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Science & Engineering
Light Eaters:
Solar & Food in Agri-Voltaics
Disciplines:
Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental), Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Materials Science
Light Eaters is an engineering initiative focused on integrating agriculture and solar energy. Known as agrivoltaics, this approach enhances land productivity by generating renewable energy while allowing space for crops and livestock, such as sheep or cattle, to thrive. Through this dual-use model, engineering students will gain hands-on experience in developing sustainable, multifunctional systems. Students will address the growing challenge of land-use optimization by exploring solar panel design, materials, and configurations that support crop cultivation and livestock grazing. With funding from the DOE in Maine, their work as Societal Engineers also emphasizes the business aspects of commercializing nature-based technologies, moving beyond product-focused engineering to create place-based solutions tailored to local environmental conditions and community needs.
Salt, Sludge, & Stone: Desalination, Wastewater, & Batteries
Disciplines:
Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Biology, Green Chemistry, Water and Soil Science
Salt, Sludge, & Stone is an interdisciplinary initiative of engineers and natural scientists. As the name suggests, this project addresses three critical areas: salt from desalination processes to be repurposed in sustainable energy storage systems, sludge from water contamination to be treated using innovative remediation strategies, and stone from recycled lithium or limestone-based alternatives to be used for next-generation battery technology. These components share a common theme of transforming environmental challenges into sustainable solutions by repurposing natural or waste materials. Together, they exemplify resource efficiency, turning underutilized resources into drivers of environmental innovation. Through research and development, students will gain practical experience in engineering and natural sciences to tackle real-world sustainability challenges.
Cluster, Circulate, Cascade: Corporate Structuring, Blended Finance & ESG's
Disciplines:
Business Administration, Organizational Management, Finance, Business Ethics, Corporate Strategy
Cluster, Circulate, Cascade is a business initiative focused on developing strategic business plans that support sustainable, regenerative growth. By aligning financial systems with environmental and social goals, these strategies are designed for long-term resilience. Ultimately, the project aims to create a scalable model for regenerative finance through corporate structuring, blended finance strategies, and ESG principles. This initiative encompasses there are three sub-projects: Athena Power Holdings, which clusters abandoned industrial sites for redevelopment; Artemis Carbon Futures, which transforms these sites into zero-waste circular projects focused on the intersection of waste, energy, and food; and Aphrodite Aqua Ventures, which establishes innovation ecosystems to foster new ventures and entrepreneurial growth.
Chasing Carbon:
Metrics, Markets & Monetizing Nature
Disciplines:
Environmental Science, Economics, Market Analysis, Sustainable Finance, Data Science
Salt, Sludge, & Stone is an interdisciplinary initiative of engineers and natural scientists. As the name suggests, this project addresses three critical areas: salt from desalination processes to be repurposed in sustainable energy storage systems, sludge from water contamination to be treated using innovative remediation strategies, and stone from recycled lithium or limestone-based alternatives to be used for next-generation battery technology. These components share a common theme of transforming environmental challenges into sustainable solutions by repurposing natural or waste materials. Together, they exemplify resource efficiency, turning underutilized resources into drivers of environmental innovation. Through research and development, students will gain practical experience in engineering and natural sciences to tackle real-world sustainability challenges.
Business & Finance
Ethics, Law & Policy
Digital Nomadism: Migration & Social Constructs in the Digital Workforce
Disciplines:
Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, History, Digital Technology, Labor Economics
Digital Nomadism is a social impact initiative focused on creating ethical frameworks for a world increasingly shaped by global, virtual, and decentralized work structures. The program will examine how digital nomads and remote workers challenge traditional norms of employment and society, prompting the need for new codes of conduct that reflect an interconnected world without fixed borders. Students will explore migration as a natural model for fostering diversity and resilience, drawing lessons from the industrial era and dual perceptions of "hobos"—individuals who are both freed from societal norms and stigmatized as outsiders. These historical narratives offer insights into rethinking modern norms around migration, mobility, and belonging. As AI continues to reshape work structures, students will also consider the ethical implications of decentralization, machine-driven decisions, and the merging of human and virtual labor. They will work to develop frameworks for personal responsibility, fairness, and inclusion to support evolving global work ecosystems and shape policies balancing freedom, equity, and sustainability.
Operation Earth: Land, Labor & Life Rehabilitation for Veterans
Disciplines:
Social Impact, Community Development, Ecological Restoration, Conservation Biology, Ecopsychology
Operation Earth is a social impact initiative that helps veterans transition from active military service to civilian life by combining labor force training with land rehabilitation projects. This initiative emphasizes that rehabilitating the land directly supports the healing and renewal of individuals, fostering personal growth and well-being through meaningful work. Participants will engage in hands-on training within land-based living labs, working on projects that restore ecosystems while acquiring valuable skills for employment in sectors such as environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy. Through this integrated approach, veterans will play a crucial role in regenerating both the environment and their sense of purpose.
Pocket Forests: Luxury as Love
Disciplines:
Environmental Science, Restoration, Social Impact, Community Engagement, Sustainable Marketing
Pocket Forests is a social impact initiative focused on creating urban pocket gardens using the Miyawaki reforestation method. This approach transforms small, neglected urban spaces into vibrant, biodiverse mini-forests. The first pocket forest at Boston University (BU) will support bioremediation research, examining how biochar soil amendments can improve water retention, enhance nutrient availability, and filter contaminants. Students will leverage this research to develop larger living labs at repurposed industrial sites in New England, expediting the adoption of nature-based solutions across the region. They will also create a business case study on the “Luxury as Love” concept, which explores how brands like Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Four Seasons, and Prada are funding environmental and social projects that merge luxury with sustainability.
