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Eighteen winners earned top spots in the 11th annual “World of 7 Billion” video contest sponsored by Population Connection. More than 3,000 students in grades 6 through 12 from 48 countries and 45 U.S. states and territories participated in the competition. The videos explored population growth as it relates to one of three challenges: Agriculture and Food, Ocean Health, and Urbanization.
Sabina Khizroev, a freshman at Miami Palmetto Senior High School earned honorable mention for her 60-second video Beat the Heat: Implementing Green Roofs. Living in Miami enables Sabina to see many urbanization problems up close and personal. Before her extensive research on green roofs, she says, “I kind of thought that they were just an aesthetic thing, so it was really cool to see all of the other environmental benefits they have.”
Her video can be viewed at https://www.worldof7billion.org/video_winners/beat-the-heat-implementing-green-roofs/
The three high-school first-place winners each received a $1,200 cash prize, while the three second-place winners each received $600 and six honorable mentions each received $300. Middle-school students who claimed first and second place received $600 and $300 respectively.
In addition to educating viewers about their chosen topic and how it relates to human population growth, students had to include at least one idea for a sustainable solution. The winning pieces were on topics as varied as coral bleaching, urban heat islands, homelessness, and edible insects.
“Communicating a persuasive message in just one minute about one of the many challenges for our crowded world takes real skill,” said John Seager, president of Population Connection. “The winning students go a step further and offer inventive ideas for a sustainable future.”
The contest was organized and promoted during the 2021-2022 school year by Population Education, a program of Population Connection. A panel of 44 judges—including college and high-school educators, filmmakers, and topic experts—selected the winners.
“Teachers appreciate that the project is so student driven,” said Pam Wasserman, Population Connection’s Senior Vice President for Education. “They choose the topic and let their curiosity guide their research and production.” Many science and social studies teachers have been incorporating the contest into their lesson plans for years.
Population Connection is the national grassroots population organization that educates young people and advocates for progressive action to stabilize world population at a level that can be sustained by Earth’s resources. Population Education curricula for K-12, including lessons for distance learning can be found at www.populationeducation.org.
For information on the “World of 7 Billion” contest, visit www.worldof7billion.org
