Chongqing The Eco-Friendly Innovation Competition, The Eco-Friendly Innovation Competition, Big Ideas, held as part of the 2023 BIEA Youth STEAM Competition, saw 1007 individuals and groups of primary and middle school pupils from 23 countries and regions create urban planning solutions themed on "Sustainable Living in an Ecological City.", with a special focus on Chongqing, has reached a successful conclusion. 

The Chinese participants took a group photo with their teachers and parents. (Photo/Wang Yiling)

Hosted by the Chongqing International Communication Center, in collaboration with the private STEAM academy New Thinking School, young students from China, the UK, the USA, France, Nigeria, UAE, South Africa, Australia, and Panama were encouraged to focus on the three main areas of transportation, buildings, and city ecology, identify existing problems, and then put forward solutions to overcome challenges in sustainable development based on innovative technology and scientific methods.

This competition has received significant attention from media organizations worldwide, including British newspapers such as The Sun, Daily Express, Daily Mail, and The Mirror, who have published articles on the event and mentioned Chongqing's efforts in environmental protection.

Entrants focus on the issues of urban congestion, emissions produced by air-conditioning units in summer, and the phenomenon of overcrowding over peak travel seasons, making valuable and feasible policy suggestions for green development. These works closely correlated with guiding thoughts on accelerating the construction of a circular economic system based on low carbon.

The British designer and founder of Studio Kettle, Alexander Jones, was invited to address the ceremony by video call, where he expressed his praise for the competition and shared his unique insight towards green innovative development.

Special Guest Alexander Jones delivered the speech by video. (Photo/Wang Yiling)

During the live award ceremony held through an internet link-up between Chongqing and London, leaders, guests, and competition winners had the opportunity to address the audience and share their ideas and sources of inspiration.

“Chongqing is in the process of swift development from which ever more ideas and products are emerging. We can make the world more beautiful if we incorporate sustainable concepts into design and production.” Alexander commented.

Single Entry Winner, Philippine Chartier Teurquetil from France, appeared online to introduce her blueprints for future urban transportation in response to road traffic problems experienced in Chongqing. Following her presentation, the group entry winner of Ashford School in the UK, led by their Head of Biology, Mrs Claire Miller, described their suggestions for developing Chongqing’s ecological living environment.

Single Entry Winner Philippine Chartier Teurquetil from Paris, France, shared her work online. (Photo/Wang Yiling)

Seven teams from Chongqing participated in the competition, two of which excelled to claim a team winner’s prize. These two groups focused on emissions from traffic congestion and the worsening issue of overcrowding in tourist areas over peak times. Members performed insightful analyses and used their unique perspectives to create detailed solutions for sustainable development in Chongqing, earning praise from experts at home and abroad.

The winning team from Ashford School, the UK, shared their work. (Photo/Wang Yiling)

Solutions included the promotion of carpooling, intelligent management systems to optimize traffic flow, and a design infrastructure platform to diversify travel options.

In the case of tourist overcrowding, innovative suggestions included smart management systems to collect real-time flow data and apply predictive solutions accordingly to divert the flow of people and enhance the monitoring of environmental impacts.

Chongqing student Zhang Xinyu, the representative of the winning team, delivered an acceptance speech. (Photo/Wang Yiling)

Finally, participation awards were presented to groups from Chongqing headed by Guo Chenlin, Si Ruolin, Yang Ziyan, and Fu Pengxi. Among the entries they introduced in the ceremony, solutions were described that could resolve the issue of light pollution that typically comes hand-in-hand with urban development. “My wish is to see truly starry skies in the city of Chongqing, just like I experienced during a trip to Simian Mountain.” One of the award winners stated.

Catherine Chen, Deputy Director of the Chongqing International Communication Center, offered strong praise for the team entrants during an award ceremony speech as she reviewed the competition and expressed her wish that the students be able to maintain their innovative spirit and contribute to green development worldwide in the future.

BIEA has presented a valuable opportunity for young generations to display their abilities and creativity and compete with their global contemporaries. This experience has widened their international field of vision, enhanced their scientific qualities, and will enable them to make innovative contributions toward future urban planning, building a common destiny for humankind, and achieving harmonious coexistence with nature.