DuPont, one of the leading market-driven science products and services companies, has today (March 11, 2010), launched an initiative to encourage United Arab Emirates (UAE) students to generate ideas and develop innovative solutions to address prevailing global environmental challenges. The ‘DuPont Bright Ideas Eco Challenge (DBIEC),’ is a science-based competition for university students in the UAE, organised in collaboration with Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) and ALHOSN University.

This competition is a part of The DuPont Community Fund (DCF), which has been established to improve the quality of life and enhance the vitality of communities in which DuPont operates. DuPont has demonstrated a strong sense of community and social responsibility since the company was founded in 1802. Each year DuPont contributes to environmental and community programs and since 1990, DCF has supported nearly 500 projects worldwide.

The DBIEC competition underlines global efforts to protect the environment and preserve its natural resources. This initiative also supports the UAE Government’s drive towards green-based programs and innovations in different sectors to foster long-term sustainable development. The competition aims to enhance youth awareness on environmental issues and solutions including energy efficiency, recycling, green initiatives, eco-friendly concepts and other innovations to aid global environmental campaign.

Hartmut Reinke, Director, Turkey, Middle East & Africa, DuPont, said, "Environmental stewardship is one of our core values that underpin our vision at DuPont. Today’s youth will inherit a world that is very different from the one our parents and the generations before them lived in. As we are now besieged with many issues that threaten our environment and our natural resources, it is inevitable that our young generation will have to assume responsibility in addressing these challenges. DuPont’s Bright Ideas Eco Challenge offers UAE university students the opportunity to become agents of change. We want them to think of ways to preserve of our environment and the community we live in."

DBIEC is open to expatriate or UAE National individuals or groups of students who are currently enrolled in any UAE university. The competition will run from March 11 – April 29, 2010 and will include one category that encompasses either ideas or implemented initiatives. ‘Ideas’ refers to the recommendation of an original idea or a concept that can be valuable to the environment or present an alternative viable solution to a current ecological concern. Submissions could range from a tool that helps to conserve energy, water, or natural resources, or a recycled product that would enable cost savings, energy and manpower. ‘Initiatives’ refers to programs that focus on environmental protection or preservation including tree planting activities, beach clean-up drives and recycling campaigns.

Participating students and groups are required to submit a detailed report with other supporting materials. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of experts from DuPont, EEG, and ALHOSN University. Three prizes, 1st prise AED 25,000, 2nd prize 18,000 and 3rd prize AED 10,000 will be awarded to the winners at an official ceremony scheduled later in the year at ALHOSN University in Abu Dhabi.

Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, EEG, said, “Environmental awareness should be encouraged at a young age so that tomorrow’s decision makers and industry leaders have a strong sense of responsibility towards the planet. We commend DuPont’s Bright Ideas Eco Challenge for encouraging students to focus their creativity and passion towards solutions for a cleaner and more sustainable environment. The younger generation should be made to feel that they are a very important part of unified efforts to solve today’s environmental challenges.”

Dr. Hamdi Sheibani, Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ALHOSN University, said, “At our University we often remind our students that they should pursue local growth with a global vision. This competition sends out a very positive message that the youth can and should make a difference, not only for their communities but for the whole world as well. We would not be surprised if we eventually see one or more of the winning entries to the Bright Ideas Eco Challenge being implemented on a national, regional or even global scale.”

For more details, students can visit the official website at http://alhosnu.ae/ecochallenge.