Telugu NRI girl wins prestigious award for air quality solution in UAE

15-year-old Monica Akkineni, native of Eluru in Andhra Pradesh and student in Abu Dhabi, was recognised for her groundbreaking project to improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions in classrooms

Dubai: A Telugu NRI student in UAE bagged the prestigious Shaikh Zayed Sustainability Award for developing an innovative solution, CarbonSponge, to improve air quality in classrooms. 15-year-old Monica Akkineni, native of Eluru in Andhra Pradesh and student in Abu Dhabi, was recognised for her groundbreaking project to improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions in classrooms using biodegradable carbon sponge made from coconut fibre and natural rubber infused with carbon-absorbing algae.

UAE President and Ruler of Abhu Dhabi, Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed and several royals and high-level officials attended the ceremony and presented the awards to winners. Monica, daughter of Bhupesh and Sweety, both software engineers working in Abu Dhabi, received the award from Shaikh Mohammed. Monica along with Muskan Maheswhari, also an Indian student, developed a sponge brick solution at their school, Merryland International School, which was recognised and they won the award in global high schools category.

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“It was a moment of pride to receive an award from Shaikh Mohammed, ” said Monica.

She told ‘Telangana Today’ that the younger generation is required to foster environmental awareness. The prize awarded US $1 million to each winner in health, food, energy, water and climate action categories in line with addressing the climate crisis. The Global High School category consists of six regions, each school with prize money of US $150,000.