High school innovators Justin Tan and Aaron Tan are reshaping environmental education with their Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) Games, an interactive program that teaches students how to generate electricity using the microbes in garden soil. By combining scientific discovery, hands-on experimentation, and renewable energy education, their initiative is inspiring youth to tackle climate change with curiosity and innovation.
Since launching MFC Games in 2021, the brothers have engaged over 500 students across Alberta, delivering workshops through schools, environmental organizations, and the Calgary Mayor’s Environmental Exposition. Their flagship event, the MFC Olympics, allows students to experiment with MFC technology in a collaborative, competitive setting, reinforcing real-world STEM skills. They have since expanded their reach through MFC Play (a storytelling-based learning tool) and MFC Coaching (a mentorship program empowering past participants to lead their own workshops).
