Greening with Science, Technology and Innovation Bootcamp inspires AUS students to create innovative climate solutions

Photo caption: AUS students meet with UNESCO representative Ms. Bosen Lily Liu, Head of the Partnership and Agenda-Setting Unit at UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education (IESALC).

Students from American University of Sharjah (AUS) recently completed a 16-week “Greening with Science, Technology, and Innovation (GWSTI)” Bootcamp. The bootcamp forms a pivotal pillar of the South-South University Cooperation Network (SUCN), an initiative by UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education (IESALC) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). 

The high-intensity program brought together 10 leading universities from the Global South, with AUS selected as a leading institution from the region, to find solutions to the challenges highlighted by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AUS’ participation in the bootcamp was spearheaded by its Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center (EWSERC).

“As a hub for sustainability research at AUS, EWSERC is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research that tackles global environmental challenges. The GWSTI Bootcamp provided an ideal platform for our students to contribute to this mission. The originality and practicality of their innovations reflect how deeply sustainability is embedded across AUS, as well as the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. At AUS, we strongly believe that exposing students to industry challenges equips them with the skills and mindset needed to drive meaningful change in climate action and sustainable development,” said Dr. Mostafa, Shaaban, Director of EWSERC.

During the program, students participated in a series of capacity-building masterclasses, coaching sessions and knowledge exchange initiatives that helped them gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development.

Alongside this accelerated learning, the teams were guided by their university professors or researchers as well as coaches and experts from other Global South regions, who worked alongside them to co-design solutions in line with the UN’s SDGs, notably SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals).  

The AUS teams developed four novel solutions. The first team, led by Atef Hosny, the General Manager of Khedr Industries in Cairo, Egypt, consisted of an interdisciplinary student team—Sarah Kandil, Jana Hassan, Ziena Hassan and Layla Haylouz. Together, they successfully developed an eco-friendly and cost-effective safety equipment prototype.

"Our approach not only significantly reduced the cost of materials and production but also aligns with our commitment to sustainability by minimizing environmental impact," commented Sarah Kandil, a student who worked on the project. “We’re very excited by the potential of this product, and our goal is to set a new standard for safety gear in various industries.”

The second team was led by Dr. Fatin Samara and Dr. Sofian Kanan, both professors at AUS’ Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences. Together, they guided another interdisciplinary team of students—Kareem Mazen, Emaan Kanan and Alizah Atif—through the bootcamp. Working as a team, the professors and students developed a material that helps break down harmful chemicals in the environment. 

“This experience deepened my passion for environmental chemistry and honed my skills in different areas of material characterization and environmental impact assessment while exposing me to interdisciplinary collaboration. It also highlighted the need to bridge lab research with real-world applications,” said Mazen, an environmental sciences major at AUS.

A third team developed an electro-solar cloud conditioning tower, an innovative climate technology that leverages solar technology principles to influence cloud formation and optimize weather conditions. The team was coached by Dr. Mostafa Shaban from AUS and Dr. Pramod K. Nayar from the University of Hyderabad, and included AUS architecture major Zaina Khan, industrial engineering major Maryam Kaleem, and computer engineering majors Sidratul Muntaha Sara and Aayan Abdella. 

Finally, a fourth team designed an autonomous solar-powered golf cart capable of navigating between AUS campus buildings. This team included Dr. Mostafa Shaaban and Dr. Ammar Hasan from AUS, who coached three students—Mohammad Moosa Salman, Rhea Maria Jacob and Youssef Almousa—all electrical engineering majors. Their innovative design prioritizes energy efficiency, safety and user convenience, while integrating key features such as human and obstacle detection, lane detection, solar power integration and automated acceleration, braking and steering.

Building on their experience at the bootcamp, the student teams will have the opportunity to take part in the next phase of the project: the in-person Local Road Show. Running from March to May 2025, the road show will feature a global series of events hosted at the campuses of universities that participated in the bootcamp in which teams will showcase their prototypes to a wider audience within their university. This will be followed by an online Global Road Show, coordinated by UNESCO IESALC and UNOSSC, between May and June, where students will present their solutions to a diverse audience of global stakeholders.

“UNESCO IESALC and UNOSSC have been inspired by the active and passionate engagement that AUS has exemplified on higher education’s contribution to sustainability through science, technology, and innovation, especially from intergenerational and multistakeholder collaboration. We appreciate AUS’ dedication and expertise towards the bootcamp and look forward to strengthening our partnership with AUS going forward,” said Ms. Bosen Lily Liu, the Head of Partnership and Agenda-Setting at UNESCO IESALC. 

For more information about sustainability initiatives at AUS, please visit this page.

For more information about the AUS Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center (EWSERC), please visit this page.