"This app was created so that individuals can take what goes on in our environment into their own hands. Just at your fingertips, you can see what you are currently producing to affect the environment, ways to make your impact on the environment a good one, and ways to support both our community and our environment."
— Okewoma Okumo, TWU Computing Science
Okewoma Okumo can help you calculate your personal carbon emissions, using an app that he created.
Okumo is a first-year student and a computer science major at TWU, from Airdrie, A.B. In Februrary, Okumo participated in the Township of Langley's Codathon: Coding Matters competition and won the second place prize ($1,000) for his project. It was Okumo's first time competing in a codathon.
"I was pretty nervous going in as a first-year (student), but I am very happy with the results," he said.
Placing climate action into the hands of app users
The Township's Codathon event, sponsored by Microsoft, welcomed problem solvers and innovators to help tackle current issues through their creative and technological skills. Participants had to build a prototype that runs on Microsoft Azure, and solves problems under one of five themes: climate and natural resources, farms and food, culture and inclusion, civic engagement, or transparency.
Okumo's award-winning project was a GHG (greenhouse gas emissions) calculator and environmental informer — it allowed users to calculate their own personal carbon emissions that affect the climate. After discovering their emission output, users were further provided with environmental tips and connections to local companies, empowering users with information on how they can reduce their current emissions.
Okumo explained that his prototype aims to improve public education around climate change, and to help app users "make the world a better place for future generations."
"This app was created so that individuals can take what goes on in our environment into their own hands," he said. "Just at your fingertips, you can see what you are currently producing to affect the environment, ways to make your impact on the environment a good one, and ways to support both our community and our environment."
Data collected by the app is desgned to be saved into a database that the government is able to access, so that civic leaders can view trends and create action plans accordingly.
Okumo explained that he created this app using programming languages Python, HTML, Flask, SQL, and CSS.
Speaking on the inspiration for his project, Okumo said, "The main thing that inspired me was my love for the environment. God has given us such a beautiful world and left it up to us to maintain it. So I wanted to have a part in this (responsibility). I thought the best way for me to use my talents for this goal was to make an app like this, which allowed somebody to see what their current impact on the environment is, and how they can improve that impact."
Dreams to pursue software engineering, business, and the Olympics
In addition to being a talented app engineer, Okumo has dreams of entreprenuership and athletics.
"I actually have a few life goals as of right now," he began. "Firstly, with a computer science degree, I would really like to go into the field of software engineering and work in either a full-stack development position or a more front-end-focused development position."
"Secondly, I would also like to go on my own business ventures and create more businesses and apps like this one that helps to better our society as a whole," he said.
"Lastly, I am also on the track team here at Trinity and compete in long jump, triple jump, 60 meters, and the 200 meters. One of my biggest goals would be representing Canada on the world stage in competitions such as the Pan American Games, Diamond League, and the Olympics."
See this story in The Abbotsford News.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has five campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, Ottawa, and Bellingham, WA. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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