(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
DUBAI, 16th March, 2022 (WAM) -- Heriot-Watt University announced the winners of the recently concluded Sustainability Hackathon that brought together students and experts to address sustainability challenges in construction and the overall built environment.
Held at the UK Pavillion at Expo 2020 Dubai, the hackathon witnessed 78 individual applicants who presented various ideas showcasing challenges in the built environment and the potential solutions. Ten entries made it to the final round, where five emerged as winners.
The five winners, Ayodeji Tifase, Atsenokhai Apakhumhe from Nigeria, Jafar Adam from the UAE, Shubhankar Ghosh, and Ankita Gupta from India, presented ideas around the four central themes of the event: Sustainable Materials, Clean Energy Use, Smart Technologies, and Urban Developments. Each winner was presented with AED 15,000 worth of study scholarships at Heriot-Watt University.
The event was part of Heriot-Watt University's research efforts in accelerating the agenda to decarbonise the construction industry. Currently, the Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction (CESC) at Heriot-Watt University Dubai is working with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on the UAE cement industry decarbonisation programme. The research initially identifies the challenges preventing the decarbonisation of the cement industry before focusing on four key areas: materials and waste management, building permits and regulations, new technologies, and education.
Dr. Anas Bataw, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction (CESC) at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, said, 'The built environment continues to be of global concern due to the impact the construction industry has on sustainability. Around half of all non-renewable resources mankind consumes are used in construction, making it one of the least sustainable industries in the world. With the UAE's construction sector set to grow by 3.9 percent by 2025, it is key for the government, industry, and academia to work alongside each other to address and reduce its impact on the environment. The hackathon was a significant step towards bringing the young generation together on one platform to create solutions for environmental challenges that we witness now and will see in the future. The young minds presented impactful projects that focused on sustainable construction and building materials, embracing a low carbon future, climate crisis, and showcased current challenges and innovative solutions.'
'During the global transition to net zero, the construction sector needs to dramatically reduce the amount of carbon embedded in new infrastructure and buildings, ultimately reducing its wider impact on the environment. Through activities such as the hackathon, we can not only bring young minds together but also inspire them to be active participants in creating a more sustainable environment.'
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