Washington 2026

PROJECT TITLE
The Fintastic Four: Salmon Saver
Saving Salmon, One Drop of Water at a Time

PROJECT GOAL: Seattle stormwater runoff contains pollutants that are the highest contributors to salmon death. Salmon death has a detrimental effect on Tribal communities, who’ve always relied on salmon for food and culture. Salmon also supports over 130 species and is therefore essential to local ecosystems. Salmon Saver filters out harmful pollutants in stormwater runoff, which benefits the health of this keystone species and the species it supports, plus maintains the rich culture surrounding Washington’s salmon.

Our team identified stormwater runoff and its impact on salmon as a major community challenge in the Pacific Northwest. Salmon are culturally significant to indigenous communities.

Our research shows that runoff from roads carries 6PPD-quinone, a chemical from tire particles that is deadly to salmon. We researched that pH monitoring is an affordable way to detect the acidity of stormwater. While pH does not measure 6PDD-quinone and other toxic chemicals, it is still an important measurement of water quality. Monitoring pH levels detects the acidity of stormwater.

PROJECT TITLE
B.O.N.D. (Baby Observation Notification Device)
Tracking every breath and every beat to bring parents peaceful sleep

PROJECT GOAL: One of the leading causes of infant mortality is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), leaving parents anxious over their child's condition at night. According to Children’s Public Health and Healthcare (2025), lower-income families experience a SIDS mortality rate that is 2.4 times higher than that of higher-income families worldwide. We aim to address this by making an affordable infant vitals tracker to improve both child wellbeing and parents’ peace of mind for all families.

To address this challenge, we questioned potential users in our community. Through our interviews and surveys with 21 parents, we discovered that over 85% of them face significant challenges in ensuring their child’s safety during sleep, with many expressing anxiety over monitoring their baby’s well-being. Additionally, we analyzed data from a KHQ study, which found that one-third of families in Washington are classified as ALICE households (Asset Limited Income Constrained but Employed). This information highlighted the financial barriers many families face in accessing necessary safety devices. Understanding these challenges, we saw that existing products on the market were far too expensive for our community, reaching up to $300. Thus, our project aims to provide affordable solutions that enhance sleep safety for low-income parents and their infants.