in late 2008 google began project 10^100, asking to share ideas that would benefit as many people as possible.

For two years people submitted more than 150,000 ideas from 170 countries and Google selected 16 big ideas for the public to vote on. Here are five ideas that received awards totaling $10,000.

Winners!
Idea: Make educational content available online for free
The Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that provides high-quality, free education to anyone, anywhere via an online library of more than 1,600 teaching videos. Awarded $2 million.

Idea: Enhance science and engineering education
FIRST is a non-profit organization that promotes science and math education around the world through team competition. Awarded $3 million.

Idea: Make government more transparent
Public.Resource.Org is a non-profit organization focused on enabling online access to public government documents in the United States. Awarded $2 million.

Idea: Drive innovation in public transport
Shweeb is a concept for short to medium distance, urban personal transport, using human-powered vehicles on a monorail. Awarded $1 million. [ designapplause opines on this big idea. ]

Idea: Provide quality education to African students
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a center for math and science education and research in Cape Town, South Africa. Awarded $2 million.

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