SLS Student’s Waste Pollution Project Earns International Recognition

A Grade 12 student of the Bukidnon State University Secondary Laboratory School (SLS) was recognized among five outstanding projects in the 2026 Eco Ambassadors Solutions: Factivism and Connectivity in the Age of AI program.

Julianna Inez A. Barroso received the recognition for her Story Map project, “The Truth Beneath the Trash: Investigating Waste Pollution through AI-Assisted Factivism.” The project examined waste pollution and the use of artificial intelligence, digital storytelling and fact-based advocacy in addressing environmental concerns.

“It was already an honor to be able to participate in this program, but seeing how highly my project scored against the rubrics made me realize that sometimes, our dreams can reach places we never imagined our abilities could take us,” said Barroso.

The 2026 program brought together high school students from 32 countries to explore digital connectivity and fact-based narratives in the age of artificial intelligence. It combined sustainability, digital literacy and ethical technology through interactive learning activities, culminating in the development and submission of Story Maps.

Barroso said her interest in waste pollution was influenced by practices she learned from her family.

“Growing up, my parents were very strict on the practice of CLAYGO; even in restaurants, my parents would make sure to always clean up after we ate,” she said. “Everywhere I went, trash seems to overrule the streets, so when I was given the chance for this program, I wanted to let my project show how important it is to become aware of how we segregate and take care of our environment the same way I was taught growing up.”

One of the challenges she encountered was connecting a physical environmental problem with artificial intelligence.

“The hardest part of my project was finding out how to connect waste pollution to artificial intelligence — waste pollution is something happening physically around us, while artificial intelligence only remains digitally,” Barroso said.

She eventually used AI for research and organizing information, as well as for identifying connections between environmental issues and possible solutions.

The program was organized by SDGs Today, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the Center for Sustainable Development and Columbia University.

The other four projects recognized by the program focused on data centers and climate change, AI literacy in Singapore, cybersecurity and sustainability in Cyprus, and educational bias and fact-based learning with AI.

Barroso said the recognition also reinforced her view that young people can contribute to environmental efforts through advocacy and action.

“My voice isn’t enough, but I believe that it can be the start of my fellow youth to start putting our advocacies into action,” she said. “Our planet is the only planet we have; although we cannot undo everything that has already been done, we can still take responsibility for what comes next and create a more sustainable world for the generations that follow.”