Seven teams of students from across Harris County came together on April 20 to develop solutions for some of the biggest challenges posed by climate change and environmental injustice. The Education Foundation of Harris County, in partnership with the Captain Planet Foundation and Harris County Department of Education’s Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment (CASE) for Kids, held the first Green Heart STEM Challenge for youth in the Houston area. 

The Green Heart STEM Challenge supports young people in exploring and identifying environmental injustice issues in their communities and designing actionable solutions to address those issues. This year’s theme was focused on water, a precious and limited resource for some communities around the world.

The Challenge began in January, when students were asked to submit a 90-second pitch video and written proposal for their ideas. The top seven finalists were invited to compete in a formal “pitch” to a judging panel of experts during the event. The Galena Park “Bulldog Water Patrol” took the top spot in the primary category with their water testing system. These water testing strips would be used across their school to test the quality of water and implement a reverse osmosis filtration system. Winners for the junior category were the “Green Giants” from Baker Ripley. Their idea for a water filtration system won the judges over as students explained their plan to supply their school garden with cleaner water. 

Finally, the Chavez High School team placed first in the senior category for its debris shredder, complete with a prototype. The idea developed after seeing debris buildup in the students’ community causing street flooding during times of heavy rain. Their device would include three levels of shredders and a net to catch the debris after it’s been shredded. Each of the winning teams received a small implementation grant to put their ideas into action. They will also attend a summer intensive called the Green Heart Idea Incubator to work with mentors on implementing their solutions.