Blog

Getting Ready For Your Capstone Project

cixapxi4i0canh7i59d3c7ic8 200

If you’ve done your research on us, you know that the Capstone Project is an integral part of our programs.  

In short, the Capstone Project is where passion turns into progress for sustainable development. This will be your chance to work in an interdisciplinary group to develop an entrepreneurial solution to a real world challenge in sustainable development. The project must address a current issue or topic within the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which focus on eradicating poverty, inequality, and climate change. With our workshops and working sessions you’ll learn how to explore the political, technological, business, and environmental components of your solution. More specifically, you’ll use Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” and the Business Canvas Model as frameworks to address and present your solution.

The capstone project is where passion turns into progress for sustainable development.

cj1f206n60323ofi5xv584e8q modele designthinking ef27f70aa39f017490fe14056b97a89d

We’ve learned through the years that the Capstone Projects are the result of creativity and students coming together to create something larger than their individual parts. We believe in big, bold ideas and we encourage our students to pursue them. On the program you’ll complete working sessions that encourage inspiration and ideation, and at the end of your journey you’ll have developed a plan for implementation. With that said, it is important to arrive to your program with knowledge of the ideas, passions, and topics you care about. It is not mandatory to have the exact idea of what you want to be working on; figuring this out is part of the process that we will work on together.

Meet your Inner Genius

Huffington Post states that ideation is “a reinvention of traditional brainstorming, [and] is a technique that involves both the left and right sides of the brain to allow breakthroughs from entrenched habits of thought and persistent difficult problems.” The Capstone Project is about finding the path past your mental comfort zone, and tapping into your “inner genius.” Students find that the process can be raw, messy, and at times frustrating and confusing but you should trust that this is a natural part of the process.  

cj1f24mki17cwvfi5wcagtgqp

Speaking of challenges and a sometimes-messy process, we want to take a moment and prepare you with the knowledge that on your program you may visit locations where internet is unreliable. We ask that if or when this happens, you trust the process and use that time to tap into each other’s creativity and personal experiences. You will surprise yourself with what you are capable of when you remember the internet is not where innovation comes from; It comes from you and your inner genius! With that said, of course we want you to use the internet! It will be very helpful in finding research or statistics necessary for your Capstone Project. If you are stuck during any stage of your Capstone Project, don’t worry because you can count on your GREEN guides to navigate you through the entire process. 

Emilie, our Iceland Alumna from Colorado School of Mines, reflected on her Capstone Project experience, where her group proposed an idea to help the petroleum industry integrate renewable energy into their existing companies.

Emilie says:

I’ve worked in a lot of group settings before, but nothing quite like this where I am applying my knowledge from school to solve a real-life problem.  What’s really neat is that some students even take their Capstone Projects to the next level and bring them to life!  I think future GREEN students will benefit from this type of project because it teaches you a lot about yourself. I learned more about myself as a teammate and leader than any other project.  Perhaps that was because this was a new field of study for all of us or because we were all self-motivated and brought different viewpoints and specialties to the table.  Most of all, I think all students walk away from the Capstone Project with a better understanding on how to problem-solve and apply what we’ve been learning in school for years. Capstone Projects are challenging, but they prepare you for a career that can impact the world.

Read more about Emilie’s story of her Capstone development process here.

To get some inspiration from what other students’ have developed as their capstone projects, you can read more about their work in our Faces of the Future section, and another TGP blog, “Innovation & The Private Sector’s Influence for a Sustainable Future”.

Read Another Article

Honoring Kate Slattery & Highlighting the Shine On Scholarship for Women’s History Month

Honoring Kate Slattery & Highlighting the Shine On Scholarship for Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, The GREEN Program is happy to highlight Kate Slattery – a mechanical engineer and photovoltaic designer for SolarCity who challenged herself and others to work toward a global mission of renewable energy and sustainability. We are honored to work with Kate’s family and GivePower to share Kate’s story and provide the Shine On Scholarship to TGP students in memory of Kate. 

read more
How an Online Sustainability Program Helped Jaedyn Medrano Become an Intersectional Sustainability Advocate

How an Online Sustainability Program Helped Jaedyn Medrano Become an Intersectional Sustainability Advocate

This blog features the virtual Nepal Ethics of Sustainable Development Alum, Jaedyn Medrano who says, “this program taught me how to think about a project holistically, and it has guided me along the path to being a better cultured and inclusive young professional.” She is set to graduate with a double major in Renewable Natural Resources & Ecological Restorations in December of 2022.

read more
Defending Reproductive Rights in the Battle for Climate Justice

Defending Reproductive Rights in the Battle for Climate Justice

Reproductive Justice is Climate Justice. The GREEN Program stands to defend the reproductive rights of all women and people who give birth to access safe reproductive health care. We must do more to educate others and understand the interconnection between Reproductive Justice and the Climate Crisis. It’s important to draw the connections between climate change, pollution, and reproductive rights.

