Close the Gap invites architects, landscape architects, urban designers, engineers, and students worldwide to broaden the dialogue of alternative solutions for sustainable urban living. The competition focuses on the Midtown sector of New York City’s East River Greenway - a critical missing link in Manhattan’s alternative transportation infrastructure. Close the Gap requests urban design solutions that complete the missing link between East 38th and East 60th streets, integrating alternative means of transportation including walking, jogging, biking, etc., as well as leisure and recreation space.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced the launch of the 2011 International Smart Gear Competition today, to find innovative ways to reduce the amount of fisheries bycatch. Open to anyone from fisherman, backyard inventors and students, the competition will be open from March 1 to August 31, 2011.

Sappi announced the 2011 Call for Entries for Ideas that Matter - an annual, innovative grant program that supports and transforms the creative ideas of designers into a powerful force for social good. The Ideas that Matter grant program recognizes and supports designers who donate their time and talent to create communications materials for a wide range of charitable activities.