Student Sustainability Project Competition

Real-World Learning, Real Community Impact

In 2020–2021, Presidio Education® launched a Student Sustainability Project Competition, empowering students to tackle real environmental and social issues through research, writing, and creative problem-solving.

Students were encouraged to think critically about global challenges — from access to education to environmental justice — and to design solutions that could make a meaningful difference in underserved communities.

Our Asia Impact 2021 Logo

From the start, the entire Presidio Impact team wanted to create a meaningful logo that embodies the essence of the Asia Impact 2021 trip. We wanted a logo that represents not only the importance of education, but also the value of community. Our logo consists of a classroom that is built out of various school supplies, including a paperclip, a ruler, a pencil, a highlighter and a book. The classroom represents the emphasis of the community for our trip. A classroom is a place of learning that unifies people as a family. We strive not just to give back to our community but to build a more unified community.

— Angelina
Creator of the Asia Impact 2021 Logo

Global Focus: Education as a Human Right

Student solutions for supporting schools in underserved communities

A central theme of the competition was the global education gap. Students explored how to help children in impoverished areas — particularly in regions where school infrastructure is lacking.

Projects proposed:

Building or repairing school classrooms
Fundraising for books and school supplies
Raising awareness about educational inequity and sustainability in global contexts

By researching these challenges, students learned that change often starts with a single, thoughtful idea — backed by research and heart.

Developing Skills That Matter

Critical thinking, writing, and advocacy in action

Each student was required to submit a well-structured proposal that included:

Problem analysis
Research-based support
Feasible, sustainable solutions

Through this process, students strengthened their:

Critical thinking and reasoning
Research and writing skills
Communication and presentation confidence

These academic skills were deeply tied to real-world impact — reinforcing that learning can and should serve a greater purpose.

Our Mission in Action

Education for empathy, not just academics

At Presidio Education®, we believe the role of education is to build intelligent, compassionate global citizens — not just test-takers. The Sustainability Competition exemplifies our mission by encouraging students to:

Care about communities beyond their own
Take initiative and think ethically
Use learning as a tool for equity and impact

This isn’t extra credit — this is education that matters.

Pushing Innovation Through Sustainability Education

Empowering students to solve real-world problems through research and writing

At Presidio Education®, we believe education technology should be rooted in the values of real teaching — not just revenue. That’s why we created the Sustainability Project Competition (SPC): a global initiative that challenges high school students to research and solve environmental and public health issues affecting their communities.

Open to both domestic and international students, the SPC provides a platform for learners to tackle complex sustainability problems through:

Rigorous academic research
Formal writing, including research papers
Creative storytelling, including videos and presentations

By participating in the SPC, students not only sharpen their English writing and critical thinking skills — they also build strong academic portfolios that reflect their leadership and civic engagement.

Interested in joining a future cohort?
📩 Contact our Sustainability Team to learn more or get involved.

San Francisco Clean Air Vehicle MUNI public bus on downtown Market Street in San Francisco, California. Photograph by Yunju Chen, Director of Product Management, 2018. — *San Francisco Clean Air Vehicle MUNI public bus* *on downtown Market Street in San Francisco, California. Photograph by Yunju Chen, Director of Product Management, 2018.*

Student Ideas That Spark Real-World Action

Turning research into community-driven sustainability solutions

At Presidio Education®, the core purpose of the Sustainability Project Competition (SPC) is to empower students to create solutions so compelling that their schools, communities, and local governments are inspired to act.

SPC participants don’t just study environmental issues — they develop data-driven, research-backed proposals that can:

By identifying urgent sustainability problems, validating their ideas through research, and offering feasible solutions, students become more than just participants — they become change agents and community leaders equipped to protect ecosystems and improve lives.

Strengthening Academic Portfolios Through Purposeful Research

Using sustainability writing to stand out — for the right reasons

One of the lasting benefits of the Sustainability Project Competition (SPC) is the opportunity for students to create well-structured, compelling research papers — a powerful addition to any college application.

These papers serve as tangible proof of a student’s ability to:

Analyze complex sustainability challenges
Develop evidence-based solutions
Communicate ideas through formal writing

Some students may even expand their research into senior theses or pursue publication opportunities. But above all, we remind students that the heart of this project is not recognition — it’s impact. The primary goal is to solve meaningful problems in their communities, not to seek personal accolades.

