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Amelia Kyaw

Understanding What NSI Is and Isn't

As we begin our journey with the Next Sustainable Idea (NSI) project, it's important to understand what exactly NSI is about. This article delves into what NSI is and what it is not.


What NSI Is:

 

1. NSI is a Problem-Solving Project

 

The essence of NSI is problem-solving. Our task is to identify a real-world sustainability issue and design an innovative solution for it. The problems we tackle should be comprehensive, real-life issues rather than abstract academic ones. The solutions we devise must directly address the problem and be testable so that their effectiveness can be evaluated and improved based on test results. Moreover, the solutions should be within our team's capabilities rather than beyond our reach, such as proposing policy changes or enhanced regulation.

 

2. NSI is a Community-Based Project

 

NSI focuses on community-based or surrounding issues. We do not need to address grand, distant problems but should start from our own community and work towards improving its sustainability. A community-based project can either address a sustainability issue within the community (e.g., creating employment opportunities for unemployed youth) or use community-based solutions to tackle broader issues (e.g., providing high-quality education to children in underdeveloped areas through online classes).

 

3. NSI is an Innovation Project

 

NSI is inherently innovative. Innovation can be reflected in two aspects: problem insight and solution design. Problem insight innovation involves identifying sustainability issues that are often overlooked, while solution innovation involves creating unique and thoughtful solutions rather than reiterating existing ones. Ideally, our project should showcase innovation in both areas. There are many ways to promote sustainability, but innovation is what will set our project apart.

 

What NSI Is Not:

 

1. NSI is Not a Promotional Project

 

NSI is not about raising awareness or changing attitudes through promotional activities. While awareness is crucial for sustainability, the focus of NSI is not on advocacy. Avoid attributing the problem solely to a lack of awareness and designing solutions as promotional campaigns. Such solutions are difficult to test and evaluate in terms of their effectiveness in solving the issue.

 

2. NSI is Not a Scientific Research Project

 

NSI is not a scientific research project. Research projects often abstract complex issues into specific technical problems, which can detach them from real-world scenarios and overlook other important aspects like stakeholders, implementation costs, and external effects.

 

3. NSI is Not an Environmental Project

 

NSI is not limited to environmental protection. While sustainability often brings to mind ecological and climate issues, it encompasses much more. NSI is based on the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which cover a broad range of topics beyond just environmental protection.

 

By keeping these distinctions in mind, we can ensure that our project aligns with the core principles of NSI and contributes effectively to sustainable development.

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