read more
An International Graduate Student Embraces Nepali Culture by Studying Abroad through Shine On Scholarship

An International Graduate Student Embraces Nepali Culture by Studying Abroad through Shine On Scholarship

On one hand, I believe that every student should be given a chance to study abroad at least once in their life, because it teaches us things that textbooks cannot: adaptability, resilience, curiosity, empathy, just to name a few. Whether good or bad, bursting our bubble and learning about our world will inspire us and open our minds. On the other hand, the people we interact with benefit from the diversity, because all of us bring unique perspectives to the table. Perhaps we share an idea that no one has thought of but could be key to solving a problem; we fuel the aspirations of someone who is facing similar difficulties; or help take down stereotypes.  

read more
Remembering Juneteenth and the Fight for Environmental Justice

Remembering Juneteenth and the Fight for Environmental Justice

n June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. It is on this day every year since that we celebrate “Juneteenth” as the end of slavery in the United States. It is a day that we celebrate ancestors and leaders who fought to be liberated. We celebrate their power, resiliency, and tenacity. 

read more
LGBTQ+ Leaders and Organizations in Sustainability to Know About this Pride Month

LGBTQ+ Leaders and Organizations in Sustainability to Know About this Pride Month

The GREEN Program loves to celebrate love, and there is no better way to do that this month than by recognizing a few LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations that are making a difference not just in their own communities but for our planet altogether. Read below to learn more about some people and spaces that are working together to promote a better world that focuses on inclusion and equality.

read more
Meet 8 AAPI Leaders in Sustainability: Across the Globe and At Home

Meet 8 AAPI Leaders in Sustainability: Across the Globe and At Home

The month of May is known to many as the end of classes and the start of Summer, but May is also known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Our team at TGP wanted to take a moment to recognize the contributions and influence of AAPI Americans throughout history, culture, and achievements both on a global scale, and from those who are a bit close to home. We also encourage you to learn more about AAPI Heritage Month and get involved through additional resources.

read more
From a Start Up to a Sustainability Study Abroad Program: How Patrick Applied his Passion for Renewable Energy in Iceland

From a Start Up to a Sustainability Study Abroad Program: How Patrick Applied his Passion for Renewable Energy in Iceland

When Fall 2021 rolled around and I saw the TGP scholarship opportunity, I thought I’d apply not expecting much. When I found out that I actually got it, I was like “I guess I’m actually doing this!”. I was a little nervous and anxious but also so excited for the opportunity! I was also grateful that the enrollment process was very smooth for me with no significant challenges along the way.

read more
Boston University Student Gains a Unique Perspective for Renewable Energy & Sustainability by Studying Abroad in Iceland

Boston University Student Gains a Unique Perspective for Renewable Energy & Sustainability by Studying Abroad in Iceland

Global experiences have definitely shaped me into the person I am today through increased cultural awareness and sensitivity. Getting to really know a great group of diverse individuals from all over the world has not only shaped my perspective on current world issues, but has also allowed me to take a glance at certain topics from another angle and point of view.

read more
A Construction Science Major Turns Lessons into Opportunity after a Sustainability Study Abroad Program 

A Construction Science Major Turns Lessons into Opportunity after a Sustainability Study Abroad Program 

AJ Ewing spent his past Winter Break a little bit differently than most students, by studying abroad on our GREEN Nepal program. As a Construction Science major, AJ notes that he was nervous coming into the study abroad program having no prior experience in sustainability or electrical/solar grids, but he was excited and eager to learn. As soon as he arrived, all his nerves were gone as he was welcomed by our team and ready to dive in. Now, he can honestly say that when he thinks of The GREEN Program, he thinks of “family away from home.”

read more
How a Geologist Made His Sustainability Dream in Iceland a Reality through a Study Abroad Scholarship

How a Geologist Made His Sustainability Dream in Iceland a Reality through a Study Abroad Scholarship

As someone who is in a field with a limited representation of ethnic minorities, TGP created a neutral ground where there was a range of diversity on different levels. My GREEN Program experience in Iceland wasn’t just about the adventures and cultural immersion, but about the education too. I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures because I saw how passionate the different lecturers were about their work and research which is truly inspiring. As a geologist, learning more about the wonder that is Iceland in Iceland was definitely a dream come true.

read more
Get to Know GREENie: Maryam Aida Tidjani

Get to Know GREENie: Maryam Aida Tidjani

Maryam Aida Tidjani got to experience a brand new kind of GREEN Program during the hard times the world was facing, a 100% Virtual and Online experience. Initially planning on traveling to Peru in 2021, the global pandemic continued to shift things around and we had to pivot all travel programs to Online experiences.

read more

Subscribe to The GREEN Program newsletter & updates

Loading...
Skip to content