We challenge students to rise to the occasion — and welcome the SPC experience for the right reasons.

Students Keep 100% Credit for Their Work

Academic integrity and ownership are at the heart of our program

At Presidio Education®, we believe students should receive full credit for the research, innovation, and intellectual property they create through the Sustainability Project Competition (SPC).

While our faculty and college intern teams offer mentorship — from brainstorming and data analysis to writing support — all final work belongs exclusively to the student.

✅ We do not claim ownership, credit, nor rights to any:

Research papers
Project outcomes
Intellectual property
Patentable ideas

We are proud to operate these programs with true non-profit intentions. Our goal is to elevate student voices and support meaningful academic work with the highest standards of integrity. Students earn every bit of the recognition they receive.

Lessons from the Summer 2018 SPC Teams

Real-world experience turns theory into action

During the Summer 2018 Sustainability Project Competition, student teams made significant progress identifying critical sustainability issues in their communities — but many discovered that proposing realistic, actionable solutions was far more challenging than expected.

This learning curve revealed an essential truth:

Recognizing a problem is only the beginning.
Testing ideas and engaging with communities is where innovation happens.

That’s why Presidio Education® emphasizes hands-on research and community involvement. We encourage students to leave the classroom, test hypotheses in the real world, and interact with the people their projects aim to help. This approach fosters deeper understanding, creative thinking, and long-term impact.

Student Research Spotlight – Water Management

Research Team: Maggie’s Team

Research Synopsis:
Hong Kong’s only sludge water treatment plant exists in T-Park, which is located in Tuen Mun. Our team is proposing to remodel this technology on a smaller scale and on our school campus. While the Environmental Protection Department’s investment in this green tech is really an ode to sustainable development, using this technology simply isn’t a viable option for many facilities in Hong Kong. For example, next year our school will be producing around fifty gallons of sludge water a day just from our food processor. Although our administration claims that they will transport this water to T-Park, trucking 60.3 kilometers a day to transport that water does not seem economical nor sustainable in terms of efficiency and of course the environment. Conscious of this problem, our team will gather findings that support our proffer that an in-house sludge water treatment plant will be beneficial both for the environment and our school’s budget.

Student Research Spotlight – Environmental Economics

Research Team: APES of Wrath

Research Synopsis:
Following the industrial revolution, businesses and consumers have traded ease and progress for harm to the environment, leading to the increasing interest in the study of environmental economics. As an increasing amount of people are relying on the Internet to find information, we believe that creating an extension to browsers would allow users to recognize how their purchases impact the environment in a convenient, non-intrusive manner. Our extension highlights specific features of products, whether it be its manufacturer, material, or source, information that might not be the most easily accessible to the consumer. In turn, this enables consumers to understand the environmental impact of their purchase, allowing them to make purchases that are not only better informed but also better for the environment.

Student Research Spotlight – Renewable Energy

Research Team: The Underdogs

Research Synopsis:
Hong Kong heavily relies on fossil fuels as its main source of energy and supply is slowly running out. Although Hong Kong currently uses wind and solar power plants, the scale is limited and unreliable. Sooner or later, Hong Kong will need a more sustainable source of energy to power its infrastructure. Our team is conducting research on bladeless wind turbines, a new form of sustainable energy, making use of vortex shedding to generate energy. By evaluating the efficiency of bladeless wind turbines and Hong Kong’s geographic layout, we aim to find out its applicability and optimal location.

Left to right: Diva Wong, Logistics (College Intern), SPC students Justin Lee and Dexter Wan (The Underdogs Team Captain), and Isaac Ng, Data Analytics (College Intern), working on their renewable energy project, 2018. — *Left to right:* *Diva Wong, Logistics* *(College Intern), SPC students Justin Lee and Dexter Wan (The Underdogs Team Captain), and* *Isaac Ng, Data Analytics* *(College Intern), working on their* *renewable energy* *project, 2018.*

SPC Student Day at Ocean Park

**A memorable celebration with Presidio Education® faculty and students in Hong Kong**

SPC students and faculty from Presidio Education® came together for a special appreciation day at Ocean Park, Hong Kong in 2018. Walking ahead, left to right: Ash Sze and Vincent Zee. Walking behind, left to right: Kenley Lou, Social Science Teacher, and Wayne Man, Math & Social Science Teacher.

This day marked a joyful moment of connection and celebration after weeks of hard work and innovation.

