UV paint for wind turbines that is only visible to birds so that they can more easily dodge the turbine blades, reusable pizza trays, a user-friendly design that will make it easier to screen yourself for bowel cancer, and clothes made of fungal fibres.
There were many good suggestions for sustainable solutions when the Green Challenge student conference was held at DTU Skylab on Friday, 28 June. Here, a lot of students presented different projects focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The conference was opened by President Anders Bjarklev, Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President – Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Mikkel Berrig, President of Polyteknisk Forening (PF student association). Anders Bjarklev said in his opening speech:
“When you see how the students participating in Green Challenge solve challenges, how they use creativity and skills to create sustainable solutions, whether it is batteries, pizza trays, pesticides, wastewater, food, or health, then you become optimistic about our future. I certainly am. It’s technology for people for the benefit of society.”
In her speech, Marianne Thellersen focused on the eternal relevance of sustainability:
“Sustainability never goes out of style, it will always be relevant. Because we need to save our planet, and we need to create a better life for all of us. That is our mission today, and I hope that you (participants and judging panels, ed.) will contribute to this.”
Pitches, panel debate, and prizes
After the welcome speeches, the judges started their assessment of the student projects. The judges came from political life, companies, organizations, DTU, and other universities and were divided into 20 panels. Each panel of judges assessed approximately 10 projects throughout the day to ensure that all projects were seen by different panels.
In addition, the student projects were divided into four categories to ensure a level playing field and equal participation opportunities for both BSc and MSc students. Many of the participants had also chosen to work in groups with different levels of education and disciplines.
Students from international universities such as Cornell University, University of Maryland and IIT Bombay also participated.
At the end of the day, there was a panel debate with DTU alumna, former Green Challenge winner and Sustainability Consultant at Niras, Mia Heide, Jacob Rask, Director of Regenerative Built Environment Network at BLOXHUB, and Christine Nellemann, Dean of Sustainability at DTU.
Together with science journalist and TV host Lasse Winther, they discussed how we create the sustainable society of the future and what role engineers play in that process.
The day concluded with the awarding of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in four categories. The prizes were awarded by Lars D. Christoffersen, Dean of Studies and Student Affairs, Senior Vice President, and Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President – Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the winners of the four first places each received DKK 30,000.