500+ Ras Al Khaimah students take part in Innovation and Sustainability Challenge as part of scientific workshop

More than 500 students from schools and universities across Ras Al Khaimah have taken part in the Ras Al Khaimah Innovation and Sustainability Challenge (RISC), which engages and educates participants on the environment and sustainability, challenging them to come up with innovative solutions to global challenges.

Organized in partnership between the University of Bolton Academic Centre – Ras Al Khaimah and the International Workshop on Advanced Materials (IWAM) science conference, RISC divides students into three categories – primary grades, secondary grades and university – with a total of six competitions in each category: poster, photography, project, presentation, case study and coloring and drawing. Winners in each category receive monetary prizes.

A separate category was created for businesses in the industrial sector of Ras Al Khaimah and individuals, who were tasked with finding solutions to a real issue, namely how to recycle or repurpose waste or used tires, with the winning idea having the potential to be implemented, benefitting local communities and the environment.

First up to fifth-placed winners of each category came from a range of universities and schools across Ras Al Khaimah, including the Higher Colleges of Technology, University of Stirling, Delhi Private School, GEMS Westminster School and Al Manar Private School.

A winners’ celebration took place at the 15^th IWAM held in Ras Al Khaimah, where students discussed their ideas with some of the world’s preeminent Advanced Materials scientists.

Raj Nambiar, Campus Director at the University of Bolton Academic Centre – Ras Al Khaimah, said: “The success of the Ras Al Khaimah Innovation and Sustainability Challenge in its inaugural edition last year meant that we were keen to expand this enjoyable and educational competition to even more Ras Al Khaimah students this year, and I’m pleased to say that the participation this year has been beyond expectations.

“Ras Al Khaimah, through the vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, has a firm focus on sustainability and enhancing educational standards for all students in the Emirate, and the Ras Al Khaimah Innovation and Sustainability Challenge is just one of the many ways in which students of all ages are being engaged to become the thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.”

Part of IWAM’s remit is to involve young people in science, to encourage a new generation of scientists in Ras Al Khaimah, which is why 12^th Grade students from schools across the Emirate were invited to attend the second day of IWAM to listen to presentations from some of the scientists in attendance, in collaboration with the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.

IWAM is sponsored by Ras Al Khaimah’s Stevin Rock, one of the largest quarrying companies in the world, with a production capacity of more than 80 million tons per year.