Youth Taking Action: A 15 Year Old Invents the Future

categories: Competitions and Fellowships, innovation, Technology, Young Leaders

Published June 03, 2009 @ 07:22AM PT

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At the tender age of 9, Javier Fernández-Han found his calling: design for the other 90 percent - help the world's poor meet their basic needs sustainably.

Several years of research and design have led to an innovative solution: The VERSATILE System - a mashup of new and adapted technology that treats waste, produces methane and bio-oil as fuel, produces food for humans and livestock, sequesters greenhouse gases, and produces oxygen.

What drives this complete energy resource system? Algae - the little organism that could.

For his work, Javier, 15, won the top prize in this year's Invent Your World Challenge, sponsored by Ashoka's Youth Venture and the Lemelson Foundation.

We spoke to Javier about the VERSATILE System and the need for holistic thinking in the invention sector.

1. If your invention - VERSATILE System - is the answer, what is the question?

What system can improve the quality of life in a village by providing the basic necessities of food, sanitation, energy-fuel, and income in an environmentally sustainable and technologically appropriate fashion?

2. So how does VERSATILE System answer the question? What does it do?

The innovative VERSATILE System answers the question by tightly knitting together a dozen existing and new technologies to meet food, sanitation, energy, income and environmental needs (in a way that's affordable to the world's 90% of the world).

At the heart of this efficient system - the secret ingredient - is algae... salt-water loving algae powered by the sun.

Elegant interconnectedness makes the VERSATILE system unique. Waste from one part of system is nourishment for another, making the system extremely efficient. The VERSATILE system consists of six subsystems:

Anaerobic digester (AD) - converts food scraps and sewage into "clean" products

Bio-gas upgrader - takes harmful gases from digester and treats them, turns them into fuel and nourishment for algae

Vented methane burning stoves - burns methane without polluting, resulting carbon dioxide is captured

Algae bioreactors - use sunlight, saltwater, carbon dioxide and nutrients from digester to produce oxygen and algae biomass, which can be used as food for livestock and people

Flush latrines

PlayPump - turns human energy (from children playing) into stored energy that can be used to power VERSATILE system and other electronic devices

Click on presentation for details of the system.

Versatile System

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The VERSATILE system is also a source of income. Algae biomass can be processed into livestock and aquaculture feed, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products (DHA, omega-3s, etc). Extra methane and algae oil (SVO) produced by the AD can be stored and sold as fuel or to a refinery for processing. Finally, carbon credits can be sold to factories.

All parts of the VERSATILE system are modular. This allows the system to be highly customized to meet the needs of the owner(s).

3. Most inventions aim to do one thing well. You chose to multitask. Why is it important to link the different processes into one system?

By interconnecting the 12 technologies in the 6 subsystems the VERSATILE system provides a complete solution in a practically waste free manner. As much as possible, waste created by one part is used as nourishment and fuel for another. An invention that is narrowly focused on solving a single problem often inadvertently creates more problems because nature is highly complex and interconnected.

A single invention rarely solves an entire problem. Often we only see a small part of a larger problem without seeing the connections between the many parts. If we focus on only one small part of a complex interconnected system we may not understand the full extent of our impact on the rest of the system.

4. What does this type of holistic thinking mean for today's inventors?

Holistic thinking means that today's inventor's need to think broadly about the problems they attempt to solve. Technology is often only a small part of an entire solution. To fully address an issue, inventors need to also consider cultural, religious, political, economic and environmental implications.

For example, there is a village named Djenne in the African country of Chad. Not long ago Djenne had no running water. A group of engineers learned about the village's lack of running water and installed an entire system that provided the homes with running water. At first, the project seemed like a complete success. Then the project became an environmental and sanitation disaster. The problem was that the village had no sewage system. When there was no running water, each family's sewage and dirty water was simply collected in a bucket which was emptied at the end of each day. But when water became readily available, the villagers began using much more of it and quickly overwhelmed their bucket system of sewage removal. As a result, dangerous open sewage flowed into the streets and caused a major sanitation hazard.

5. If we were to set up VERSATILE System in an African or Indian village tomorrow, what changes are we likely to see in the village in a year's time?

