Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
53 results for "collecting"
A Berlin art fair is breaking down barriers to art ownership by offering thousands of contemporary works for under €500. The four-day event brings together 65 galleries from 18 countries, proving culture doesn't have to come with an exclusive price tag.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Fb8%2F5d%2Fb85d6c70-9747-4395-a923-b2d3c577acee%2Fjr-19-6177-78.jpg)
When students in Galena, Alaska spotted dangerous thin ice near their school, their measurements helped warn the community and prevent tragedy. Now 325 kids across Alaska are collecting ice data that keeps their neighbors safe and helps scientists understand climate change.
Two Ohio students turned local scholarship wins into even bigger opportunities, collecting thousands more in statewide awards. Their success shows how community investment creates new paths to education and careers.
A conservation app in Indonesian Borneo is paying everyday citizens to photograph wildlife, turning forest walks into paying jobs while collecting 175,000 wildlife records in just one year. Some observers now earn more than traditional full-time workers.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's personal collection of 50,000 books once filled an entire floor of his Mumbai home, built specifically to house his lifelong love of learning. Today, his scattered library reminds us that collecting books isn't about reading them all—it's about surrounding ourselves with ideas that shape who we become.
Volunteers collecting 10,000 pieces of trash in two hours discovered something even more precious struggling in the water. Their beach cleanup turned into a rescue mission for one of the world's most endangered sea turtles.
Seventy community members spent Saturday transforming a South Bend neighborhood, collecting 210 bags of trash along Portage Avenue. The third annual cleanup shows how community pride can spark real change in neglected spaces.
Two conservationists are racing across Wales with cotton bags, collecting seeds from rare plants before they disappear forever. Their freezer-stored "genetic library" has already brought extinct species back to life.
High schoolers in Michigan just convinced their city council to install self-serve cleanup stations at local beaches after collecting over 1,000 pieces of trash year after year. The student-led initiative will make it easier for everyone to help keep Great Lakes shorelines clean.
Volunteers across Mexico are collecting human and animal hair to absorb oil from a massive Gulf spill, stepping up where many say government response fell short. The grassroots cleanup shows communities taking environmental disasters into their own hands.
Australia's beloved Easter shows are becoming unexpected hubs for art collecting, where first-time buyers discover original works they can actually afford. More than 850,000 visitors now browse art alongside show bags and farm animals.
After witnessing a landfill collapse kill four people, engineering student Praveen Nayak dropped out to launch waste-collecting e-rickshaw ambulances across Delhi. His venture now runs 18 clinics, diverts tons of trash from landfills, and generates Rs 1.5 crore in annual revenue.
A small-town mayor in England just shattered fundraising records, collecting over £46,000 through parmo nights, salsa dancing, and community walks. The money will help a hospice care for terminally ill patients and a project that's already helped 700 men rebuild their lives.
A passionate collector and fellow bibliophiles just opened India's first dedicated antiquarian bookshop and formed a society to help others discover the joy of rare book collecting. Their mission is making century-old literary treasures accessible to a whole new generation of Indian readers.
Along India's coast, a once-ignored ocean ingredient is transforming into a culinary movement. Local harvesters are now earning seven times more collecting native seaweed for top restaurants.
%2Ffile%2Fattachments%2Forphans%2Faphiwe-water-women_286797.jpg)
South Africa is transforming its water infrastructure with digital monitoring systems that prevent leaks and ensure reliable access, especially helping women and girls who spend hours collecting water. Smart pumps and automated systems are cutting water waste from 47% to sustainable levels while advancing gender equality.
Luxury yachts cruising the Mediterranean are becoming floating research labs, collecting vital ocean data that scientists desperately need. New tech is making anchoring visible and turning leisure boats into powerful environmental allies.
A Mexico City engineer spent decades collecting Art Nouveau treasures from flea markets, then designed his own masterpiece home to showcase them. Casa Holtz stands as a testament to one couple's obsessive love of beauty.
A group of Los Angeles high school students is collecting thousands of used tennis and pickleballs to set a world record while keeping them out of landfills. With 125 million tennis balls trashed annually in the U.S. alone, these young athletes are proving sports can be sustainable.
Romania went from Europe's worst recycling record to collecting 8 billion bottles and cans in just one year. The secret? A simple deposit scheme that's now catching global attention.
Showing 20 of 53