives, which include increasing energy efficiency, using solar-powered vehicles, and creating more trails and spaces for the animals.

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How a Silicon Valley Start-up Is Helping Police Get Smarter About Solving Gun Crimes

Alain Stephens

October 15, 2019 |

The Trace |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Forensic Logic, a Silicon Valley startup, has developed a database called the Law Enforcement Analysis Portal (LEAP) that collects, streamlines, and analyzes police data in one, centralized digital portal. With forensic and other law enforcement data often being fragmented and siloed, LEAP gives access to information otherwise unavailable to thousands of police departments.

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Building for Real With Digital Blocks

Tina Rosenberg

October 15, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Sweden

To get input on city design plans from citizens without any technical knowledge, some city planners are turning to Minecraft, an easy-to-use computer game that allows users to build in a three dimensional environment. Useful for planning public spaces (rather than designing a building), Minecraft has been adopted by UN Habitat to plan everything from soccer fields in Nairobi to a riverbank in Kosovo.

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