Beamlak Petros, a student of the class of ’26, emerged as the winner of the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge Campus Finals on March 1, 2024. Her innovative project, Waste Compo, won her a $16,000 prize and victory in the undergraduate track. Petros’ project addresses the problem of waste management by turning food waste into organic fertilizers, aiming to mitigate hunger and fertilizer scarcity in Ethiopia.
Waste Compo collects waste from households, and transforms them into a resource for crop cultivation. This initiative not only deals with waste management but also promotes sustainable agriculture and nutrition security. The potential impact of Waste Compo involves reviving soil fertility, reducing the financial strain on farmers, and making food more accessible. Petros’ model, if scaled, could significantly contribute to resolving Ethiopia’s environmental and food challenges.
Winning this competition not only accelerates the implementation of Waste Compo, but boosts Petros’ public speaking and concept articulation abilities, thereby expanding her opportunities for growth and collaboration in the field. The honed communication skills will allow better expression of complex ideas and a promising position in team environments and interactions with potential stakeholders.
Petros, alongside second-place winner Maria Magambo, will be presenting their business ideas at the University of San Diego in June. Their participation is made possible by the financial support of the CEO of Liquid Investments Inc., a sponsor of the Fowler GSIC. This event provides an impressive platform for sharing innovative concepts with a broader audience and emphasises the importance of industry support for fostering new talent and innovation.
A parallel award-winning project, Safe 6, conceived by healthcare MBA students to improve safety for people with cystic fibrosis, has received $10,000 from various contests. These funds will help further develop the product which has been recognized for its innovative approach to increasing safety measures for individuals diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Danielle Campeau, Associate Dean, commended the students’ courage and willingness to share their innovative ideas in such a competitive environment. She expressed a deep admiration of their determination and resilience, and stated that these competitions are about more than winning – they also enhance the ability to think critically and creatively. Campeau reassured students that their endeavours are truly valuable contributions to both the academic community and society at large.
