Born Global (BG)

We can’t forget about our mission. Family is at the core of everything we do ❤️ Often, it’s hard to remember “why” you’re doing something in the day-to-day… It’s not until you take a step back to look at the bigger picture that you can truly understand your impact. At BG, we understand the profound impact that active engagement in education has on growth and development, shaping true citizens of the world. As an educational nonprofit, we’re committed to applying nature-based solutions to BiG projects in ecological restoration, environmental technology, and social change. From organizing enriching activities to fostering mentorship - we support initiatives that address educational disparities and advocate for equal access to education, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. With passion and dedication, we empower the next generation to integrate their education with a deep respect for our shared ecology and an entrepreneurial mindset. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

When Emily Dunn joined our Hydrogen Hive project last summer, she never expected slime mold to change how she sees the world. Tasked with tackling the challenges of hydrogen storage, Emily and her team turned to nature for inspiration, exploring biological strategies to design more efficient systems. Her focus was on yellow slime mold, an organism often described as "𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁" due to its ability to navigate toward food using biological signals. Its growth forms intricate networks that resemble hydrogen distribution across the universe. Remarkably, 90% of that cosmic mass is hydrogen, mirroring the same patterns created by slime mold. Unlike the honeycomb’s structural efficiency, the slime mold taught a systems-based approach rather than a structural approach, helping the team identify potential ways to optimize the way hydrogen is stored and distributed. Now a junior at Duke University, Emily is putting these lessons into action as a project manager at Duke Smart Home . Leading initiatives that explore sustainable technology for everyday living, from smart systems to household innovations. Emily’s story is a testament to the power of looking to nature to solve some of our greatest challenges.

We’re excited to announce that we’ve been awarded $𝟭𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 in Phase 2 of the DOE’s #MAKEITPrize! Our concept focuses on advancing domestic manufacturing of clean energy technology in the Jonesboro, Maine community by producing thin film solar and supporting veterans through specialized training programs. A huge thank you to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, American-Made Program, and all partners who made this possible! And a special thank you to Dr. Kimberly Samaha, Adarsh Ghosh, MBA, and Jack T. for their dedication to bringing this grant to life. Let’s build a cleaner, brighter future together. ✨

Can bees inspire the future of hydrogen storage? 🐝 We’re excited to kick off our 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 with Maria Bejjani, a sophomore at Northwestern University, who began her journey with Born Global as a high school intern! Last summer, Maria joined a team of five students to tackle the challenges of hydrogen storage. Inspired by the honeycomb’s unique geometry, the team explored how its lightweight yet durable design could optimize hydrogen storage systems, improving both efficiency and capacity. Under the guidance of their mentors, Maria and her team dove into the lifecycle of hydrogen, from production to storage and consumption. Their research led them to present at the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where they connected with Nobel laureates, PhD students, and global sustainability leaders. Today, she’s applying lessons from this experience to her studies in manufacturing and design engineering, with a vision to make sustainability a cornerstone of her career. Stay tuned for part 2 of our Hydrogen Hive Spotlight Series!

How does our immune system inspire luxury skincare? This summer, Sienna Kurban joined our 𝘓𝘶𝘹𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 project, diving into how nature’s ingenuity can shape sustainable luxury products. Her journey began with researching the Damask rose, a plant native to her home country of Lebanon, known for its fragrant oil and deep cultural roots. As Sienna explored further, she uncovered the rose’s extraordinary natural defense system. By producing fragrant oil, the rose protects itself from harmful bacteria and disease, a mechanism that mirrors the resilience of the human immune system. Guided by her research, she developed skills in market analysis and product design, learning how to turn natural insights into real-world applications. Inspired by biomimicry and the mechanisms of the Damask rose, Sienna is committed to start developing her skincare product, with the hope of bringing it to life in the future!

How does a snake bite cure add flavor to meals today? We’re excited to shine the spotlight on Frankie Fayad, who interned with us over the summer on the Artemis Modern Migration team and is from Lebanon! Her project began with an exploration of tarragon—a remarkable herb believed to heal venomous snake bites and celebrated as a symbol of strength in ancient cultures. 🌿 Fascinated by tarragon’s water-saving adaptations and deep cultural roots, Frankie was inspired to create a cookbook for her BG passion project. “𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥.” Have a favorite dish? Join our Favorite Food Coopetition for a chance to win $500 in Born Global course credit! 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eDEaGYUQ

Can nature inspire new solutions for the global refugee crisis? This summer, Mariella Fayad joined our Biomes Not Borders project, where she explored the fascinating world of Artemisia—a plant genus thriving on every continent except Antarctica. Focusing on Artemisia herba-alba (white wormwood), Mariella studied its secondary metabolites: natural compounds that protect the plant and enable its survival across diverse environments. Inspired by her research, Mariella created a script set in ancient times, blending the plant’s natural defenses with themes of migration, trade, and cooperation. Her story reimagines Artemisia’s unique survival strategies as characters working together to protect a kingdom, weaving science into a powerful narrative about resilience and unity. Now, Mariella is working on a project that draws lessons from nature’s strategies—like symbiosis and cooperation—to address real-life migration challenges.

How ants inspired the creation of an online community 👇 This summer, Nicolas Vallarino Bjarner worked on the 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭 project, tackling the unique challenges faced by young entrepreneurs in Ecuador. Drawing inspiration from the decentralized teamwork of leafcutter ants, Nicolas explored how their ability to collaborate efficiently could shape solutions to human challenges. Using this as a model, he envisioned a decentralized system to help young entrepreneurs navigate complex barriers like limited access to technology and legal systems. ↳ At the core was the concept of a community collaboration hub. A space, both online and physical, where entrepreneurs could share resources, develop tech skills, and connect with others to build resilient businesses. We’re proud to recognize Nicolas as one of our 10 Champion Organisms, celebrating his creativity and commitment to drive meaningful change!

My favorite food: turkey definitely 🦃 When I moved to Paris, many years ago, I combined my ambition of learning French with my passion for cooking and completed my diploma from the Ritz Paris Escoffier in French pastry, cuisine and wine pairing🍷 But as they say, you can take the girl out of Boston, but you can’t take the New Englander out of the girl😉 So all of that training got amplified every year at Thanksgiving and even living in Beirut. We always had major celebrations 🎉 Check out our new co-opetition at Born Global (BG) that focus on food recipes and giving back to our communities.🙏 Happy Thanksgiving, everyone🌱

One evening made a difference for 4,000 families 🦃 This past weekend, Born Global alumna Isabella Samaha joined the Woods for Others Service Program at Boston College to make a difference for families in need. Alongside fellow students, faculty, and staff, Isabella helped distribute food to over 4,000 families, ensuring that many could enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal. Stories like Isabella’s highlight the incredible power of giving back during the holiday season. As part of our “Share the Plate” Coopetition Challenge, we’re inviting students to spotlight a local food bank. Bonus points will go to those who roll up their sleeves and volunteer, just like Isabella did! 🔗 Sign up for the Coopetition today and show us how you’ll share the plate. Use code FOODIE for 100% off: https://lnkd.in/e8YPr39H