Solar Community Hubs

Nearly half of the world’s population has no access to the internet. Dell Technologies, in partnership with Computer Aid International, is addressing the gap for people that might benefit the most. They convert old shipping containers into customizable, solar-powered internet centers, called “solar community hubs”, that connect community members to the digital world. The hubs are well-lit, well-ventilated classrooms that use energy-efficient Dell technology and air-cooled servers. Each hub supports up to 40 people at a time and offers up to 20 users a wireless connection to learning materials.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History "Lights Out" exhibit, in Washington, D.C., is helping people understand that light pollution is a global problem with broad impact. The effects of light pollution go beyond our diminishing view of the stars; it also impacts ecosystems and cultures on Earth.

The exhibit features more than 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, a history of human-made light, interactive experiences, tactile models and a theater program to discover why dark nights matter, rekindle a connection with the night sky and consider how much light at night is enough.

Astronomers rely on light, both visible and invisible, to understand celestial bodies, and their view of the universe has become increasingly obstructed by artificial light. Biologists have observed light pollution’s toll on plants and animals—from harming coral reefs’ moonlight-triggered reproduction to bats’ ability to pollinate flowers and the grim consequences of disoriented migrating birds. Another area of the exhibition presents people’s ancient and modern-day connections to the night sky through photographs, stories and cultural items.

Visitors also learn about simple but meaningful actions they can take to reduce light pollution, such as aiming outdoor lights downward and using the dimmest settings.

The hubs provide digital skills to further education and open economic opportunities for the local community; allow micro and small enterprises to create jobs; and enable financial sustainability by offering services and products that go beyond education, such as telemedicine.

The first hub was placed in the Brazilian Amazon town of Boa Esperança in March 2022. Dell and the Foundation for Amazon Sustainability also installed equipment, including drones and environmental monitors, to track deforestation in the area. During the first week of March 2023, more than 200 alerts about tree loss were posted from Boa Esperança. Three hubs currently exist in Brazil and South Africa, and Dell will soon add two hubs in Egypt that are focused on career and life skills, as well as another in Australia, centered on preserving and protecting Aboriginal art and culture.

Colombia Protects Its Birds

Colombia has the most bird species in the world—1,966 registered species, or 20 percent of all birds worldwide—and has updated its strategy for protecting this rich avian life, affecting all birds that inhabit the country at some point in their annual life cycle. The goal is to conserve and sustainably manage bird diversity, habitats and ecosystems by the generation of knowledge, scientific research and its application, the active participation of different sectors, policy and planning. The strategy focuses on 11 different Colombian ecosystems from the high Andean forests to savannas, grasslands and coastal areas.

This exhaustive process in the renewal of Colombia’s avian protection strategy involved more than 30 workshops and 2,000 people from every region of the country. Input from indigenous peoples and others generated practical conservation actions in their territories, as well as ancestral knowledge and an appreciation for the special connections these communities have with birds in their daily lives, resulting in a strategy that prioritizes the relationships between people and birds.