Phoenix Project Camps Kick Off
September 12, 2025 2025-12-03 6:41Phoenix Project Camps Kick Off
by: Poorvi Roopesh
A total of 432 natural disasters were reported worldwide in 2021, resulting in 10,492 deaths, $280 billion in economic damage, and millions of affected lives. This year, for our second annual Phoenix Project, we are “Thinking Globally, and Acting Locally,” inspired by real-world insights gathered during seminars with disaster response organizations.
Although we cannot completely eliminate the impact of natural disasters, we can help communities better prepare, respond, and recover. With this goal in mind, we selected Phoenix Camps based on our interests and will collaborate with mentors to research, ideate, and prototype solutions. The impact of hurricanes on water quality is severe. Shreya Donthineni, 11th grade, says, “We decided to talk about the water contamination that results from hurricanes, especially in the South, and I am looking forward to learning more about developing a barrier.“ Adriana Gaetano, a student in 11th grade adds, “We are focusing on disaster relief for animal shelters, and I am excited to help animals.”
The students of IA are eager to develop solutions to the many ongoing challenges that natural disasters bring. Phoenix Camp has allowed students to collaborate and brainstorm with peers who share a passion for solving specific issues related to natural disasters, bringing them one step closer to creating real-world solutions.
