Education
Great minds lead to great solutions. Our education section features solutions and innovations directed at strengthening educational systems around the world.
Afghanistan’s all-girl robotics team is making ventilators using car parts
With Afghanistan in great need of ventilators to treat COVID 19 patients, a team of Afghan teenage girls has stepped up to build ventilators from used car parts. The girls are members of the all-girls robotics team, named the Afghan Dreamers, whom you might remember from 2017. That’s when they Read More...
A peek into the quirky world of post-pandemic dining
As various parts of the world ease out of coronavirus lockdowns, restaurants are finding creative ways to ensure patrons feel safe while eating out during the coronavirus. Some eateries are getting creative in order to maintain social distancing between customers and staff. Others are just trying Read More...
Toronto museum will offer a drive-in Van Gogh exhibit
When a Toronto museum’s Vincent van Gogh exhibit was interrupted due to COVID-19, the museum staff had to pivot and came up with an ingenious new way for people to visit the famous art: a drive-in exhibit. Art lovers will be able to drive into a 4,000 square foot downtown industrial space Read More...
A movement of quarantined artists are painting murals all over their walls
The artistic response to coronavirus pandemic has been incredible. In the past months, we’ve seen everything from a virtual benefit concert by the Rolling Stones to a new Banksy artwork dedicated to health workers. Today, we share with you the first finished products from a collective of artists Read More...
Princeton just named its first black valedictorian in the school’s history
Although it feels long overdue, we are proud to relay the news that Princeton University has named its first black valedictorian in the school’s 274-year history. The student to earn the honor for Princeton’s Class of 2020 is Nicholas Johnson, a Canadian student majoring in operations research Read More...
This coffee company protects the rainforest and promotes education
When Gorongosa Coffee launched in 2015, its goal was to restore the rainforest of Mozambique’s Mount Gorongosa region that had been ravaged by a 17-year civil war and institute sustainable farming methods for locals to support their families and their communities. Now, the company is turning its Read More...
Artists use drones to create beating heart in tribute to healthcare workers
Every year on May 5th, the Netherlands celebrates the country’s liberation from the Nazis. The national holiday is usually filled with parades and country-wide celebrations, which this year — the holiday’s 75th anniversary — have all been canceled due to the pandemic. But while the Read More...
New Banksy artwork pays tribute to healthcare workers
He may be best known for his comic and subversive street art, but Banksy has been working within the constraints of lockdown to produce a more intimate piece paying tribute to National Health Service (NHS) workers in the UK. The elusive artist has created a piece called Game Changer that has gone Read More...
Navigating the job market during COVID-19 as a recent grad
Monday, on our Optimist Daily Update podcast, we discussed the implications for the class of 2020 as they graduate in the world of COVID-19. Graduating during the uncertain social and economic conditions of a pandemic is difficult, but these tips will help you with your job search. Look Read More...
How one school in California is mastering online learning
Last week, The Optimist Daily took an in-depth look at how our education systems will be transformed post-coronavirus. Today, we are checking out The Anacapa School, a school in Southern California that is achieving high success rates with their approach to online learning. At a time where Read More...