Four projects shared $32,500 in prize money at the first Climate Change and Health Solutions Challenge on Feb. 26 at the BioVentures Center at IOWA Research Park.

The top three teams received $10,000 each — Project Refill, Earthmind, and Team Bike Commuting. UI Rooftop Solar Panels received $2,500.

• Project Refill (founders are Emma Jean Roling, Lucas Johnson, Xavier Uhrmacher, Ishan Dhanani, Kailey Elliott, Joey Valley, and Leslie Flynn) is a vending system for dispensing and refilling reuseable containers with consumer products such as shampoo and soap. 
• Earthmind (Fred Meyer, Jen Kardos, and Trisha Welter) is a student mental wellness program to relieve stress and climate anxiety using outdoor activities and programming in natural settings.
• Team Bike Commuting (Jenna McCoy, Angie Smith, and Rion Wendland) is a program to expand safe bicycle commuting to the University of Iowa campus. 
• UI Rooftop Solar Panels (Hannah Cargo) encourages the adoption of and education around solar installations on University of Iowa residential-style buildings such as cultural centers. The teams will now move to the implementation phase of their solution.

This Climate Change and Health Challenge is supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, a generous gift from Don Diebel, MD, PhD, and Cindy Diebel, made through the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, as well as funding from the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, and the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research.  

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The following lists the winning team members’ college or organization: 

Project Refill

Ishan Dhanani, Undergraduate, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Kailey Elliott, Undergraduate, College of Engineering 

Leslie Flynn, Clinical Associate Professor, Tippie College of Business

Lucas Johnson, Undergraduate, Tippie College of Business

Emma Jean Roling, Undergraduate, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Xavier Uhrmacher, Undergraduate, College of Engineering

Joey Valley, Undergraduate, College of Engineering

Earthmind

Jen Kardos, Wellness Director, Backyard Abundance

Fred Meyer, Adjunct Instructor, Recreational Services; and Director, Backyard Abundance

Trisha Welter, Associate Director, Student Wellness

Team Bike Commuting 

Jenna McCoy, Carver College of Medicine

Angie Smith, Clinical Psychologist, University of Iowa Health Care

Rion Wendland, Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering

UI Rooftop Solar Panels

Hannah Cargo, Undergraduate, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences