"A sustainable future, is the only future."

Actions now, will result in positive outcomes in the coming times and save our home planet. As a progressive human of 21st century, it is our obligation to sustain Mother Earth, so that it is livable for future generations. The main goal of ours isn’t to eradicate the burden but to transform them into something useful. In collaboration with NASA we aim to transform the things in a positive way to have a great impact.

How We Kept Forward With This Challenge?

Taking proper action is the only way to sustain this planet for future generations as well as for us, So we have come upon some ideas to make it possible.

Problem 1

Air pollution has become a great problem in our life, up till 200 meters from the ground level, pollutant concentration is prominent in the air. The constant pollution of the air has varied effects on nature and on human health. One of the most pre-dominant problem caused by air pollution includes global warming. Climate change is another consequence of global warming. The gases emitted by industries, power plants, boilers, heating and transport produce very toxic substances. Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people's nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Some scientists suspect air pollutants cause birth defects as well.

Solution for the problem

Our air purifier aims to cleanse the air of any dust and smoke particles that are combusted from industries, emitted from transportation, home heating, and tobacco smoke. The air purifier needs to be a remote controlled flying model which can suck the dust particles from the air. The purifier can take rounds after rounds for cleaning the air while flying around 100m to 150m above sea level. After each round its filter can be rinsed to avoid any overloading of waste substances. It can then be sent again into the air to further purify it. it is very beneficial for the environment as:

1) Air Purifiers Remove Triggers for Asthma Attacks: If not removed from the air, the particles of these substances can be inhaled and cause wheezing amongst other asthma symptoms.

2) Air Purifiers Trap Tobacco and Cigarette Smoke, Preventing Lung Disease:Breathing in tobacco smoke can result in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases as well as heart disease. Other side-effects of tobacco or cigarette smoke include ear infections, asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous particularly for children due to the fact that their lungs are still developing and their respiratory rates are higher than an adult’s. Meanwhile, elderly people are at a higher risk of getting dementia if they are exposed to secondhand smoke.

3)  Air Purifiers Eliminate Radon Gas, Which Can Cause Lung Cancer: breathing in certain gases can lead to the development of lung cancer. Everyone is at risk of being contaminated by radon gas, but if levels of radon gas are too high is an establishment, deathly results can occur. 

4)Air Purifiers Remove Outside Fumes and Pollutants in Urban Environments:It was discovered that allergic diseases are more common where there is modern, urban life such as areas in the developed countries of North America and Europe, as opposed to Third World Countries where the amount of people with allergic diseases are few.

Problem 2

Plastic has become a great problem nowadays and rather than eradicating it, we just collect it and take advantage of it. This leads to excess usage of plastic in day to day life. Plastic is a material that takes approximate 1000 years to decompose in landfills. The world’s population continues to grow, so does the amount of plastic waste people produce. Plastic is majorly composed of toxic pollutants. One of the potential cause of air, water and land pollution is plastic, which creates a huge problem for plants, wildlife and even human population. it causes some serious effects such as:-

1) it has negative effects on Human Health. We eat plastic-contaminated seafood.

2) It Upsets the Food Chain.

3) Groundwater Pollution.

4) Land Pollution.

5) Air Pollution.

6) It Kills Animals.

7) It is Poisonous.

8) Cleaning Plastic is Expensive

Solution for the problem

We can reduce the usage of plastic by using sugarcane extracts to produce disposable water bottles. Sugarcane crops use lesser amount of water as compared to other crops. In South India, using banana leaves to make disposable plates and cups is a practice followed since ages. This not only minimizes the usage of plastic in our day to day lives but also is an option full of health benefits. If this industry is promoted, many jobs will be generated and thus many people will get employed. The plastic that we already have can’t be burned or else it will produce toxic substances, instead it can be used in medical industry for making:

1) Artificial heart valves

2) Medical implants and devices

3) Controlled drug release

4) Syringes

5) Insulin pens,

6) IV tubes and Catheters inflatable splits.

We need to collect the plastic waste as soon as possible to have a sustainable future for us as well as future generations. 

Problem 3

As agriculture depends upon irrigation and water supply, farming in arid regions where there is water scarcity is a great challenge. We need to find a way in order to reduce water scarcity in deserts. As we know, the water table is located deep beneath the ground so it becomes difficult for the roots to penetrate deep beneath the ground to access the water. Every year, an area of fertile land roughly half the size of Britain becomes desert. The process known as desertification, is usually caused by climate change, deforestation and poor agricultural practices. With desertification likely to become an even greater issue in the future, it is the time to start looking at possible ways to combat it.

Solution for the problem

Our solution tackles the major problem of plantation in desert areas. Large terrariums- inspired plantation ecosystems can be constructed to make agriculture a possibility in these arid regions like Sahara and Thar. Just like this, Waterboxx, a container, crafted from polypropylene can be used to supply water to the crops/plants. Rainwater can be collected in boxed chambers, where it will get trapped. A long wick can be suspended into the ground, beneath the box, slowly dripping water to the plant’s/ crop's root system whenever necessary. As the plant grows, its roots reach deeper and deeper in the ground, eventually finding their own water source. 

Idea explained:

• This a planting device that makes growing crops in the desert possible, and resource efficient. It consists of an "intelligent bucket" made from recycled paper, which can germinate seeds, incubate saplings, and water plants. It requires 90% less water than traditional growing methods and can be used in some of the most extreme climates on Earth.
• The Water box is a round, 20-inch-wide container crafted from polypropylene. Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic “addition polymer” made from the combination of propylene monomers. It is used in a variety of applications to include packaging for consumer products, plastic parts for various industries including the automotive industry, the best part of this product is that it is not harmful to nature. Rainwater and condensation get collected in the box’s chamber, where water gets trapped. A wick goes into the ground beneath the box, slowly dripping water to the plant’s root system every day. As the plant grows, its roots reach deeper and deeper in the ground, eventually finding their own water source. Once this happens, the box can be removed.
• It may seem like a relatively simple concept, but the Waterboxx has shown impressive results. On testing the device for three years in Morocco’s Sahara Desert. Ninety percent of trees grown with the Waterboxx survived after the device was removed. In contrast, only ten percent of trees planted without the box survived, even though they were watered daily.
• One more solution to the following problem is constructing large terrariums which are some inspired plantation systems.
• They help grow plants that would be difficult to grow in dry air.
• They provide a confined space for plantation and most important they need not be watered often.
• They can easily be taken care of so they are also a good alternative idea.