The Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum has selected the "Eco-Machine," created by Gund Fellow John Todd, as one of the winners of its National Design Triennial. The Eco-Machine selected is housed at the Omega Center for Sustainable Living, in Rhinebeck, N.Y. "Todd's Eco-Machine is an advanced waste-water treatment system that mimics nature, using an integrated series of tanks filled with microbes, algae, plants and even fish to clean water and break down sludge." Part of the new exhibition, "Why Design Now?" Todd's Eco-Machine, with 125 other winning projects, was selected by the curators as one "the most innovative, forward thinking designs at the center of contemporary culture in the previous three years." The exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City, opens May 14 and will be on view there until January 9, 2011. "Inspired by Dr. Todd’s vision, local documentary filmmaker Kristin Alexander produced a short documentary, called Green EcoMachine. With this 11-minute film, she has exposed audiences of the Woods Hole Film Festival to the Awareness Festival in Los Angeles to the possibilities of sustainable wastewater treatment. Alexander’s work with ecological designer Dr. John Todd will be showcased at the National Design Triennial: Why Design Now? at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City, opening on May 14."