A Telugu NRI student from Abu Dhabi has earned the prestigious Shaikh Zayed Sustainability Award for her creative concept to improve air quality in classrooms. Monica Akkineni, a 15-year-old from Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, was awarded for creating “CarbonSponge,” a biodegradable solution composed of coconut fibre and natural rubber combined with carbon-absorbing algae.
The project, which aimed to cut CO2 emissions and improve classroom air quality, received honours in the Global High Schools category. Monica worked with another Indian student, Muskan Maheshwari, at Merryland International School in Abu Dhabi, to develop the sponge brick solution.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, attended the awards ceremony, as did other royals and high-ranking officials. Monica, the daughter of software engineers Bhupesh and Sweety, accepted the award directly from Shaikh Mohammed.
Monica acknowledged her satisfaction in obtaining the award, emphasising the importance of youngsters in raising environmental awareness. The Shaikh Zayed Sustainability Award honours initiatives in health, food, energy, water, and climate change, with a $1 million prize fund for the winners in each area. The Global High Institutions category awards $150,000 to institutions in six locations.
