A FILIPINO research project bested hundreds of entries worldwide in this year’s Zayed Sustainability Prize (ZSP), one of the biggest global competitions that promote renewable-energy solutions.
Muntinlupa National High School (MNHS) research teacher and 2016 Metrobank Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines awardee Ma. Regaele Olarte, along with other research proponents, received the award during the recent opening of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The RevAMP: Revitalized Algae Micro-farming research proposal from MNHS envisions a scalable local microfarm to produce high-value products from green algae (chlorella vulgaris).
The state secondary school proposes an efficient algae cultivation with photobioreactors for algae products that provide feedstock, and are related to energy, water, food and health.
The researchers aim to build a community hub that will serve as an off-campus research and training facility. This center hopes to cater to research and product development of the project. It also intends to serve as a training hub for livelihood.
MNHS’s research proposal won in the Global High School category for East Asia and Pacific of the international prize. The team received $100,000 research funding from the UAE government.
This is the second time MNHS was named finalist in the competition. Prior to being chosen as a finalist last year, the initially proposed Comperehensive Algae Microfarm Project was gradually started and the concept was taken to a wider scope.
Other finalists in the same bracket included Fiordland College in New Zealand, Nabala Secondary School in Fiji and Lowanna College in Australia.
Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi lauded the research team from MNHS for bringing pride not only to the country, but especially to Muntinlupa.
He hopes they will serve as an inspiration for local students to also explore research work on renewable energy and sustainability, and be able to contribute not only to the community, but also to a global platform.
Gracing the ceremony were Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi represented by United Arab Emirates Vice Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil also attended the event and praised the research team from MNHS as the country’s pride.
Other members of the delegation team included Muntinlupa Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Mauro de Gulan, MNHS Principal Dr. Rante Marmeto, research teacher Jason Albaro and student-researcher Maria Eliza May Faldas. Formed in 2008, the Zayed Future Energy Prize recognizes the environmental legacy of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE.
In April 2018 the prize adapted its focus with a view to affecting greater impact across multiple sustainability sectors. In order to reflect this evolution, it was renamed the Zayed Sustainability Prize.
The prize has been aligned more closely with the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE national development agenda.