Abie Franklin

Working as a surf teacher in Tel Aviv, where he grew up, two issues stood out for Abie: aging infrastructure and water pollution. Now he’s working on tackling both. His project, Wavesoaker, re-imagines the traditional “breakwater,” an off-shore structure that intercepts the currents to protect the coast. Abie’s version is a nifty combination of carbon-negative modules that creates a sustainable defensive system for both people and the planet. The secret ingredient is a novel sponge-like structure, which operates as a removable filtration system. When Abie moved to Berlin to study Fine Art, he noticed the enormous amounts of waste produced on campus every day. He co-founded Re-Lab, a space for experimentation, and embarked on his journey. Thanks to its filtration system, the young changemaker is sure his Wavesoaker will reduce plastic pollution measurably.