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Whales, Rails, Trails & Tales: Contemplative Ecotourism Based on Indigenous Wisdom
Disciplines:
Environmental Education, Contemplative Ecology, Indigenous Studies, Cultural Anthropology, Social Justice
Whales, Rails, Trails & Tales is a social impact initiative that merges ecotourism, contemplative ecology, indigenous knowledge, and stakeholder collaboration. The program aims to deepen connections between people, nature, and place by weaving together stories from land, sea, and local cultures through immersive educational experiences. Students will develop sustainable tourism experiences focused on coastal ecosystems, railroad trails, and wilderness paths to connect visitors with natural and cultural heritage. These experiences will promote contemplative ecology by encouraging mindfulness practices that reflect on the interconnectedness of ecosystems and our role within them, fostering a sense of ecological responsibility. The project will incorporate indigenous knowledge by collaborating with indigenous communities to revive traditional places, names, and ecological wisdom, allowing visitors to reconnect with the land's original stories and significance. Additionally, students will conduct stakeholder analysis to ensure diverse voices are included in decision-making, creating tourism models that balance economic growth, environmental preservation, and cultural respect. Through Whales, Rails, Trails & Tales, participants will discover how stories—from migratory whales to historic railways—can shape new models of regenerative tourism. This approach emphasizes the restoration of nature and cultural understanding, leading to sustainable economic development. The initiative aims to build meaningful partnerships with local communities, ensuring that ecotourism efforts are inclusive, respectful, and aligned with both environmental stewardship and social equity.
Social & Ecological Impact
Natural Sciences
Busy Beavers: Ecosystems as Social & Business Strategies
Disciplines:
Systems Thinking, Sustainable Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Business Design, Environmental and Social Impact Strategy
Busy Beavers is an initiative inspired by beaver dam ecosystems. The structure of these dams illustrates how interconnected networks create resilience and can inform new business models. Just as each element of a dam supports the entire ecosystem, businesses can achieve sustainability and social impact by fostering mutually reinforcing relationships within their networks. By viewing ecosystems as models for business, this approach promotes sustainability through collaboration and resource sharing, benefiting both the community and the environment. Students will develop a systems-thinking mindset for network analysis and sustainable business modeling while learning to design business models that prioritize resilience, environmental responsibility, and social well-being.
Mother Mediterranean: Creative & Cultural Impacts of Migratory Species
Disciplines:
Ecology, Cultural Anthropology, History, Sociology, Storytelling
Mother Mediterranean is an initiative that uses the Mediterranean region as a living model to demonstrate how the interplay between native and invasive species fosters ecological resilience through adaptation and diversity. This dynamic parallels the way cultures evolve and strengthen through migration, as new influences blend with local traditions to create more adaptable communities. Students will employ ecological study methods, cross-cultural analysis, and creative storytelling to draw lessons from natural migration and apply them to human societies. They will explore the unique ecological and cultural intersections of the Mediterranean, gaining insights into resilience, diversity, and sustainability.
Alchemist Garden: Exploration of Artemisia in the Mediterranean & Beaver Dams
Disciplines:
Ecology, Game Design, Educational Psychology, Creative Writing, Digital Storytelling
The Alchemist Garden is a unique edutainment initiative designed to teach players how our world operates as an interconnected system of natural biomes, transcending man-made borders. By immersing players in animated environments inspired by real ecosystems, the game emphasizes imaginative play through the lens of biomimicry. In this setting, nature serves as both a mentor and a method, guiding players to explore how natural processes can inspire human innovation. Through this project, students will develop skills in ecological research, educational design, and digital storytelling. By constructing unique storylines centered around natural systems and organisms, they will learn to create immersive gameplay that engages users in experiential learning. The Alchemist Garden introduces new perspectives on environmental stewardship and encourages imaginative play as a means of envisioning sustainable solutions.
Symbolic Language: Sacred Geometry, Archetypes, Goddesses & Anointing
Disciplines:
Linguistics, Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, Creative Arts
Symbolic Language is a creative initiative that harnesses the power of archetypes and the symbolic traditions of diverse cultures to evoke deeper emotions. The initiative aims to create transformative experiences that inspire new ways of thinking, feeling, and acting through regenerative rituals. Students will examine sacred geometry, art, music, and dance to bridge ancient traditions with modern creativity. As they develop their skills in visual arts, cultural symbolism, and experiential design, this project brings together self-expression and social change, creating pathways to inspire regenerative habits and mindsets.
Creative Arts & Storytelling
Crafting a Legacy: Designing for Generations Beyond Tomorrow
The projects at Born Global Foundation embody a mission to forge solutions that meet the demands of our world today while setting a path for the sustainable societies of tomorrow. By combining science, creativity, and ethics with a collaborative spirit, our initiatives empower future leaders to think expansively, act responsibly, and co-create with nature. As you explore each project, consider joining us on this journey toward resilient, interconnected systems that honor both human and more-than-human lives. Here, we create not only for the present but for the flourishing of generations to come.