Education
Great minds lead to great solutions. Our education section features solutions and innovations directed at strengthening educational systems around the world.
How the retro drive-in is being reimagined in the coronavirus era
The drive-in theater: It’s a nostalgic relic of America’s past that we typically only see on screen rather in real life. At least, that was the case last year. In October 2019, there were only 305 drive-in theaters in the US—and hardly any outside America. But with the pandemic demanding us Read More...
Lebanese designers repair damaged goods in Beirut explosion for free
A pair of designers in Lebanon have transformed their showroom into a community center where people can bring in home furnishings damaged in last month’s Beirut explosion to be repaired. The designers, Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri, are the founders of the Lebanese brand Bokja, a design studio Read More...
The best photos from 2020's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition
If you love pensive puffins, stoic owls, and magnificent birds soaring above the Swiss Alps, the 56th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition from the Natural History Museum of London is a must see. This year’s collection of finalists is the best of 49,000 entries from 86 Read More...
How TikTok became a powerful vehicle for climate action
TikTok is often thought of as a social media app used by kids to share silly videos. But the reality is that TikTok is quickly becoming a major platform for people to educate others about protecting the environment. For instance, Philip Aiken has received more than 1.4m likes on the app. But his Read More...
Google is offering affordable alternatives to college degrees
In 2019, the median annual salary for a full-time worker over the age of 25 was about $66,000, if they had a bachelor's degree. With only a high school diploma, it dropped to about $39,000. But that increase in earnings doesn't come cheap. Since 1985, the price tag on a four-year degree Read More...
Study: Access to green space helps boost a child's IQ
Green open spaces in neighborhoods give children a place to play, but these pockets of nature could do more than just give kids a place to explore. New research shows children living near green spaces have higher IQs than children living in less green areas. The study from Hasselt University in Read More...
How to protect children’s eyes during remote learning screentime
We are fortunate to have resources like video chats to make socially distanced school a reality, but what is the impact of a full day of screen time on students’ eyes? As families let screen time limits go out the window during the pandemic, here’s how to protect your children’s eyes during Read More...
Could we 3D-print buildings using local soil instead of concrete?
3D-printed architecture has been getting a lot of press from The Optimist Daily lately. Most recently, we shared a story out of Oakland where a startup called Mighty Buildings is using a 3D printer to create not only the walls and floors of a home but also other elements like the roof and ceiling. Read More...
5 ways to celebrate with action on the anniversary of the 19th Amendment
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in the middle of an election cycle, you may be asking yourself how to celebrate and further educate yourself of voting equality. Here are five ways to celebrate the legacy of the 19th Amendment. Learn about the Read More...
This map tells you how to vote during a pandemic
Poll closures due to the pandemic combined with fears that the USPS may not be able to keep up with mail-in ballot demands has many Americans wondering how to ensure their vote is counted this November. Fortunately, a new tool is here to help you navigate voting during this unprecedented election Read More...