We are excited to announce that seven Stratford Middle School teams received award recognition in the global 2025 Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge. Our Stratford Middle School teams faced competition from approximately 200 teams across six continents. Competing teams tackled real-world problems and presented innovative solutions to improve soil nutrient depletion, filter toxins from drinking water, remove microplastics from ocean water, construct fire-resistant homes for building in fire-prone areas, and design a self-sustaining home to conserve energy. 

The Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge combines nature and design to provide students with a transformative STEM learning experience. Students work in teams alongside a coach to explore the concept of biomimicry, which is defined as the design and production of materials, structures, and systems modeled on biological entities and processes. They then present their own biomimicry-inspired innovation based on what they have learned.

The challenge is to submit a comprehensive product portfolio that presents a nature-inspired solution addressing critical issues facing their communities. Teams work through the NGSS-aligned curriculum, introducing concepts and methods of biomimicry. An international jury of biomimicry practitioners, engineers, educators, and scientists evaluates each proposal, offering feedback and selecting special commendations for exceptional work in age and thematic categories.

We are so proud of our students’ creativity, resilience, and commitment to solving real-world problems in an eco-conscious and sustainable way! Please see a list of our winning teams and brief design descriptions below.

The Stratford School Winners

Stratford Prep Blackford
Award: 1st place in the Middle School category for Zero Hunger
Teacher: Aarthi Janakiraman
Project Title: The Decomposter

Brief Project Description: The Decomposter effectively decomposes organic matter through mechanical and chemical digestion, thereby enriching the soil with essential nutrients.

Stratford Prep Blackford
Award: 1st place in the Middle School category for Climate Action Teacher: Aarthi Janakiraman
Project Title: The RIPPLE
Brief Project Description: RIPPLE is an innovative device designed to cleanse water of heavy metals, oils, and other contaminants using biomimicry

Stratford Palo Alto Middle School
Award: 1st place in the Middle School category for Building Resilient Infrastructure
Teacher: Veronica Oropeza Ibarra
Project Title: EmberCloaks

Brief Project Description: EmberCloaks is a fire-resistant composite building material to help protect homes in wildfire-prone areas.

Stratford San Jose Middle School
Award: 1st place in the Middle School category for Clean Water & Sanitation
Teacher: Rekha Kannan
Project Title: SALTAWAY

Brief Project Description: SALTAWAY is an energy-efficient water filtration system designed with inspiration from the peacock worm, kidneys, xylem, and lotus leaves. SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation, addressing water scarcity in the Maldives with an energy-efficient solution. 

Stratford San Jose Middle School
Award: 2nd place

in the MS category for Sustainable Cities & Communities
Teacher: Rekha Kannan
Project Title: NidoVita

Brief Project Description: A smart, self-sustaining dome home inspired by ovenbirds, beehives, paper wasps, and Namib beetles. Built to be affordable and water-harvesting, NidoVita supports SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities — tackling housing and water access in California’s San Joaquin Valley. 

Stratford San Jose Middle School
Award: 1st place in the Middle School category for Life below Water and ocean health in the Bay Area
Teacher: Rekha Kannan
Project Title: SeaH2

Brief Project Description: SeaH2 is a device that filters microplastics from ocean water and uses AI integration to sort and enable the reuse of plastic waste. SDG 14: Life below Water and ocean health in the Bay Area. 

Stratford San Jose Middle School
Award: 1st place in the Middle School category for Climate Action
Teacher: Rekha Kannan
Project Title: ARTAS

Brief Project Description: Inspired by the sea squirt, pufferfish, basking shark, and compound eyes of insects, ARTAS filters polluted water with remarkable precision. Addressing SDG 13: Climate Action, this device aims to alleviate global water pollution and support ecosystems worldwide. 

For more information about Stratford School’s STEAM curriculum and Early Preschool – High School programs, visit StratfordSchools.com.