Zurich University of the Arts

PROJECTS 2025

Chornozem

glass microbe grand prize winner

Olivia Menezes, Kirill Kohl, Yaroslava Shylyk

Chornozem addresses the ecocide caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, focusing on agricultural soil contamination from heavy metals in munitions and fuel. This pollution threatens ecological health and the region’s economic stability. The project develops a low-cost, field-ready method to detect contamination by mixing a modified curcumin solution— which visibly reacts to heavy metals—into fertilizer applied to fields. Using repurposed military drones and computer vision, contamination maps guide targeted remediation. This open-source system empowers farmers to conduct assessments themselves, advocating for ecological accountability and recognizing ecocide as a crime rather than collateral damage.