"Dona Marta’s 'bondinho' inaugurated in 2008 as part of the UPP (Pacifying Police Unit) package for the pacification of the Dona Marta neighborhood in Botafogo, the streetcar or 'bondinho' as the locals call it affectionately– has changed the life of the community, one of the steepest favelas in Rio. This is an inspiring example of a relatively simple infrastructure project with no technological complications that has a dramatic effect when put into use in the right place and at the right time." Lauder Student Essay

"The construction methods utilized in Japanese Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, as well as the Kyoto imperial palace are constructed in a way that it allows the structures to vibrate, and are therefore extremely resistant to earthquakes and typhoons. These construction features are very representative of the 'Innovation' of ancient Japan. " Lauder Student Essay

"The public latrines of the ancient Roman city of Dougga situated in the northwest of Tunis demonstrate innovation in the form of a surprisingly advanced and complex water system designed in the sixth century BC." Lauder Student Essay

"Use of solar-powered equipment such as lamps and phone chargers allows the Maasai to bypass non-existent public services and connect themselves to the wider world even amidst the wilderness of the African savannah." Lauder Student Essay

"The handloom (pictured) is an extremely innovative contraption. Saree patterns are first designed on a computer using graphing software. This produces a sequence of holes on a series of cards called ‘patte’. The craftsman then uses ‘patte’ in the handloom to combine threads of different colors and fabrics to produce the intricate ‘zari’ embroidery work that the Banarasi sarees are renowned for." Lauder Student Essay

"The hotel 'Albergue Ollantaytambo', adopted a curious alternative to mow its gardens: rabbits. The animals stay confined in a cage whose floor is the lawn. When the rabbits have already eaten all the grass area of the cage, someone simply moves it elsewhere." Lauder Student Essay

"Searching for spaces and tools serving multiple purposes led me to the Arts & Métiers metro station which serves a double purpose- transportation and public art. In a space typically dedicated to transportation, the observers think of the sea, travel, sometimes of war, and finally new interpretations of modern art. In my opinion, the versatility and ability to provoke higher thinking indicates a spirit of innovation and promotes progress." Lauder Student Essay

"In 2010 the Municher carmaker launched its BMW i series, an innovative elektric car series produced in Leipzig. With approximately 8,900 employees focused only on research and development, the company promotes a long tradition of constant innovation. Not only is the fancy car a breakthrough, but more importantly, this traditional and successful company challenges itself to promote visionary concepts for the future." Lauder Student Essay

"In Shanghai’s People’s Park, parents have set up an informal 'marriage market' listing their children’s qualities and criteria on advertisements, which they hang on walls and colorful umbrellas. While Shanghai’s marriage market is by no means high-tech, it signifies that there will always be novel ways of addressing even the most timeless human concerns." Lauder Student Essay