Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), honoured winners of the 8th edition of the Sharjah Sustainability Award (SSA), at a virtual ceremony organized on August 12. The ceremony was held in the presence of HE Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of EPAA,jury members, collaborated institutions, and award participants.
26 winners from schools and 30 winners from universities were recognized during the ceremony. Additionally, all individuals that participated in several on campus sustainable initiatives, contributing towards reducing energy consumption were also recognized for their efforts.
All those gathered for the ceremony were later addressed with a speech by the Chairperson of EPAA, later followed by a speech from the jury members. Attendees also got a peek into videos from previous award sessions.
Wide participation reflecting the objectives of the award
Al Suwaidi,said: “Sharjah Sustainability Award focuses on promoting a sustainable green environment. It is based on the vision of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who has always highlighted the significance of sustainable development through protecting the environment and conserving biodiversity in Sharjah. Launching the Sharjah Sustainable Award in schools and universitiesis an important part of EPAA’s objectives that are aimed at promoting sustainability through encouraging schools’ and university students to develop their own perceptions, projects, ideas and activities that focus on promoting a sustainable green environment, meeting global environmental standards.”
“Several university students participatedinthe domain of applied and assessment scientific research as well as other domains. Thedesign models for environmental sustainable solutions that can be applied on ground and the sustainable architectural design in the built environment were characterized by modernity, innovation, and are of great benefit to a range ofbeneficiaries. These covered different sectors in renewable energy, water, industry and sustainable agriculture,” he further added.
Al Suwaidi confirmed that thisyear’s SSA workshops, held as part of the award witnessed an exceptionally large turnout of participants. 332 students and 78 administrative members from schools inSharjah, Ajman and Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al-Ain, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah and Umm Al-Quwain, as well as the increase in the number of talented students in the field of creative writing for the short story.
The increase in participation, largest since inception of Award
127 schools from across various emirates’ have participated in the award this year, and 175 student from universities, the highest ever since its inception. This year, there were seven domains for schools to participate inand 13 categories of honour under the “Green Schools Category,” award. There were six domains for universities to participate with nine exclusive honour categories for them.
Several new awards introduced in this year’s edition
An award for the “Outstanding Environmental Domain Manager,” was introduced under the “Green Schools,” category. The award acknowledges the contribution of the individual who has played a prominent role in increasing awareness and highlighting the importance of adopting sustainable environmental practices.
Under the universities category, an award for sustainable architectural design in buildingswas introduced.The award required presenting a project model that highlights the methods and aspects of sustainability in each of the cooling, heating and ventilation systems, and sustainable energy production methods for generating electricity in a building using sustainable materials. Prizes for photography submissions,include submitting five pictures showcasing the most important threats to biological diversity in the Arabian Peninsula.
Collaborators
A range of government and private instutions support the Sharjah Sustainability Award every year. These include Ministry of Education, Sharjah Education Council, Sharjah Private Education Authority, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, American University of Sharjah, University of Sharjah,Skyline University College, Al Qasimia University, Sharjah Radio and Television Authority, Arabic Language Protection Association and Union of Arab Photographers.
Jury Members
Dr. Mohamed Abouleish, Dr.Maher Bahloul, Dr.Kristen Highland and Dr.Ana MilenaGavassa from American University of Sharjah.From University of Sharjah Dr.FaizaNaser andRand Saad were present as members of Jury. Eng. GhadaJumaa and Rashid Al Marzouqii from Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Khouloud Al Owais from Sharjah Education Council, Khadija Ba Makhrama from Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, Ibtisam Al-Shayeb and MuhannadKarim from Sharjah Radio and Television Authority, Dr. Ali Al Hammadi from the Arabic Language Protection Association., AdeebShaban from Union of Arab Photographers.andAsma Al Zarounian emaratiwriter.
