Do you want to make the world a better place in 2020?
Technology has a big part to play in shaping the planet, but we still need people like you to come up with world-saving ideas. Whether you are an electronics novice, a university student or a veteran tinkerer, we all have a part to play in making our environment healthier and happier. Almost certainly, some will make bigger contributions than others. But real progress takes everyone pushing towards the same goal.
In this blog post we have detailed five simple ways that everyone can get involved in improving the world.
Beginner: Talk to your plants with this beginner-friendly moisture sensor
Indoor plant sales are booming as more and more people look to create their own urban jungles.
Experts also think that millennials are interested in house plants because it gives them something to ‘love and nurture’. Unfortunately, if those millennials are anything like me, they will soon realise that they haven’t watered their once-dear plants in several weeks (thank god for my cacti). If you ever wished that your plants could tell you when they needed watering, then look no further.
This moisture sensing robot – built using a beginner-friendly BBC micro: bit – is perfect for finding out if your plants are happy or sad.
Beginner: Attract the right kind of garden visitors with this remote-controlled bird feeder
Most people will only make a small impact on the environment as a whole. But, as individuals, we can have a huge effect on our local, immediate environment. Whether it’s planting trees down the block, campaigning for a cycle lane in your area or creating a safe space insects and other animals – if we all tried to make a small patch slightly more enjoyable the overall effect would be huge. This project lets you promote some much needed wildlife and biodiversity using little more than a bottle of Pepsi and a bag full of nuts (the edible kind).
It’s a remote-controlled bird feeder that uses a BBC micro: bit and a servo motor to attract woodland critters while keeping pesky squirrels and pigeons at bay.
Intermediate: Recycle your old electronics into something useful
Electronics waste is a very real and growing problem with 1.4 million tonnes sent to landfill every year in the UK. Most of the time, these binned products still work, they are just inefficient or unfashionable compared to the latest releases (think how many poor iPhone’s must get chucked when a new model lands). Fortunately, tinkerers have made all sorts of fantastic projects from products that would have otherwise ended up on the scrap heap. You can find some recycled electronics on Hackster or, if you think you know what you are doing, why not just head down to your local recycling centre and see what you can make from someone else’s junk.
Looking for an up-cycling project to do with your kids? Check out these resources from Science Buddies.
Intermediate: Build a Raspberry Pi-controlled greenhouse
Are you green fingered? Ever wanted to learn how to code systems the easy way? Maybe you are already a Raspberry Pi enthusiast, or perhaps you’re just too lazy to look after your grandma’s greenhouse. If any of these apply, then this project could be right up your alley. This smart greenhouse system will control your glass house using a Raspberry Pi mini-computer as well as a bunch of sensors and a solar panel to power everything. Although it might sound daunting there’s nothing overly complicated about this project. Raspberry Pi’s are suitable for people of all ages and abilities and it is a great way to get started in the world of programming and electronics.
Expert: Solar panel projects to help change the world
Solar panel technology keeps getting more efficient. And solar panels are likely to keep getting better for many years to come. If you are a relative beginner with electronic projects, then you can buy small solar panels to power electronic circuits. But if you are an aspirational engineering student then it is no exaggeration to say that your designs could end up changing the world.