An American University Of Ras Al Khaimah Team Wins A Dhs25,000 Research Prize At COP28.

A group from the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) has taken home a Dhs25,000 Research Prize from ExpoLive’s University Innovation Program at COP28. The innovative BioCCS.ae project, which harvests biomass and employs microalgae to absorb CO2, is the winner.

In the prestigious competition organized by the ExpoLive program in the lead-up to COP28, the AURAK team’s innovation was up against 360 other projects submitted by 36 universities. Amidst the global leaders’ negotiations for practical solutions to climate change, the finals took place on December 10 at Expo City Dubai.

The AURAK Chemical Engineering team’s suggested remedy uses creative tubular photobioreactors to employ rapidly growing microalgae to absorb CO2 from exhaust gasses. The biomass that is produced can subsequently be utilized to make biofuels, animal feed, and food additives. Because it uses an algae strain that can grow in high temperatures and salt water conditions, the solution is specifically designed for hot regions like those found in the United Arab Emirates. This eliminates the requirement for external cooling energy and nutrient expenditure.

AURAK President Dr. David A. Schmidt stated: “The world came together at COP28 to find solutions to climate change.” The news that one of our university’s initiatives has received the research prize in the Expo Live University Innovation Program of COP28 is exhilarating.