Schools’ Winners
In the domain of electricity and water rationalization, Al-Bas’ir Private School won the Award of the Outstanding School’s Category, Reem Mahmoud Abdel-Fattah, Principal of the School, and Amani Abdel-Jabbar won the Outstanding Coordinator’s AwardfromAl Ahliyya private school-Ghubaiba branch, won the outstanding team award category, the award went for the students from Al KhawaneejSchool in DubaiFatima Hasan Ibrahim Zakery, Hind Ibrahim Hilal, Alia Hashem Al Falasi. GhalaSaryan Al Shahran. Hamda Mohamed Al Awadiand Maria Abdullah Al Rum and supervisiorBayan Muhammad Raouf.
In the domain of sustainable environmental project, under the Outstanding School’s category was awarded to JumanaBintAbiTalib School, School Principal, Fawzia Abdullah Al-Jarrah Al-Hammadi, and Dr. Rashid Ali Abdul Rahman Hashem from Al-Mu’tasim School in Abu Dhabi won the Outstanding Coordinator’s Award,, and for the Outstanding Team Category, the award went for the team of students from Al-Madam Primary and Secondary School AliaAjeel Al Ketbi, ShahdKhaled Al-RabeiRabai, Shiraz Muhamad Al-Baz, Marwa Salem BinTuwairesh, Reem Saif Al-Mansouri, Inas Abdul-AbdulmonemAlamaren, and team supervisiorMona Asaad Al-Harek.
In the domainof designing three educational awareness models, the Outstanding school’s award category, went to Al Rushed American Private School, the school principal, Muhammad Zaghdoud, and to the school’s director, Dr. Asma Muhammad Al-Darmaki, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, Kalba Branch.
As for the domain of writing the short story in Arabic Language the category of the Outstanding student’s award, went to the student Shamma Abdullah Al-Sabousi, fromAl Resalah Mixed School in Abu Dhabi . Amna Muhammad al-Suwaidi was the student’s supervisor and for the domain of the green school, AlManarModel School – won the prize of the Outstanding school, principal, Aisha Abdullah Ibrahim Al Jasmi.
University Winners
As for the university winners, in the field of applied scientific research, the OutstandingStudent’s Award Category, from the American University of Sharjah,Iman Al Shaeikh under the supervision of Professor Jerry Kolo, and the Outstanding Team Award category went to the University of Sharjah’s team Moza Al-Sheraiji Al-ketbiand Bashayer Abdul Salam Abdullah Al Shehhi, supervisor Dr. Abdul-Hay -Alami was the supervisor . and for the winners in the field of assessmentscientific research, for the Outstandingstudent’s award, MyasarKhairiAbulkhair from the University of Sharjah, won the prize , and supervisorDoctor WalidZiada. The team of students from the University of Sharjah won the prize of the Outstanding team award category for their innovative assessment research, Muhammad YamanTaha, Abdullah Ismail, KussaiWalid, and the supervisordoctor Ghazi Al-Khatib.
Regarding the domain of designing an environmental model for sustainable environmental solutions, Khalifa Ali Mal Allah andMustafa Kur, and Doctor in Charge KaramatAteeqShafat Ahmed from Skyline University College won the prize of Outstanding Team Award Category, as well as from the University of Sharjah Sarah MamounAl Marzooqi , NadaNouichi , and Maryam Hassan Al Ahli, and the Supervisor professor, Mamdouh Al Hajj Asaad.
In the domain of sustainable architectural design in buildings, the OutstandingTeam Award category, went to the American University of Sharjah, AashikaShibu, and the student AkhilaGirijanthe supervisoris doctor Cristiano Luchetti, and in the domain of the Sustainable Campus he University of Sharjah under the supervision of Professor Imad Al-Suyouf and Professor Muammar Al-Tayyeb won the prize of the Outstanding Green Campus,and in the field of photography, for the outstanding student’s Award category,YedhuGopan from the American University of Sharjah won the prize .
The Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority seeks to protect the environment, natural reserves, wildlife and their biological diversity by conducting scientific studies and research and implementing measures for pollution control. In addition the Authority seeks to increase awareness by educating individuals on the principles of sustainable development that could help preserve natural environmental resources, beneficial for the use and purpose of study among future generations.