Teams of student researchers from the University of Sharjah have won awards for their work on sustainability issues during their participation in a competition by a leading sustainability organization in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The students snatched their trophies during the 11th round of a cross-country championship the Sharjah Sustainability Award (SSA) holds every year.

The SSA seeks to raise awareness in schools and universities in the UAE in support of nation-wide programs to implement policies the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) pursues to preserve the country's biodiversity.

Through its activities and projects, EPAA's mission is to preserve and sustain environment, draft policies and legislation to conserve natural resources, and raise environment awareness and protection in the Emirate of Sharjah.

SSA's annual competition, first organized in 2014, includes two award categories – the first is open for government and private schools and the second is reserved for universities.

This year's university level sustainability championship, held in mid-April, saw 11 universities taking part. In four of the six sustainability themes, student researchers from the University of Sharjah won top places.

Some 196 schools and 11 universities took part in the competition. The award-giving ceremony held at Al Qasimia University honored 114 winners for research contributions tackling topics such as sustainable environment, artificial intelligence, and science in general.

The competition areas in which Sharjah University students topped peers in other universities included scientific research in sustainability, future energy and emissions and sustainability in protecting human health and the environment.

Khalifa University students won the top prize for their research on preserving and protecting natural environment resources. The first prize for sustainable design and construction went for student researchers from the University of Ajman.

Honoring the winners, Hana Saif Al Suwaidi of the EPAA said she was pleased to see the competition garnering such interest from schools and universities in the country and noted with interest the topics of research tackled this year.

"The Sharjah Sustainability Award aims to promote the concept of a sustainable green environment, reflecting the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, on the importance of protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity in the Emirates," Al Suwaidi said.

In a statement to Sharjah 24, she highlighted the role SSA plays in promoting "the concept of a sustainable green environment, based on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, on the importance of protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity in the Emirates."

“The importance of launching the award lies in the involvement and initiative of all school and university students, in addition to the administrative and teaching bodies of the participating schools, in a way that contributes to developing their perceptions of independent projects, ideas and activities, to promote the principle of sustainable study environments within the environmental specifications globally."