"What does the future need?"
Winning solutions

Tanya Thakur's insightful solution "Knowledge is Key" has won her the top $2000 tuition award. Tanya is currently a grade 11 student at Abbotsford Collegiate and hopes to pursue post secondary studies in Business Administration.

Knowledge is Key... (more)

The future requires our generation to be educated in a way which prepares us to tackle the complex problems facing the world today. The leaps made by humanity through science and technology in the 21st Century are coupled with an influx of serious issues, such as Climate Change and the current economic crisis. There is the threat to International Security that is caused by the unstable Middle-East, the hunger and suffering in Africa, and the growing cases of natural disasters (earthquake in Haiti, and South America) Yet, humanity has always shown a remarkable ability to emerge stronger after faced by terrible hardships; an example is that after World War II, the world became more inter-connected with the creation of the UN. By using the tools provided by universities such as SFU, I believe that we can equip ourselves with the necessary knowledge to face these issues. By educating ourselves through International Studies, we can get a deeper understanding of the modern world and learn the diplomatic techniques that would be necessary to preserve peace and international security in the future. Through the study of Political Science, we can broaden our knowledge of the governing structures of the world and how best to operate them so that democracy prevails. Studying Human Geography would aid in enforcing policies that are good for the environment and the society. In conclusion, having a broader knowledge of the international issues facing the world would aid our generation in acquiring positions that would be instrumental in shaping a better future.

Richard Wong's solution, "What's Mine is Yours" received the highest number of votes from all visitors to the website. Richard is the successful recipient of the Toshiba Satellite 15.6" notebook. Richard is graduating from Templeton Secondary and will be pursuing post secondary studies in Business Administration at Simon Fraser University.

What's mine is yours... (more)

As I see it, the answer is simple. We need a future with more change agents; people who are willing to speak up, take initiative, and try their hardest to make a positive change in the world that we live in.

Sure, one can suggest that racism SHOULD be abolished; that clean drinking water SHOULD be provided to all; and that we SHOULD protect the environment we live in. But how will we achieve these "should's" and find change in our world, if no one sparks the issue and is willing to work towards fixing it?

Where would the African-American civil rights movement be without the efforts of Rosa Parks'? Where would cancer research be today without the efforts of Terry Fox?

In their SFU solutions, students speak of better education' of protecting the environment and eradicating poverty even, but those are only WORDS until someone is willing to put them into ACTION and think of ways to achieve a goal.
That is why the future needs change agents. By teaching others about a current issue (Education), voicing our concerns to the people around us and to governmental and lobbyist groups who can make a difference (Communication), and promoting events and methods that can bring us closer towards reaching a goal (Marketing - whether it be ways to reduce CO2 emissions, fundraising for cancer research, teaching folks about the negative effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), or more), we can be the change that brings all these SFU solutions to life.

Joy Qiaoyi Wang’s solution:

Overpopulation and its Relation to Geography... (more)

Our society today, is undergoing mass increase in the human population. A way to keep the human population under control could relate to Human Geography and how certain areas of the earth can accumulate or create vast amounts of population while discovering the reason why some areas deprive of population. With human geography, students can learn how to make some areas more livable in order to permeate population throughout the planet, thus allowing our resources on earth to be enough for the future.

Furthermore, Sustainable Community Development can as well demonstrate how the this mass increase can be subdued regarding information about communities and its role in society. The future needs more people who can estimate the overall ramification of overpopulation and how to control it. Without these people, overpopulation can cause an increase in worldwide hunger, decrease in health, and much more devastating debacles.

Evidently, students need to learn the importance of these programs and how they can benefit our lives as we speak and our lives later on. Without the education these programs can provide, we simply cannot act to support our lives, our planet, our world. In reality, geography and community sustainability plays a big part in our lives. Without it, where would we be?

Herman Ng’s solution:

Enhanced educations leads to a better future... (more)

As the past two years has passed the economy has been sloping down to a down state recession, which shows a dramatic decrease in GDP, and overall income within a country. What does our future need? its simple, we need a better international global education for orphans, young children of all ages or even adults. With a stronger global education provided by the government to people of all ages, we are able to raise our literacy rate. As a result of this, we are able to diminish the unemployment rate to a minimum amount, and raise the standard of living. Technological advances, as well as environmental issues would be greatly pursued, with education at hands; people have a better understanding, of what is happening in the world and take into closer consideration with the different issues at hand. More income, means more money and more money leads to greater satisfaction of our different self interests. Providing and education means providing each and everyone with a hope, dream and a future to look forward to.

Stergios Darntanis’ solution:

Exploring the Human Mind... (more)

The studies of Criminology, Psychology, and Sociology all play an integral role in determining how human beings are being shaped into the unique individuals they are today. By analyzing living conditions, family dynamics (sociology), different areas and functions of the brain, and the way in which the mind works (psychology), we can further progress in linking solutions (as well as solving the origins) to the daunting reality of the high crime rates in our society, and also steering troubled individuals away from a dangerous lifestyle and towards better alternatives.

Lisa Go’s solution:

Water the cause of the next world war... (more)

In the Future, clean water should be accessible to everyone in the world. Fresh, clean water is a necessity of life and should not be seen as something only available to the wealthy and fortunate. It is important that Wealthier countries who have possession of the world's largest supplies of fresh, clean water share it with the rest of the world who are dying of diseases caused by unfiltered water. It is also important to realize that bottled water just inflames the fight over water which should be free and readily available to all citizens of the world, not monopolized for profit and capitalism. What most people don't realize is that most bottled water is actually from the tap which thus charges you for something that you are fortunate enough to have for free, something that not everyone is privileged to have. Next time you're thirsty and need a drink of water, think about how fortunate you are to have a sufficient supply of clean drinking water, as well as donating to an organization like Red Cross to build wells in less fortunate countries thus making the necessity of water available to everybody.

Derek Yip’s solution:

Creative Leadership!!! (more)

Whether it is poverty, economic depression, or global warming, the traits of creativity and leadership would yield as the ultimate combination in resolving worldwide issues. We need individuals who can drive others in their visions of change. Whatever predicament that seems to be those creative leaders would navigate us and face the challenge of venturing into the unknown and unexplored. We need those who can progress us through alternate routes to our destination; a journey of uncovering infinite possibilities for new ideas, expressions and hope.

We are the next generation and we need to be those creative leaders.

“Together we stand, united we conquer”