Winning Student Teams Awarded Funds to Help Protect Biodiversity

Washington, DC (May 25, 2023) EarthEcho International, the global nonprofit dedicated to building a youth movement to protect and restore our ocean planet, today announced the U.S. and U.K. student-led teams selected as the Grand Prize winners of the OurEcho Challenge.  The winning teams were part of an innovation competition designed to engage young problem solvers in protecting the diversity of species and ecosystems that make life on earth possible. The competition is made possible through the support of Aramco.

“The 2023 OurEcho Challenge grand prize winners impressed our judges with their in-depth knowledge of local biodiversity issues and their vision in developing viable solutions tailored to their communities,” said EarthEcho founder Philippe Cousteau, Jr. “We congratulate all of the finalist teams who participated in the Challenge and we know their passion and dedication will inspire others to take action for a sustainable future for all.”

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‍U.S. Winning Teams

● $5,000 Grand Prize Winner - Team Pono Popoki Project, Le Jardin Academy, Kailua, Hawai’i

● $2,500 Grand Prize Winner - Team Nocturnal Natives, West Jessamine High School, Nicholasville, Kentucky

● $1,000 Grand Prize Winner - Team Fungi Frogs, Innovation Center, Longmont, Colorado

● People's Choice Award - Team Pono Popoki Project, Le Jardin Academy, Kailua, Hawai’i

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‍U.K. Winning Teams

● £5,000 Grand Prize Winner - Team Falinge, Falinge Park High School, Rochdale, Lancashire

● £2,500 Grand Prize Winner - Team Bio Hazard, Reading School, Reading, Berkshire

● £1,000 Grand Prize Winner - Team TA SREWS, The Thomas Aveling School, Rochester, Kent

● People's Choice Award - Team Bio Hazard, Reading School, Reading, Berkshire

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For more information about the teams and their projects, please go to https://www.ourechochallenge.org.

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The grand prize winning teams were selected after presenting their projects virtually to a panel of expert judges and with the public virtually on May 25th during a Facebook live stream event. A panel of judges - comprised of youth, environmental and corporate leaders, engineers, scientists, and educators - reviewed presentations from the finalist teams and selected the grand prize winners based on their projects' vision, scientific rigor, feasibility, and the teams' pitch.

The public voted for their favorite team projects during this year’s People’s Choice Awards learning more about each project from their Finalist videos.

The OurEcho Challenge equips U.S. and UK students, guided by an educator or mentor, to tackle the decline in biodiversity by identifying threats and proposing solutions to protect natural resources in their communities. For more information and updates about the OurEcho Challenge, visit www.OurEchoChallenge.org.

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For more information and updates about the OurEchoChallenge, visit www.OurEchoChallenge.org or  follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthecho

Twitter: www.twitter.com/earthecho and Instagram: www.instagram.com/earthecho/.

For more information about EarthEcho International, visit www.earthecho.org.

For more information about program sponsor Aramco, visit www.aramco.com.  

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Media Contact – US

Bryan Hughes

bryan@punchpointgroup.com

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Media Contact – UK

Jane Henry

jane@marylebonemarketing.com

M: +44 789 666 8155