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ACS Doha students commit
to tackling climate change
in international competition
CS Doha is one of ten schools to participate Teams worked together to identify an environmental
in a new competition which enables children issue such as global warming, fossil fuels and
Ato develop their science and mathematics alternative energy sources, plastic pollution or food
capabilities, while engaging with experts in the waste. Once teams have selected the issue, they will
sustainability industry to help tackle climate change. It consider their solution which should be specific to their
is the only Qatari team to compete in the UK finals this school or local community, meaning that it can be put
spring. in place by teachers, students, local councillors or the
local public.
Over recent months, four teams of students from the
school have been working on entries for ACS Future Students had six weeks to develop their proposals;
Impact - a competition involving all four of ACS during the process they built confidence in science
International Schools’ campuses, as well as some of and mathematics through real-life application of their
ACS’s partner schools in the UK. learning through their international curriculum.
The inaugural competition sees students aged 7-11 Participating schools selected their top team in
working in teams to develop and present proposals February, which will progress to a live final in spring,
for how their school and/or their local community can hosted at ACS International School Cobham in the
reduce its negative environmental impact. A range UK. ACS’s Grade three students won the internal
of exciting prizes are available to help winning teams competition to progress to the international rounds
put their proposals into action and to further students’ held in the UK with their idea to install solar panels on
knowledge and understanding of environmental issues. the roof of the school in order to increase our use of
clean, renewable energy. Finalists will be allocated a
The teams that entered the competition are: mentor with expertise in environmental sustainability,
who will be able to help students develop their
GRADE 2 - ACS DOHA ECO FRIENDS proposals to the next level, ready for the live final,
where teams will pitch their proposals to a panel of
Students - Aradhana Senthil, Jana Bhatti, Navathej industry judges. In addition to the level of depth and
Sadasivuni feasibility of the solution, teams will be judged on their
Idea: To reduce the use of fossil fuels in Qatar and creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
increase the use of renewable energy sources. One prize that is up for grabs is being donated by
Idea: To install a system that re-uses waste water from Sustainable Advantage, a consultancy that helps
hand basins to flush the toilets, in order to conserve organisations become more sustainable. Sustainable
water usage. Advantage will provide three winning schools with
a comprehensive sustainability review, covering
GRADE 5 - THE COMPOST CREW environmental, social and corporate governance issues.
The three schools will also receive a bespoke action
Students - Lino Banales Merino, Anish Aravanan, Aisha plan, setting out clear targets and advice on how to
Khan, Ali El Shazly, Isaac Buhler, Taliya El Rassi achieve these in the coming year.
Idea: To install composting bins at school to create Graeme Lawrie MBE, Partnerships Director, ACS
compost for the plant beds, in order to reduce food International Schools, said: “The inaugural ACS Future
wastage. Impact competition promises to be full of excitement
and learning, raising awareness of the broad range
of environmental issues threatening the planet while
recognising that the ideas of young people have the
potential to change the world. We’re pleased to be
able to facilitate a deep dive into the environmental
issues that students care about, while giving them an
opportunity to develop key life skills such as research,
teamwork, cooperation and presentation and public
speaking. We’re looking forward to seeing what
solutions the teams come up with!”
Participating schools include:
St Peter’s Leatherhead
n
St Andrews Cobham
n
n West Byfleet Junior School
n Cobham Free School
GRADE 3 - THE SOLAR SCIENTISTS
Students - Ilyas Ahmed, Oscar Rose, Elijah Jose Pacua, n West Ashtead School
Qassem Glaied, Alaa Khodr, Joshua Bounds
n Field End Junior School
Idea: To install solar panels on the roof of the school in
order to increase the use of clean, renewable energy. n ACS Hillingdon
n ACS Cobham
GRADE 4 - THE WATER GUARDIANS
n ACS Egham
Students - Tristan Rawlinson, Alura Jumawan, Eli Palm,
Lachlan Hambly, Widad Laws n ACS Doha
34 EDUCATION
DURING THE PANDEMIC
