DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Simon Frazer University in Canada was awarded the third place in a global award that tackles the issue of water scarcity through finding innovative solutions. The award, overseen by The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), includes three main categories: Innovative Projects Award (Small and Large projects), Innovative Research and Development Award (National and International institutions), and the Innovative Youth Award. The Canadian university won the third place in the second category.
Valued at $1m, the award was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to encourage sustainable and innovative solutions to address water scarcity using solar power. The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) oversees the award under the umbrella of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI).
The Canadian based Simon Frazer University participated in the award presenting a Heat driven and Sorption assisted Atmospheric Water Generator (HAWGen), which creates a consistently humid ambient air flow within the unit resulting in superior water generation even in hot and dry climates where conventional systems fail. The university’s efforts were recognised with the third place award.
In his speech, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia, noted that, according to UNICEF, hundreds of millions of children won’t have access to clean water in the future, and that girls now spend 200 million hours a day collecting water, which affects their education. He stated that the United Nations agency has warned us that 600 million children will live in areas with severely limited water resources by 2040, putting them at risk of deadly diseases.
HE Al Tayer said, “The Mohammed bin Rashid Global Water Award, which bears the name of a person whose generosity is not just for the people of the UAE, but also helps those in need anywhere in the world, is another significant milestone in the UAE's humanitarian efforts.”
*Source: ME NewsWire