Bringing STEM to Life Through Sustainability Projects

How science, technology, and critical thinking power real-world impact

The Sustainability Project Competition (SPC) doesn’t just focus on environmental awareness — it integrates STEM principles to help students apply classroom knowledge to real-world sustainability challenges. Through research, data analysis, hypothesis testing, and problem-solving, students gain practical experience in how science and innovation can directly serve their communities.

This hands-on approach not only strengthens students’ academic skills, but also helps them discover how STEM can be used as a powerful tool for environmental and social change.

Meet Isaac Ng

***Former Presidio Education® College Intern,*** ***Sustainability Data Analytics***
Isaac Ng served as a **Sustainability Data Analytics Intern** at Presidio Education® in 2018. At the time, he was pursuing a degree in physics at a university in Hong Kong, where he explored complex topics like quantum mechanics and theoretical physics.
During his internship, Isaac played a key role in supporting student participants in our **Sustainability Project Competition (SPC)** by guiding them through data analysis, hypothesis development, and research methodology.
He encouraged students to approach complex problems with curiosity and resilience, often reminding them that mistakes are essential stepping stones in the learning process.

The Sustainability Project Competition (SPC) challenges high school students to create a practical solution to a sustainability problem in their respective communities. The SPC project requires participants to apply Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to develop innovative ideas into realistic solutions. Science is required to understand the underlying cause of a sustainability problem. Engineering and technology are useful to create a suitable solution for the given problem. Mathematics serve as the basis of the other STEM components to ensure precise calculations. The SPC is an opportunity for high school students to train their critical thinking skills and encourage teamwork.

A simple brainstorming example of mind mapping. Illustration by Isaac Ng, Data Analytics (College Intern), 2018. — *A simple brainstorming example of mind mapping. Illustration by* *Isaac Ng, Data Analytics* *(College Intern), 2018.*

Recording and documenting experimental procedures and results are vital for precise research. Illustration by Isaac Ng, Data Analytics (College Intern), 2018. — *Recording and documenting experimental procedures and results are vital for precise research. Illustration by* Isaac Ng, Data Analytics *(College Intern), 2018.*

Getting Started with Your SPC Project

Brainstorming Meaningful Ideas

Before beginning your Sustainability Project Competition (SPC) research, high school students should carefully review the list of approved sustainability subject categories. Choosing a topic that aligns with your interests or experiences will make the research process more meaningful and manageable.
Start by identifying real-world environmental or public health challenges within your local community. The best ideas often come from problems you've observed firsthand or feel personally connected to.
When researching, avoid using Wikipedia or general news sites as primary sources. While they may be good for initial background, they can lack credibility. Instead, gather accurate, peer-reviewed information from trusted sources like Google Scholar, academic journals, or your local library.
Be sure to record all sources using the correct citation format. Keeping detailed, properly formatted references throughout your project is essential for credibility and academic integrity.

Developing and Testing Your Hypothesis

From Hypothesis to Hands-On Testing

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or solution based on your background research. To be valid for your Sustainability Project Competition (SPC), your hypothesis must be testable through an experiment, model, or simulation.
A useful way to check if your hypothesis is feasible is to imagine presenting it as a proposal to a government agency or a global organization—would it stand up to real-world scrutiny?
Students should design an experiment, prototype, or model that directly tests their hypothesis. Once the testing is complete, carefully analyze and document the results.
If your findings do not support the original hypothesis, don’t worry—that's part of the scientific process. Revise your hypothesis and retest until the data supports your conclusion. This iterative process is how real-world solutions are developed.

Finalizing Your SPC Project

Crafting the Conclusion, Video, and Research Paper

After completing your experiment or simulation, it's time to draw conclusions and begin producing your final project materials: the sustainability video and the research paper.
Throughout your research process, keep detailed notes on your data, methodology, and results. These will form the foundation for both your paper and video.
Your research paper must include: 1) A clear conclusion based on your findings; 2) In-text citations to support your statements; and 3) A properly formatted reference list at the end
The accompanying video should closely mirror the content of your paper. Aim for clear, engaging narration, and if possible, record footage in real-time to highlight the sustainability issue in your community. This personalizes your project and enhances its impact.
Remember, academic integrity is essential. All sources must be cited, and all work must reflect your own effort and understanding.

Contact Our Sustainability Team