These new crowdsourcing projects may have lofty ambitions, but they all aim to change the world by tapping into the power of the crowd.



The Serengeti Lion Project is one of the largest studies on lions in the world. Conducted by the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota, the Project is a major survey in the Serengeti National Park, employing the use of 230 camera traps. With over a million pictures captured each year, the researchers need internet connectivity to be able to send and analyse the data. To generate the required USD 14,000, the Project has created a crowdfunding campaign on SciFund . By acquiring internet connectivity, researchers will be able to analyse the data more quickly. Contributors will also get first access to the data and photos acquired through the Project.

Out of the wilderness, and in the urban jungle, a different crowdsourcing project is aiming to create part-time employment for those affected by the lack of jobs in the US. LawnMowingOnline might seem like a frivolous service, but the website offers those in need of extra income the opportunity to mow lawns around the country. Employers get affordable labour through a legal service. With the Occupy Wall Street movement in the US bringing the country's employment issues to light, this unique service can be seen as a step in the right direction---especially for those who have been most hit by the job drought.



Additionally, two new competitions are using crowdsourcing to find more environmentally-friendly ways to operate. German airline Lufthansa has launched a competition, called the 'Air Cargo Innovation Challenge ' that invites users from around the world to suggest ways to improve their supply chain cargo services through ‘green solutions' and 'add-on services'. Those with the best ideas will travel to Frankfurt to present their ideas to the Lufthansa management in person. They'll also receive flight simulator training and a closer look at Lufthansa's cargo business.

Another German brand, Henkel, is running a similar competition , with a goal to envision their products in 2030. Exclusively open to students in over 20 countries, including India, the competition invites students to take one of Henkel's brands or technologies ‘into the future'. This is the fifth edition of Henkel's ‘Innovation Challenge'. The top three teams will be flown to Dusseldorf to meet the CEO. The winning team will receive a ticket around the world and travel vouchers worth € 1,000.

- Tyrel Rodricks