The 2023-2024 World of 8 Billion student video contest is now closed. Winners will be announced on May 21, 2024!

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2017-2018 Winners

2017-2018 Winners

The World of 8 Billion contest is a project of the Population Education program, provider of K-12 classroom resources and professional development opportunities. The contest is run every school year. Click on a topic below to view the winning videos.

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Thank you to all the teachers and students who participated in the 2017-2018 World of 7 Billion student video contest. We were blown away by the creativity, passion, and expertise showcased throughout the videos, especially by the 18 winning films.

The contest first ran during the 2010-2011 school year as a “teachable moment” around world population reaching 7 billion. 619 videos were received from 36 U.S. states and four countries abroad in that first year and it was meant to be a one-time event. But we received such positive feedback from teachers – many wanted to participate again and make the contest a permanent project in their courses – that we decided to make the contest an annual event.

Now in its 7th year, nearly 11,000 student-made videos on the impacts of population have been created as a direct result of the contest. Thousands of students are now more aware of the vast connections between population and so many of today’s pressing global challenges.

We look forward to continuing the contest into the future and watching as more students explore the complexities of population growth through film.

View 2017-2018 Infographic

Contest Judges

Ali Mohamed Abbas Ahmed

Secretary General, Sudanese Population Network

Mary Barbara Alexander

Actress/Activist/Farmer, Former Board Member of Population Connection

Benjamin Alexandro

Water Policy Advocate, Maryland League of Conservation Voters

Sandeep Bathala

Executive Director, Edna Adan Hospital Foundation

Ginny Beauregard

Environmental Educator, Cranbrook Institute of Science, Population Connection, Project Wet

Colleen Beck

CEO, Seed Aquaponics, LLC

Jillian Bieber

Instructional Specialist, School District of Manatee County

Dr. Leslie Rebecca Bloom

Professor, Roosevelt University

Gretchen Borchelt

Vice President for Reproductive Rights and Health, National Women's Law Center

Emily Bove

Executive Director, Women Thrive Alliance

Rebecca Bratter

Executive Director, US Dry Bean Council

Hartwell Carson

French Broad Riverkeeper, MountainTrue

Donna Chapa

Earth Science and Physical Science Teacher, Princess Anne Middle School

Terri Clark

Education Specialist, Chattanooga Zoo

Diana Cole

High School Science Teacher, Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School

Angelina Collazo

Director, Programs, Teach For America

Katie Crossman

Project Manager, Global Cities, The Nature Conservancy

Charles Dabritz

Teacher-Librarian, Lyman C. Hunt Middle School

Lauren D'Ambrosio

High School Science Teacher, University High School

Denis Dean

Nature Educator, Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists

Ranae DeSantis

Board of Directors, Acterra and Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

Dr. Anushka Drescher

Environmental Activist and Youth Educator, Transition Earth

Robert Engelman

Senior Fellow, Worldwatch and Population Institutes

Dr. Karen N. Evans

Assistant Chair for Teacher Education and Educational Leadership, University of West Florida

Dr. James Gerber

Co-Director, Global Landscapes Initiative, University of Minnesota

Lauren Gerig

Doctoral Candidate, Mills College

Stacy Graison

Director of Education, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Chris Heltne

VP of Engagement, E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation

Steve Hollingworth

President, Grameen Foundation

Dr. Eric Holt-Gimenez

Executive Director, Institute for Food and Development Policy-Food First

Joan Hourican

Education Consultant

Cynthia Hubach

Sustainability Consultant, Hubach and Associates

Carl Hutzler

IT Professional, Photographer, CDH Creative

Joyce Johnson

Producer of Mother: Caring for 7 Billion, Tiroir A Films Productions

Sharon Kinsey

Camden County 4-H Agent/Associate Professor, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Rutgers University

Michella Kippes

Gateway to Technology Teacher, Hughes Academy

Kelly Korenak

Teacher, Curriculum Developer, Northshore Community College

Ryan Kuck

Executive Director, Greensgrow

Dr. Joan Kwako

Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth

Carrianne B. McClellan

Media Coordinator, Cumberland County Schools

Nancy Milizia

Retired, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics

Laura S. Minor

Adjunct Faculty Member, Masters in Public Health Program, University of Connecticut

Alice P. Neuhauser

FIlm Executive, Complete Rights Management

Hannah O'Malley

Education Coordinator, Disney's Animals, Science and Environment

Diana L. Payne, Ph.D.

Education Coordinator, University of Connecticut/Connecticut Sea Grant

Clovis C. Perry, Jr.

Associate Professor, Bluegrass Community and Technical College

David Phillips

Executive Director, Earth Island Institute

Fraidy Reiss

Founder/Executive Director, Unchained At Last

Kathleen Rocco

Education Specialist, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District

Ms. Karen Roos

Environmental Educator, Greenbelt Conservancy

Dr. DawnElla M. Rust

Health Science Professor, Stephen F. Austin State University

Kisha Semenuk, MSN, RN

Nurse Patient Safety Specialist, Nurse Advocate

Jeremy Sherer

Filmmaker, Parallel 40 Productions

Sonya Stejskal

Adjunct Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Past President of the Nebraska State Council for Social Studies

Dr. Glenn Stone

Professor of Anthropology and Environmental Studies, Washington University in St. Louis

Emilee Syrewicze

Executive Director, Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation

Andrew Tran

Middle School Science, Science Department Chair, McLean School of Maryland

Dr. Janet Vail

Research Scientist, Grand Valley State University Annis Water Resources Institute

Dr. Rob Vos

Director Markets, Trade and Institutions, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Mr. H.Keli Wambua

Program Coordinator, Pambazuko Partners

Ed Wilcox

Watershed Research and Extension Associate, Kentucky State University
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