Insights from IUB’s Green Genius: Encouraging Environmental Innovation and Sustainable Solutions
The Green Plant Club of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) successfully organised the Symposium Round and award-giving ceremony for IUB Green Genius Season 04, a competition encouraging environmental innovation among students. The event was held at IUB in July 2022 and 2023, and the theme was ‘Warming Cities, Sustainable Living’ and was sponsored by Nippon Paint, along with support from Dour and Kazi Group of Companies and other partners.
In the school-college category, the champion was Team Fore from Holy Cross Girls High School, with their idea to redesign roads in Dhaka City to reduce the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Viqarunnisa Noon School and College and Notre Dame College secured the first and second runners-up positions, respectively. BACHA English Medium School, Dhaka, received an honourable mention, while the Courage Award went to the team from Chittagong Grammar School.
In the university category, GreenCap from IUB emerged as the winner with their innovative idea of launching a mobile application to promote green roofs in Dhaka, aimed at mitigating rising temperatures. Teams from the University of Dhaka and IUB secured the first and second runners-up spots.
Bushra Afreen, Chief Heat Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, attended the symposium round as the Event Ambassador and praised the competition for providing a platform for students to drive positive environmental change. She was inspired by the exceptional talents and commitment displayed by the participants and organisers.
Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, Pro Vice-Chancellor of IUB, expressed his admiration for the participants’ talent and dedication, believing that their innovative ideas would have a lasting impact on the environment. Dr K Ayaz Rabbani, Head of the Department of Environmental Science and Management, IUB, and Professor Dr Md. Abdul Khaleque also attended the award function.
The competition received an overwhelming response, with nearly 1,000 participants from over 60 schools and colleges and 45 universities in Bangladesh and abroad submitting their ideas. The Symposium Round saw 100 shortlisted teams presenting their ideas before expert judges from organisations such as BRAC, Thomson Reuters Foundation, ActionAid Bangladesh, Sajida Foundation, ICCCAD, Shine Bangladesh, CAPE, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), East West University (EWU), and IUB.
The Green Genius Season 04 successfully fostered environmental consciousness and creativity among the youth. Supported by sponsors like Nippon Paint and Dour and Kazi Group of Companies, and partners such as Golden Harvest, Mr. Noodles, Garbageman, Kaaruj Bangladesh, ICE Today, and BanglaNews24, the event provided a platform to nurture innovative ideas for a greener future.
Md Ekhetkharul Islam, Coordinator of the Green Planet Club at IUB and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Science and Management, IUB, delivered the closing remark, expressing gratitude to all participants, sponsors, and partners for making the competition a resounding success.