SUMMARY

The story behind LeftOvers.

In the summer of 2023, I had the unforgettable opportunity to travel to New York with my teammates as finalists representing the University of Minnesota at the Biodesign Challenge. This international summit empowers students to combine biotechnology and design to create sustainable, equitable solutions for global challenges, such as climate change and social inequities.

Our project focused on developing an alternative to single-use plastic wrap, a common household item that is “recyclable” but often ends up in landfills or disrupts recycling systems. From early concepts to user testing, we investigated rice-based materials as an eco-conscious alternative!