The world’s population continues to grow rapidly. In 2011 the world population hit 7 billion people, which is double that of 1965. Only 10 percent of all land is able to be farmed and, already, one billion people suffer from malnutrition. As citizens of our planet, students have an important responsibility to understand the impact of population growth and how it will affect future generations.

“The World of 7 Billion PSA Contest” gives teachers an excellent opportunity to inspire students to learn about our world’s population and how it impacts food, wildlife habitats, and the global status of women and girls. Launched last year, the contest offers an immersive, project-based experience for students as they explore these issues—and a chance to win $6,000 in prizes from Population Connection.

​Encourage your students to complete their projects soon.
This contest ends in 4 weeks!

In this WATcast you’ll hear from Anthony Warzecha, a Pre-AP World History Teacher from Floresville, TX, who describes how participation in the contest boosted his students’ leadership and technology skills and opened up their awareness to the larger world. Crossing the curriculum from biology to social studies, the contest allowed students to work together in creative ways to produce the most powerful messaging for their PSAs. You’ll also hear from Pam Wasserman, Vice President for Education, Population Connection, as she shares facts and insights about world population and the contest.

To learn more visit World of 7 Billion.

Sponsor:
Population Education brings timely, real-world issues into the classroom.

World population recently reached 7 billion and continues to grow, changing the way we use natural resources and function as societies. Population Education is the ultimate multidisciplinary field—it’s ecology, human geography, environmental studies, anthropology, economics, biology, public health, sociology, history and civics all rolled into one, with a good bit of mathematics to help us understand where we’ve come from and where we might be headed.

Wildlife Habitat: An endangered Greater Adjutant stork perches amidst a construction site in Guwahati City, the capital of northeast India's Assam state. Estimated at less than 1,000 individuals in 2008, this species exists at its greatest concentration in Assam. © 2004 Ritu Raj Konwar, Courtesy of Photoshare

Status of Women: Children attend school in the Visayas region of central Philippines. In the Philippines, 38 percent of the population is under the age of 15, while only 4 percent of the population is over 65. © 2000 Liz Gilbert, Courtesy of Photoshare

Large Population: Human and traffic congestion along Apapa-Oshodi Express Way in Lagos, Nigeria. The city population, estimated at approximately fifteen million people, continues to grow quickly despite the city's very slow infrastructure development. © 2006 Kunle Ajayi, Courtesy of Photoshare

Food Security: Farmers plant paddy saplings in a field at Ankuti village in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. © 2009 Rajib Singha, Courtesy of Photoshare