The Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge

Open to graduate students in the University of Cambridge, the challenge seeks to reward ongoing interdisciplinary research that addresses global sustainability challenges.

As part of Dow’s Sustainability commitment, The Dow Chemical Company, in association with the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, are giving 3 graduate students at the University of Cambridge a prize of £6,000 each in recognition of research that contributes to global sustainability. This is the first year of the student challenge which will be held every year.

Entries to the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge had to:
1) Focus on sustainability
2) Be interdisciplinary in their approach
3) Offer a technical or business oriented solution
4) Be Graduate-level ongoing research
5) Demonstrate excellence and innovation

Entrants were asked to provide a 500 word description of their research project, including an explanation of how it met the interdisciplinary and sustainability criteria. 42 students entered the challenge, representing a very high standard of sustainability research from across the University.

A judging panel of senior University representatives met last week and the following three students were awarded the prizes:
1. Judith Sykes, Department of Engineering
Policies for Delivering Low Impact Development in Developing Countries (MPhil)
2. Ulf Narloch, Department of Land Economy
Payments for Agrobiodiversity Conservation Services (PhD)
3. Sina Bonyadi, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Fabrication of High Performance Polymer Carbon Nano-tube Composite Membranes (PhD)

Dr Aled Jones, Deputy Director of the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership said “CPSL works with leaders from business, government and civil society to help them take action to address global sustainability challenges. A vital part of the solution to these challenges comes from University research that will underpin a transition to a new sustainable economy and to see the breadth of work that is undertaken at Cambridge has been very rewarding and we would like to congratulate the winners of this year’s challenge”.

Mark Weick, Director, Sustainability Program Management Office for The Dow Chemical Company said ,”Dow is delighted to work with CPSL to promote sustainability, and we join CPSL in congratulating the winners and thanking all of the entrants to this year’s Challenge. We intend for this Challenge, linking with Dow’s groundbreaking 2015 Sustainability Goals, to demonstrate Dow’s long-term commitment to being the most respected chemical company in the world.”

An awards ceremony will be held in late April where the winning students will present their research.

Judging panel
Dr Aled Jones, Deputy Director, Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership
Professor William Jones, Materials Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry
Philip Guildford, Director of Research, Department of Engineering
David Carter, Research Facilitator, Department of Chemical Engineering

About the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership
The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL) works with business, government and civil society to build leaders’ capacity to meet the needs of society and address critical global challenges. Its seminars and leadership groups and its partnerships with those who make or influence decisions are designed to transform public and private sector policies and practices and build greater understanding of our interdependence with one another and the natural world. Its network of alumni brings together the most influential leaders in the world who share an interest in and a commitment to creating a sustainable future.

CPSL is an institution within the School of Technology. It works in close collaboration with individual academics and many other departments of the University. HRH The Prince of Wales is its patron and it is also a member of The Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which His Royal Highness is President.