Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME) concluded its inaugural Sustainability Future Lab university challenge, a flagship youth-focused initiative designed to engage university students in developing practical, real-world sustainability solutions aligned with Bahrain’s national priorities and global climate commitments.
Following a one-week innovation sprit the challenge concluded with a student pitch showcase and awards ceremony attended by more than 100 people in the presence of H.E. Amna Hamad AlRumaihi, Chief Executive of the Supreme Council for Environment, and Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner, KPMG Bahrain, which powered the challenge alongside SFME.
Taking part in the challenge were more than 50 students, which formed seven multidisciplinary teams with students from public and private universities across the Kingdom of Bahrain. Teams were supported by nearly 20 senior and junior mentors from amongst SFME’s partners and its broader sustainability ecosystem.
Over the course of the challenge, participating teams developed innovative, scalable, and implementable solutions across a range of sustainability-focused scenarios linked to the Forum’s recently held 4th edition reflecting regional and global priorities, including climate resilience, net zero transition, carbon markets, and capacity building for sustainability delivery, aligned with Bahrain’s national goals and global climate commitments.
Following an exciting pitch showcase where the teams each presented their solution to the judging panel and audience, the winning team was announced. “The Architects,” representing the University of Bahrain, were recognised for the strength, originality, and applicability of their proposed solution for one of the challenges relating to capacity building.
The team members are Maryam Sayed Mohamed Abdulla Matooq, Nawraa Mohammed Ali Abdulla, Zainab Qatham Abdulla Ahmed Ismaeel, Maryam Sayed Jawad Darwish Alsharkhat, and Sara Abdulameer Abduljalil. The team was supported by mentors, including Amina Al Obaidli, Chief of Policies and Strategic Plans at the Urban Planning & Development Authority, and Zainab Mohamed, Urban Designer/Architect at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning.
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