Bright Calgary teen has a world to save and (solar) energy to burn

While the world groans from the weight of pressing environmental and social issues, Eden Full takes matters into her own hands. These are the hands of a Calgary teen whose energy and passion for the environment and humanity means more than learning and reading about it. It means more than talking about solutions or attending symposiums, and more than being just a small part of the solution, as so many of us do by recycling, donating to charities, eco-shopping and learning about energy conservation.

For 17-year-old Eden, it’s all about action; her passion is channeled into a full-time hobby and promising career as a solar power inventor and conductor of solutions for developing countries. “I’ve been interested in solar power since I was really young,” says the John G.Diefenbaker High student. Eden says she was attracted to solar energy particularly because of its low impact on the environment and wildlife. “Plus, solar panels look kind of cool on buildings and they have lots of applications,” she adds.

So what exactly has Eden been doing to harness the power of the sun? Try inventing a solar powered tracking system that harnesses energy from the wind to power the movement of solar panels. The goal? To bring this bountiful energy source to developing countries like Tanzania where the soil is surprisingly fertile but the farmers do not possess the refrigerating systems needed to store their crops before distribution to surrounding communities.

“What we can do is develop solar power systems that are cost effective enough to power, say, ten refrigerating systems, which would buy the farmers some time so they can distribute the food and store it for their own families before it spoils,” says Eden. So much for watching American Idol tonight then, right?

Eden has more pressing matters to attend to, like how to improve the ability of the panels to align with the shifting sun rays at different times of the day, and, of course, without using as much energy. Traditionally, solar powered devices require electricity for the motors that power the panels’ movements. “This is about creating the opportunity to use minimal energy while addressing basic needs,” Eden says.

Not surprisingly, the aspiring Princeton student believes the future for solar power is bright. But it also has its challenges. When it comes to materials engineering, there is a lot of work to do around improving the overall efficiency of solar panels, Eden adds, but we also have to come up with ways to effectively use the mechanics of the technology, to move the solar panels and to optimize their output at all times of day.

So how does a person Eden’s age acquire the finances and resources to accomplish such feats? “I get a lot of support from my parents and awards from other solar projects,” she explains, adding the biggest challenge is building a functional prototype that proves the system’s viability. Oh, and not to mention the $95,000 in scholarships including the $70,000 TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership which also means guaranteed employment with the Canadian banking giant. Although these scholarships are not monetary awards, meaning, they can’t be used to fund her research projects, any money Eden doesn’t have to spend on schooling is money she can put towards her research. Also, in May, she participated in the National Science Fair Competition in Winnipeg where she placed silver in the Environmental Innovation Senior category and bronze in the Engineering Senior category. And this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill, baking soda volcano competition either.

“For me, the most rewarding aspect of my work, at the end of the day, is being able to tell myself that I’m having fun with what I’m doing, but that I’m also helping a lot of people,” says Eden, who believes passion is a key ingredient to success. On her own time Eden’s passions include music, as she plays violin, bass guitar, acoustic guitar and piano, and caring for her love bird. Eden has also co-founded an environmental club at her school and works with other students to acquire research grants with the goal of developing solar panels for the school.

Finally, what advice does Eden have for others, especially those her age, who are concerned about environmental issues and want to make a real difference? “I think be innovative and persevering,” says Eden. “Do what you are passionate about, even if you don’t find a solution at first. You will encounter all sorts of bumps in the road, but keep going. You will find a solution.”