World:
2017- 2018 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. Click on a topic below to view the winning videos.
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 |
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.