A remarkable achievement in sustainability was recently celebrated at the Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony in Abu Dhabi, where Monica Akkineni, a Grade 10 student at Merryland International School, was honored with the prestigious award. Her innovative project, designed to reduce carbon emissions, earned her the Global High Schools category award. What made this occasion even more special for Monica was that she was presented the award by none other than the UAE’s President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Monica’s project, developed alongside her classmate Muskan Maheshwari, focuses on creating sustainable “carbon sponge tiles” that are infused with green algae. These tiles are designed to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen, thereby purifying the air and helping combat climate change. The young innovators were inspired by the ability of algae to play a significant role in the natural process of CO2 absorption.
Speaking about the once-in-a-lifetime experience of meeting the UAE President, Monica expressed her gratitude and excitement. “Meeting His Highness was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Walking out there and meeting him… he was very patient and kind,” she said. The moment was made even more memorable when President Sheikh Mohamed praised the students for their innovative spirit. He noted that it was a proud moment to see young Emiratis contributing to sustainability efforts and global innovation.
Monica was accompanied by Muskan and their school principal, Subha Clifford, during the ceremony. As Monica received her award, Muskan and the principal cheered her on from the audience. “His Highness said he was really proud to see someone from his country receive the Prize,” Monica shared. She went on to express her admiration for the President’s focus on sustainability, adding, “I responded to His Highness that it was an honour to meet him and follow his footsteps on innovation and sustainability.”
The heartwarming moment continued when President Sheikh Mohamed gave Monica a high-five as she was about to leave the stage—a gesture that left an unforgettable impression on the young student. “It was a memorable moment,” she said, recalling the excitement of the occasion.
The inspiration behind the project came from Muskan and Monica’s shared passion for finding sustainable solutions to pressing environmental issues. Muskan explained that while brainstorming ideas for their project, the two students recognized that algae could be harnessed to tackle the growing problem of carbon emissions. “We were working on sustainable ideas and realized that algae play a significant role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We wanted to highlight algae as a solution for reducing carbon emissions,” she shared.
The innovative tiles developed by the students, named “carbon sponge tiles,” are made from sustainable materials and infused with algae. When installed as part of a “living wall,” these tiles have the potential to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that captures harmful CO2 and converts it into clean oxygen, making it a natural solution to air pollution. The tiles are designed to serve as a green technology that can be used in urban spaces, helping to improve air quality in crowded cities while contributing to the global fight against climate change.
The Zayed Sustainability Prize, named after the late founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is a global award that recognizes innovative projects aimed at achieving sustainability in various fields, including health, food, water, energy, and global high schools. Monica and Muskan’s innovative approach to sustainability in the MENA region is a shining example of how young minds are shaping the future with creative solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems.
Monica and Muskan’s success story is a testament to the power of innovation and youth-led initiatives in driving positive change. Their algae-infused tiles are not only a solution to carbon emissions but also a symbol of the future generation’s role in building a greener, more sustainable world.