When it comes to naming a winner each year, Wege Prize judges are looking for the solution that inspires the greatest hope for real-world success. But what exactly does that mean?
Guided by direct feedback from judges, Wege Prize 2021 teams will work to rethink and redesign the way economies work by creating regenerative solutions that have a widespread and lasting positive impact. These solutions should address whatever specific wicked problems teams are interested in solving, but they should also, in turn, help solve the wicked problem of transitioning from a linear economic model to a circular economic model.
Wege Prize judges are looking for solutions that address the shortcomings of a linear economic model on a systemic level. The most successful solutions will:
Think in systems by demonstrating an understanding of how parts influence one another within a whole, as well as the relationship of the whole to the parts.
Consider the economics and viability of the solution within natural, social, and financial systems.
Preserve and enhance natural capital by controlling finite resource stocks and balancing renewable resource flows.
Optimize resource yields by circulating products, components, and materials at their highest utility at all times in both technical and biological cycles.
Foster system effectiveness by designing out waste and negative externalities such as pollution, toxicity, and climate change.
Excerpt of solution from Wege Prize 2018 winners Circular Tourism Mexico
As teams progress through the competition, they’ll be judged on four key areas:
A. DEPTH OF RESEARCH
• Have you clearly identified the problem you’re trying to solve?
• To what depth have you studied and analyzed the problem?
• Have you researched existing solutions?
• Have you consulted experts to refine your solution?
B. PRESENTATION
• Are your materials organized, and do they deliver a clear message?
• Have you gotten creative and thought “outside the box” when developing your materials?
• Can you respond thoughtfully and effectively to the judges’ feedback?
C. INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
• Does the solution help accelerate us into a circular economy?
• Is your solution technologically, economically, and financially feasible?
• Is your solution socially and culturally appropriate?
• Is there a proven customer need for your solution?
• Is there sufficient motivation for people to use your solution?
• What system conditions need to exist to make your solution possible?
• If your solution builds on an existing project or research you’re already involved in, to what extent have you built upon it?
• Have you prototyped your solution?
D. COLLABORATION
• Have you built a strong and balanced transdisciplinary team?
• Have you engaged all of your teammates in the development of your solution?
• Beyond dividing up different tasks, have you worked across disciplinary boundaries and brought your different perspectives together?
• Have you effectively engaged mentors and/or subject matter experts in your design process?
So, what does success in Wege Prize look like? Let’s take a look back at our three most recent winners, and why they rose to the top:
WEGE PRIZE 2020 - HYA BIOPLASTICS
Hya Bioplastics proposed a process that blends dried water hyacinth fibers and boiled cassava starch into a biodegradable raw material for the production of disposable plates, cups, and silverware. At the same time, the process helps mitigate the threat that the spread of water hyacinths poses to already-scarce freshwater sources around the world.
“We’ve seen a lot of examples of bioplastics out there, but the use here of local invasive species as feedstock is particularly insightful,” said judge Alysia Garmulewicz, an associate professor at Universidad de Santiago de Chile and fellow at the University of Oxford who researches digital fabrication and the circular economy. “This solution is also incredibly replicable and scalable, with a promising potential for real-world implementation.”
Redent proposed a system in which cocoa pod husks, a byproduct of cocoa bean production, can be upcycled into organic fertilizer. The system, designed to be waste-free and both economically and environmentally sustainable, also aims to inspire cocoa farmers toward sustainable farm practices while giving them access to additional income streams.
“The judges were very impressed by how, in the midst of a large systemic issue such as waste, Redent honed in on a specific waste source and a specific solution for extracting maximum value from that waste; the elegance of that is very commendable,” said judge Alysia Garmulewicz, an associate professor of high tech entrepreneurship at the University of Santiago in Chile and an associate fellow at Oxford University and the Institute for Science Innovation and Society.
WEGE PRIZE 2018 – CIRCULAR TOURISM MEXICO
Circular Tourism Mexico proposed Rutopia, an online platform that facilitates the transition to a fair, sustainable, and circular tourism system for indigenous communities in Mexico. The platform connects indigenous-run community tourism initiatives directly to their target audiences and offers them the tools they need to overcome obstacles that prevent them from competing in the ecotourism marketplace. At the same time, it ensures travelers will be able to enjoy genuine experiences while benefitting both indigenous communities and the environment.
“We really appreciated the social and cultural elements being integral to Circular Tourism Mexico’s solution; they weren’t just add-ons,” says judge Nathan Shedroff, an associate professor at California College of the Arts and founder of the school’s ground-breaking MBA in Design Strategy program. “Their co-op model is particularly well-suited to solve the problems they identified, because they’re truly involving locals in co-design and co-building, which honors culture and keeps money local. The judges see this as a solution that can revitalize communities that are struggling, and we really appreciate that.”
Kulisha developed a solution focused on working with food and beverage processing plants to convert their organic waste products into an insect-based protein that can be used in animal feeds and as an agricultural fertilizer. Their system integrates a type of insect called the black soldier fly into food and beverage plants to decrease disposal costs while creating additional value from waste that would otherwise be discarded.
“This solution is a genuine contender to solve two problems: eliminating a major food waste problem while providing a viable alternative to the current method of depleting fish stocks to generate the protein used in animal feed,’ said judge Colin Webster, an education program manager with UK-based nonprofit The Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “It was clear to the judges that a tremendous amount of effort has been put into the development of this solution. It’s on the cusp of being trialed in a major way, and we’re really looking forward to seeing how that unfolds.”
Now that you’ve taken a look inside solutions that have succeeded in past Wege Prize competitions, what wicked problem do you plan on tackling for Wege Prize 2021? Whatever it is, be sure you’re building a team equipped to handle it!
Remember, teams must apply for Wege Prize 2021 by 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, November 9, 2020, to be eligible to compete! Complete details at wegeprize.org/apply.