Less coughing due to drastic reduction of air pollution thanks to replacement of wood burning stoves with cleaner burning stoves that use methane. Villagers enjoy better health.

Less time spent foraging for wood as fuel thanks to methane produced by VERSATILE. Children have more time available for studying because they don't need to forage for wood as fuel. Children gain education.

Electricity generated by Playpump powers LED lights at night, allowing people to work and read at night. Villagers can be more productive.

A medical diagnostics company has shown interest in buying bulk algae-biomass from the village for processing into pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products (e.g. Phycobiliproteins which have market value of up to $10,000 per kg).

More villagers can afford to raise goats, pigs, and fish due to availability of algae as livestock and fish feed. Villagers enjoy better nutrition and gain income from sale of livestock.

Villagers no longer have to buy tanks of methane or propane for use in lighting, heating, and cooking thanks to the methane produced by VERSATILE. Villagers sell excess methane for income.

Villagers use the algae oil produced by VERSATILE to power a variety of labor-saving machines (flour mill, corn husker, water pump, etc.) that can use straight vegetable oil (SVO) as fuel. Villagers sell excess SVO for income.

Villagers negotiating to sell carbon credits due to VERSATILE's greenhouse gas sequestering capabilities.

6. Do you foresee your invention/innovation being scaled up to serve larger communities or cities, what might that look like?

Due to the VERSATILE system's innovative modular design, it can easily be scaled up or down to serve communities with populations ranging anywhere from 100 to 200,000+ people. A village simply adds additional modules as their population grows. Another benefit of having a modular system is that a village can build or buy the stock VERSATILE system and add extra components one at a time as they can afford them. This way, they do not have to buy an entire new system at once or obtain a costly high interest loan.

The VERSATILE system can also be installed nearly anywhere with a warm climate, including deserts irrigated by saltwater, and even in submarines and cruise ships. All that you might have to change is the algae. There are literally thousands of algae strains - some are better suited for certain conditions and functions than others.

The VERSATILE system can also be scaled down in size. I am currently developing a family-sized VERSATILE system for developed countries. It is the same concept as the VERSATILE system 2.0, just scaled down to fit the size limitations of a small house or apartment and with an estimated cost of $300.

We are at the dawn of the algae era.

I envision my grandchildren asking me in amazement one day as we tour the Boston Museum of Science:

"Granddad, was there really a time when the versatility of algae was not harnessed but rather algae was treated as pond-scum... a nuisance?"

Get to know other young social entrepreneurs by reading their stories and seeing videos of them in action at http://genvcampaigns.org/

If you are a young person between the ages of 12-20 and want to create positive change in your community join the global movement of young changemakers at http://genv.net/

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Comments (22)

The beauty of this mode of thinking is the creative synergy that is literally and figuratively cultivated when you see a problem in a holistic manner. Very enlightened. We're looking forward to your next breakthrough.

Posted by William Fernandez on 06/03/2009 @ 05:50PM PT
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I can't wait to see how this VERSATILE System performs once it's deployed.
Keep up the good work.
You're an inspiration!

Posted by Charles Tsai on 06/03/2009 @ 09:39PM PT
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Brilliant!! It is encouraging to know that there are young people who can see the larger picture!

Posted by Neal Camp on 06/08/2009 @ 01:47AM PT
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This is amazing. I'd love to interview this inspiring inventor for The Happy Headlines. Now to find him! We are at a wonderful point in history where we actually pay attention to the kids!

Posted by Dawn Peacock Owens on 06/08/2009 @ 06:43AM PT
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You can reach Javier by sending an email to info [AT] genvcampaigns.org

Posted by Charles Tsai on 06/08/2009 @ 05:13PM PT
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Thanks much! Will do that!!!

Posted by Dawn Peacock Owens on 06/08/2009 @ 07:34PM PT
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How cool and brilliant is that?! This kid is changing the world at 15 years-old!!! I'd love to hear how this goes, and if I have a chance, help implement VERSATILE in my area. Very inspirational!!!

