Students from across Indiana shared their ideas at the state’s first K-12 Geoengineering Summit at IU Friday.
Adam Scribner, director of STEM Education Initiatives at IU, said students showed a wide range of creativity.
“Things that I think a lot of adults probably wouldn't come up with," he said.
More than a hundred students presented poster projects with ideas such as genetically modified seagrass and reflective drones.
The event was supported by National Geographic’s “2892 Miles to Go” program, which funds youth-led climate projects.
Ashley Lamb Sinclair, a National Geographic Explorer, said many students walked away with a new sense of possibility.
“One of the things that's striking to me is I'm hearing a lot of the students say, 'I didn't realize that I could be part of the solution,'"she said. "I didn't realize that I could be a creator of these solutions.'”
Organizers said they hope the summit will spark a new generation of climate scientists and environmental leaders.