Young Scientist Award: Improving Environmental Impact of Energy Usage

R$150 thousand (around US$90.000) are destined to the 24º Young Scientist Award promoted by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil (CNPq / MCT), the company Gerdau and the Roberto Marinho Foundation (FRM). This is a pretty pathetic prize for both, the company and the foundation in question, because Gerdau is one of the top mineral extract (iron and other metals) companies in the World and FRM owns the 5th biggest television company in the World, Globo. I think they just need to do something with the billions they make so they can justify not paying taxes (or at least all of it).

Nonetheless it is something worthy to tell to my avid readers. The focus of this initiative this year (2010) is to challenge the junior scientists to reduce the environmental impacts caused by energy consumption. There are several categories that students can fit on and that makes this project interesting: young entrepreneurs with ideas to change the World (for a better one). This is the best outcome of this project, not the money, and that is why it is in its 24th edition.

I hope someone gives an idea that really help and that one of these companies assume the responsibility to execute it, going a bit further than just opening a public challenge with their spare change.