Posted by Olga Legoshina on 06/08/2009 @ 07:38AM PT
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I would love to know how i can get on a list of people who want to buy plans or product when the design for individuals or small organizations becomes available. I have a property with housing for 4 families and a community building that hold events and activities for the local community, and we are trying to make it completely self sustaining, and this would be just what we are looking for! http://www.creeksidecenter.org

Posted by Victoria Odhner on 06/10/2009 @ 01:15PM PT
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I will notify you when I have finalized the blueprints and have a working prototype.

Javier Fernández-Han

Posted by Javier Fernández-... on 08/06/2009 @ 09:21PM PT
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Please add my name to your list of those interested in family/small apartment plans/documents.

Thank you. Wonderful job!

Posted by Neil Buschmann on 08/18/2009 @ 12:37PM PT
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Excellent work Javier!! Keep up the good work and a sincere thank you for your contribution to society!

Posted by Sharif Ibrahim on 06/11/2009 @ 09:04AM PT
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I love you, Javier.

You're an example to everyone.

Posted by Camila van Wuijckhuijse on 06/20/2009 @ 04:35AM PT
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Thank God for Javier for that inspires us all.

You remind us all about the beauty of holistic thinking in building sustainable societies.

Posted by mercy mwaura on 06/20/2009 @ 05:41AM PT
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Javier, creative minds like yours give me so much hope for the future of our world. Thank you for having the creativity to think in this way!

Posted by karin parramore on 06/20/2009 @ 07:26AM PT
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i want to be a permanent member

Posted by SAA FILLIE on 06/20/2009 @ 04:57PM PT
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what a delight! To see a young man develop a healthy system for financially less powerful people and give them a chance to improve their life in an evironmentally safe way motivates me to say - Javier, use your intuition and keep creating!

Posted by Veronika Thananan on 06/20/2009 @ 11:06PM PT
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Great, Javier and would like to have the details of the home installation.

You are an example of what the younger generation can do.

Posted by Mohandoss T on 06/22/2009 @ 02:36AM PT
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I was a student of Dr. Christopher Hills, who brought Chlorella and Spirulina to the market in the US in the form of supplements, with the company Light Force. He showed how growing algae for food can replace the oxygen that the earth's atmosphere has lost due to the destruction of the rain forests. Certain types of algae are actually a complete food. The other practical applications just show how beautiful this basic food and energy source is. It can be the solution to many problems. Thanks to the Goddess for this new generation of prodigies with HEART!!

Posted by Natalie Mannering on 06/23/2009 @ 12:20PM PT
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Would this system need a certain temperature range to work? In addition to third world nations, this would be a godsend to remote Alaskan villages with no infrastructure who have to pay a high price for fuel to be shipped in. Many Alaskan children miss school because they get sick from the waste in their area.

Posted by E B on 06/25/2009 @ 02:32PM PT
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To Javier, and all the youth of the world, keep up the good work. As inspiration, please note that most independent patents issued in America go to people younger than 27 or those over 50. That is because our youth don't believe us when we say it can't be done and after 50 we say we just have to do it anyway. Go Javier (and all your fellow youth) Go.

Posted by jim crowell on 06/29/2009 @ 10:45AM PT
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Be careful: this should not be an excuse to relax about all the damaging and harmful things we are doing to the environment like pollution, logging, waste, producing green-house gases, habitat-destruction, ecocide etc. They will still have to be fiercely addressed, algae alone are certainly not an all-encompassing solution that will miracuously solve our problems.

Otherwise this can turn into the continuously reocurring tendency in humans to look for an "easy" way out, the principle of least effort, and be able to continue having their lifestyle while ignoring the larger and in the long-term more solid, yet more painstaking necessary group of actions:

Change the way society lives on this planet through each and every one of us.

Posted by F. Parra on 06/30/2009 @ 01:10PM PT
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Thank you everyone for your support!

- Javier Fernández-Han, (inventor of the VERSATILE system)

Posted by Javier Fernández-... on 08/06/2009 @ 09:17PM PT
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Author

James works for Ashoka's Youth Venture on several campaigns, which provide some pretty amazing opportunities for young social entrepreneurs to advance their ideas and receive support to help them get their ideas and projects off the ground. Previously he has worked on development projects in Latin America in a variety of areas, including education and disaster response.