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Officials patched and prayed while pressure built on Houston's dams

Mihir Zaveri

December 15, 2017 |

Houston Chronicle |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Following Hurricane Harvey, Houston officials are taking steps to better prepare the city for flooding. Two damns, Addicks and Barker, have long been in need of repairs to increase their capacity and resilience, and after decades of putting it off – and thousands of homes flooded – the city is hoping to invest in one of the large-scale remedies that have been recommended in the past.

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Harvey overwhelmed some levee systems. Future storms could do worse.

Emily Foxhall

December 14, 2017 |

Houston Chronicle |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey left many Houston residents questioning the efficacy of one of the city’s only protections, the Levee Improvement Districts (LID), responsible for providing flood protection. In neighborhoods prone to flooding, there has been much debate about the actual protection the current levees provide, leading many to call for solutions like the expansion of the LIDs through elections (rather than appointees) or raising the levees.

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Meet India's dam-building grandmother

Aamir Rafeeq Peerzeda

December 12, 2017 |

BBC |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: India, Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, India, the Aakar Charitable Trust is building dams in previously drought-ridden areas using traditional practices that use the contours of the land to retain water. These check dams are cost-effective, partially owned by local communities, and do not displace residents; the trust builds an average of 30 dams each year, but they hope to ramp up construction in the future while cautioning that the method will not work for every topography.

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Engineering solutions for the future of modern medicine

Lucy Jolin

November 28, 2017 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: England

The healthcare world is highly innovative right now as it tries to make medicine more personalized and harnesses engineering. Hitachi is trying to aggregate data in order to prevent disease and help the healthcare system function better.

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Where Birds and Planes Collide, a Winged Robot May Help

Tina Rosenberg

November 28, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Alberta

Airplanes and birds don't mix - thousands of birds are tragically killed around airports each year, and collisions (or "ingestions," as the industry calls them) of birds and jet engines can be extremely dangerous to flights. Finding an effective way to keep birds away has proven tricky, as birds are clever and quickly acclimate to many traditional methods, so the Edmonton airport in Alberta is "piloting" an exciting new technology: a robotic falcon that moves like a real predator, and seems to have had success in trial flights.

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The world is poorly designed. But copying nature helps.

Christophe Haubursin Roman Mars Kurt Kohlstedt

November 09, 2017 |

Vox |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Missoula, Montana

In 1989, when Japan’s bullet train debuted, it reached nearly 170 miles per hour, but was also exceptionally loud as it left any tunnel. To remedy this, engineers and designers turned to nature – mimicking different bird features in their redesign of the train. Known as biomimicry, the practice of looking at nature’s forms, processes, and ecosystems and incorporating them into human-made designs has gained in popularity in the last three decades.

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Re-connecting With A Healthy Lifestyle: Replacing Soda With Water

Antonia Gonzales

November 03, 2017 |

KNME-PBS |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Leupp, New Mexico

In the town of Leupp, a Navajo community, the school and community members are working to educate kids to drink water rather than sugary drinks and sodas. Part of their effort includes increasing availability to water—and gently keeping each other on the right path.

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How Baltimore Is Growing Its Tech Gurus From Scratch

Erick Trickey

October 19, 2017 |

Politico |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

Only 12 percent of the STEM workforce is Black or Hispanic. Starting with Baltimore, one nonprofit is looking to change that. In 2013, the Digital Harbor Foundation converted a rec center into a home for after school programs introducing students to graphic design, 3D printing, and beyond. Using a "maker education" model, instructors prepare middle schoolers for a changing workforce, offer in-house employment for teens, and improve and diversify the talent pipeline to the city's vacant tech jobs. The classes, which are pay-what-you-can, are expanding kids' communications skills and creative thinking mindset.

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Why Salt Is This Power Plant's Most Valuable Asset

Molly A. Seltzer

August 04, 2017 |

Smithsonian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, McIntosh, Alabama

One of the greatest challenges to integrating renewable energy sources into the power grid has been the issue of storage - where and how to keep power generated during off-hours (such as overnight) when demand is low. While batteries are on the rise as one solution, an Alabama power plant has discovered a natural way of storing energy until it is needed: pumping air into salt caverns.

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The world's first floating wind farm could be a game changer for renewable power

Akshat Rathi

July 24, 2017 |

Quartz |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Scotland, Peterhead

A factor that has often held back further development of renewable energy is the initial cost. But new advances in technology are helping make offshore wind power more feasible in deep water, furthering the growth potential of renewable energy in Scotland.

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