Semi-Finalists for the 2012 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Announced!

Every year, the <a href="http://bfi.org/">Buckminster Fuller Institute</a> hosts a competition inviting designers and innovators to tackle some of the planet's most pressing problems in the spirit of the late, great architect and inventor for which the organization is named. Because of its focus on humanitarian and environmental design, it's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/buckminster-fuller-challenge/">one of our favorite contests</a>, so we were excited to learn that the semi-finalists for the <a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/">2012 Buckminster Fuller Challenge</a> have been announced! Click through our gallery to see them all and tell us which one you think should be the winner by commenting below.

Using timberless vaulted earth brick houses, <a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Earth_Roofs">Earth Roofs of the Sahel</a> plans to develop sustainable housing in the Sahel ecoregion of Africa.

<a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Polydome">Polydome</a> seeks to develop economically viable greenhouses that contain a symbiotic ecosystem of plants, animals, and fungi.

<a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_She28">SHE28</a> seeks to help women start their own businesses by manufacturing and distributing locally produced, low-cost, eco-friendly menstrual products.

<a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_EcoFuel">Eco-Fuel Africa Limited</a> produces clean cooking fuel and organic fertilizers from agricultural waste.

<a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Living_Challenge">The Living Building Challenge</a> is a certification program that promotes buildings that are fully integrated into the surrounding ecosystem.

<a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Minvayu">MinVayu</a> is seeking to bring small-scale, affordable wind power to small villages in rural India.

Using a pedal-powered generator, <a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Nuru">Nuru Energy</a> aims to replace kerosene lamps in rural households with affordable off-grid light. The lights cost just $6, and Nuru is also developing a network of entrepreneurs who will sell lights and recharge them for a fee.

Through small grant-giving, <a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Spark">Spark Microgrants</a> provides international aid that encourages communities take control of their own future.

With 870 initiatives in 34 countries, Transition to a <a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Transition">Low-Carbon Future</a> is developing community-scale resilience to climate challenges.

The Tamera Peace Research Center in Southern Portugal is establishing a <a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Tamera">Water Retention Landscape</a> as a model for natural water management that could be used in most of the world's climate zones

<a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_CommCare">CommCare</a> seeks to overcome the challenges of of training, supervising, and monitoring India’s health workforce using an innovative mobile platform.

<a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_FutureofFish">Future of Fish</a> is a business incubator for business that seek to promote sustainable seafood and marine conservation.

The <a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_PortableLight">Portable Light Project</a> produces affordable, solar textile kits that can provide work and light to the world's poorest people

<a href="http://challenge.bfi.org/2012Semi_Finalist_Biolite">BioLite</a> is a biomass cookstove that converts waste heat into electricity, reduces smoke emissions by 95% for improved health. It also provides mobile phone and LED light charging capability.