6 ways to save the earth
Students show ideas on how to protect the environment
Young programmers, artists and technologists from the Gulf region were asked to use their imagination, creativity and passion to create a technological innovation that will positively affect the environment. The result was six innovative ideas of high calibre that conserve energy and can be implemented at low cost.
Six teams representing the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait displayed their projects at the sixth Gulf '08 Imagine Cup, a regional competition organised by Microsoft. The competition took place at Dubai's Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa last week.
The winning team, consisting of four students from the American University of Sharjah (AUS), will travel to Paris to participate in the final round of the contest, which will take place from July 3-8.
Winning project tackles air pollution
The requirements were simple. Students were invited to let their imagination loose and use their knowledge of technology to construct the ideas that they had brainstormed. The objective was clear: to create environmental sustainability.
Each group presented their ideas. A judging panel consisting of prominent leaders in the business, information technology, academic and governmental sectors in the Gulf then asked the presenters questions on the feasibility of certain projects before they gave the final verdict.
The team from AUS focused on the issue of air quality. They created a data acquisition device that monitors air quality and predicts the future pollution levels in the area.
According to the team, citizens and non-government organisations can use it to improve the environment in their neighbourhoods. Likewise, governments can use the device to enforce environment-friendly policies.
It took them around three months to finish the project. "This involved many overnights," group mentor and AUS assistant professor Fadi Aloul said.
"We are trying to increase awareness so that the environment becomes everyone's project," students Ammar Sawas and Ahmad Wasfi told Notes.
The judges hailed the project as innovative and said it accurately measures pollution and creates awareness.
"It shows the world that our cities are polluted," said Vimal Sethi, developer and platform group manager of Microsoft Gulf. "The students took a simple idea and went from concept to actual implementation," he told Notes. "We will work with the team to prepare them to represent the Gulf in the global competition in Paris."
This year's Imagine Cup theme was chosen from the UN Millennium Development Goals, one of which focuses on environment and sustainability.
In addition to winning a trip to the finals in France, the winning group was granted $25,000 (Dh91,750) ) in cash.
"If we get the award, we will start our own business with it," Sawas had told Notes before his group was declared the winner.
Implementing projects in the UAE
Asma Saeed, Maitha Ahmad and Noora Salem of UAE University (UAEU) focused on the consequences of air pollution on public's health and introduced their Risk Monitoring and Alarm System to counter the effects.
"We worked on this project for a whole semester and we plan to expand on it and implement it in the UAE in order to help our people," Maitha told Notes.
BITS, Pilani — Dubai's students worked on a mobile application that saves energy in several ways and provides educational information on the environment.
Environment-friendly ideas
The team from the University of Bahrain came up with the idea of Cash Trash, wherein people can recycle used cans and receive credit in return. This can be redeemed for gifts and other prizes. The students explained that the more aluminium cans are recycled, the healthier the environment and the lesser energy is consumed.
Students from the University of Kuwait created an Environmental Impact Assessment-Calculation Tool, which identifies the effects of a certain project before it is implemented. According to the students, this reduces the negative impacts of certain technological projects and educates policy-makers about its downsides.
Hassan Muthaffar from the Kuwaiti group said that the group will expand on the project even though it didn't win them the cup. "We are convinced by the idea and we will continue with this initiative," he told Notes.
The sixth group, from the Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, focused on nation-wide environmental projects that could alert people to sudden environmental problems and risks.
Facts and figures on aluminium cans
- An aluminium can that is thrown away will not decompose for 500 years;
- If recycled, an aluminium can saves three hours of energy used for TV, or half a gallon of gasoline;
- 350,00 aluminium cans are produced every minute;
- Nine out of ten people would recycle if it was made easier.
What is Imagine Cup?
- A global technology competition which aims to find solutions to real world issues.
- Open to students above 16 years of age who are enrolled as students at an accredited educational institution that grants high-school or college/university (or equivalent) and who are not employees or interns of Microsoft Corporation
- The contest spans a year, beginning with local, regional and online contests whose winners go on to attend the global finals held in a different location every year.
- Students compete in various categories, known as invitationals, that include Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Development, Short Film, Photography, Interface Design, Information Technology (IT), Algorithm, and Project Hoshimi Programming Battle.
- Each year the Imagine Cup chooses its theme from the UN Millennium goals
— Source: imaginecup.com
UN Millennium Development Goals
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
- Achieve universal primary education;
- Promote gender equality and empower women;
- Reduce child mortality;
- Improve maternal health;
- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
- Ensure environmental stability;
- Develop a global partnership for development.
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