Young people are growing up in a world that is finally coming to terms with humanity’s disregard for the impact we have the climate. Record breaking temperatures, unprecedented wildfires, loss of biodiversity, the list goes on. Most understand the problem, few are actively working to solve it. Marta is one of those few.
Listen to our conversation with Marta Bernardino - a 19-year-old trying to solve deforestation with tree-planting robots.
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Marta’s story is evidence of how childhood curiosity can evolve into real-world impact. Growing up helping her father in his car mechanic workshop, she developed a passion for robotics at 9 years old. She simultaneously grew up witnessing the environmental changes in Portugal’s countryside — from deforestation to beach pollution — which inspired her to leverage her skills in robotics to solve these huge issues.
Together, we discuss her journey developing Trovador, a six-legged robot designed to tackle Portugal’s reforestation challenges. She shares her experience building the first prototype for just $15, winning support from National Geographic, and preparing for their upcoming pilot program.
This episode offers insight into how to be scrappy about getting your ideas into the world, finding your purpose and why that matters, and how builders around the world are attempting to solve some of the world’s largest challenges with the technologies they know best. Enjoy the conversation.
(01:15) – Early beginnings in mechanics and robotics
(02:27) – Finding purpose through her community
(06:18) - Challenges with traditional education
(12:36) - The importance of finding purpose
(30:24) – Building a $15 prototype
(34:55) - How the robot actually works
(42:03) - Future plans for her startup, Trovador
(45:33) - Building credibility and partnerships with municipalities
Find Marta on the internet:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martabernardino/
Trovador: https://trovador.eu/
Twitter: https://x.com/MartaBernardin
Merge is a club for microgrant recipients working on big ideas. Meet new builder friends and make progress on your project: https://merge.club
Are you looking to apply to grant and fellowship programs? Use our Grant Guide: https://merge.club/guide
Hosts:
Julian Weisser: https://x.com/julianweisser
Ari Dutilh: https://x.com/aridutilh
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