World:
2015-2016 Winners
The World of 7 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.
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Contest Judges
| Mary Barbara Alexander | Actress, Farmer, Activist, former board member of Population Connection |
| Denise R. Ames | Founder and President, Center for Global Awareness |
| Ellen Barnard | Executive Producer, Tomorrow Pictures Inc. |
| Ginny Beauregard | Film Producer/Environmental Educator, Independent |
| Caroline Bednarz | AP Human Geography Teacher, McKinley Technology High School, DC |
| Liam Billingham | Filmmaker, liambillingham.com, BRICArtsMedia |
| Joseph Bish | Director of Issue Advocacy, Population Media Center |
| Dr. Kate Brauman | Lead Scientist, Global Water Initiative, Institute on the Environment, Universitiy of Minnesota |
| Kate Campbell | Reproductive Health Fellow, Population Services International |
| Hartwell Carson | French Broad Riverkeeper, MountainTrue |
| Terri Clark | Community Resource Manager, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens |
| Diana Cole | Science Teacher, Population Education Trainer, Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School, Harrisburg PA |
| Dr. Ken Conca | Professor, School of International Service, American University |
| Sean Connor | Director, Community Relations, Saylor Foundation |
| Chris Day | Head of Corporate Communications, United Talent Agency |
| Sahan T. M. Dissanayake | Assistant Professor of Economics, Colby College |
| Dr. Paula Ehrlich | President & CEO, E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation |
| Pri Ekanayake | Former Population Education Fellow, |
| Eva El-Khatib | Science Department Chair, McLean School |
| Jim Foster | President, Anacostia Watershed Society |
| Dr. James Gerber | Co-director, Lead Scientist, Global Landscapes Initiative, University of Minnesota |
| Allie Goldstein | Senior Associate, Forest Trends |
| Dr. April Haight | Director, Center for Environmental Education, Morehead State University |
| Joan Hourican | Elementary School Teacher and Education Consultant, Lake Clarke Shores, FL |
| Cyndi Hubach | Writer/Producer, Sustainability Consultant, |
| Forest Isbell | Associate Director, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, University of Minnesota |
| Joyce Johnson | Producer, Tiroir A Films Productions |
| Elizabeth Joseph | Garden and Education Coordinator, Heifer International |
| Kelly Korenak | Teacher and Curriculum Developer, |
| Sharon Kinsey | Camden County 4-H Agent/Associate Professor, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ |
| Dr. Joan Kwako | Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth |
| Carrianne McClellan | Media Coordinator & Region 6 Director, Cumberland County Schools & NCAE Student Services Division |
| Nancy Milizia | Retired MT (ASCP) , APICS, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics |
| Laura Schlesinger Minor | Adjunct Faculty, University of Connecticut Master of Public Health Program |
| Alice P. Neuhauser | Partner, Complete Rights Management |
| Celeste Newcomb | Instructor, The Penn State University, Health Policy and Administration Department |
| Hannah O’Malley | Education Coordinator, The Walt Disney Company |
| Brian Richter | Chief Scientist, Global Water Program, The Nature Conservancy |
| Karen Roos | Environmental Educator, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Dr. DawnElla M. Rust | Health Science Professor, Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Grace Saunders | Biology and Environmental Science Teacher, Saint James School |
| John Seager | President and CEO, Population Connection |
| Jeremy Scherer | Owner and Filmmaker, Parallel 40 Productions |
| Sonya Stejskal | President, Nebraska State Council for Social Studies |
| Dr. Janet Vail | Research Scientist and Environmental Educator, Grand Valley State University |
| Paul West | Co-Director & Lead Scientist, Institute on the Environment (IonE) University of Minnesota |
| Rebecca Bratter Woldeab | Executive Director, The U.S. Dry Bean Council |
Thank you to all the teachers and students who participated in the 2015-2016 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 run the contest a second time during the 2012-2013 school year.
Now in its 5th year, nearly 5,000 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.