Young Academics Track

Total of 25 students teams will be selected to join this unique and exiting innovation journey

Challenge-based Learning

The Young Academic Track focuses on challenge-based learning, where university students from partnering countries work in teams to develop their ideas and solutions to one of 6 sustainability challenges below. The sustainability challenges are brought forward by global partners and the selected student teams will be provided with a detailed challenge brief along with direct contact and mentorship from the challenge partners. 

Challenge 1

Inclusive and Integrated Water Resource Management

Green Strategic Partnership.
NITI Aayog - AIM Atal Innovation Mission.
Innovation Centre Denmark.
Ministry of Environment of Denmark

Health

Rethinking resources

Climate adaptation

Inclusivity

How can we develop to utilize water systems as multifunctional spaces that support recreational activities or promote inclusive communities while acting as effective water resource management systems – especially in rural areas?

#Water Resource Management #Multifunctional space #Community #Designing for Inclusion #India

  • Denmark 1

    Denmark 1

    Solving Water Scarcity and Pollution: A Sustainable Solution for Sulur City, Tamil Nadu ➔

  • Mexico 3

    Mexico 3

    Water resource as a catalyst for community integration. ➔

  • South Africa 1

    South Africa 1

    Hydro-integrators ➔

  • India 3

    India 3

    Compost Toilet design integrating Microbial Fuel cells (MFC) ➔

  • India 1

    India 1

    Creating Inclusive Livelihoods: Fisheries and Ecotourism ➔

Challenge 2

Sustainable Homes of the Future – for People and Planet

Velux.

Health

Rethinking resources

Climate adaptation

Resilient communities

How might we design and build the homes for the future in a way where they have a low impact on the environment and at the same time provide inclusive, healthy indoor environments?

#Sustainable homes #Indoor Climate #Thermal Comfort #Daylight #Well-being

  • South Africa 2

    South Africa 2

    Creating Sustainable Homes for Resilient Communities in South Africa ➔

  • Ghana 1

    Ghana 1

    The Green Crew – Culturally Inclusive Inter-Generational Sustainable Home ➔

  • Denmark 2

    Denmark 2

    atmosphere+ for everyone Engineering without engines ➔

  • Mexico 1

    Mexico 1

    RevitaRoof – Transform an inadequate space into a healthy and affordable one ➔

Challenge 3

Conceptualizing Regenerative Thinking & Systems at Urban Scale

Henning Larsen.
Rambøll.

Rethinking resources

Resilient communities

How might we get people involved in making homes and neighborhood’s regenerative?

#Regenerative Urban Development #System Thinking #Leaving No One Behind

  • Mexico 2

    Mexico 2

    “Para encontrarnos” system offers a restructuring of our urban system. ➔

  • Korea 1

    Korea 1

    We are creating a way to include expats living in Korea who are feeling left out on the activities neighborhoods. ➔

  • Colombia 1

    Colombia 1

    Re-inhabit the ancestral territory. ➔

  • Denmark 3

    Denmark 3

    Making the Cities of the Future NET POSITIVE ➔

  • Kenya 1

    Kenya 1

    A Nature-based approach to urban regeneration creating resilient communities and fostering harmonious coexistence with nature. ➔

Challenge 4

Data Driven Water Quality

Ghana Water Company Ltd.
LE34.

Health

Rethinking resources

Resilient communities

How can data and inclusion improve water quality and sanitation in the Greater Accra Region?

#Digital #Water #Inclusive Solution #Ghana

  • Kenya 2

    Kenya 2

    Inclusive City Solutions Targeting Households ➔

  • Denmark 4

    Denmark 4

    SafeSip – Data and inclusion to improve water quality and sanitation in the Greater Accra Region ➔

  • India 4

    India 4

    Harnessing Data for Water Quality Enhancement in Accra ➔

  • Ghana 3

    Ghana 3

    H2O Heroes ➔

Challenge 5

The Red Light, Green Light of Inclusive Smart Cities – Ensuring Inclusivity While Balancing Innovation and Tradition

K water.

Rethinking resources

Inclusivity

How might we develop smart cities that are innovative and take advantage of the newest technologies while not leaving any of its citizens behind?

#Public Living Lab #Korea #Citizen Inclusion #Smart Cities #Inclusivity #Resilience #Public-Private Partnership #Eco-system #Innovation #Tradition

  • Korea 4

    Korea 4

    LUMOS – effectively bridging the first and last mile of journeys ➔

  • Korea 3

    Korea 3

    Ensuring inclusivity while balancing innovation and tradition. ➔

  • Denmark 5

    Denmark 5

    A space that includes the citizens in every step of the way ➔

  • Colombia 2

    Colombia 2

    SmartBloom – A modular architectural system inspired by the lotus flower ➔

  • Ghana 2

    Ghana 2

    Smart City strives to balance innovation with innovation and tradition. ➔

Challenge 6

Behavioral Change for Water Justice

Water Research Commission.

Parnership for change

Resilient communities

Inclusivity

How might we change people’s behaviour to reduce water consumption and improve water security?

#Water Security #Behaviour Change #Water demand & supply #water scarcity #Sustainable behaviour, #Households

  • Korea 2

    Korea 2

    Vibration-Based detection of leaks in toilets ➔

  • Kenya 3

    Kenya 3

    H2-ALL: Making Water Accessible To All ➔

  • India 2

    India 2

    An app designed exclusively for high-income households to track and optimize their water usage. ➔

  • South Africa 3

    South Africa 3

    Empowering the community of Sankontshe Location to be water champions through WhatsApp. ➔

What About Architecture?

You might be wondering: “What about architecture? I thought this was an initiative that is part of the World Congress of Architects“.

The purpose of the congress is to create a platform to discuss how architecture can contribute to a sustainable future – leaving no one behind. This is a holistic challenge, and UIA is inviting “the whole built environment” to participate in the discussion, where NGCA is a key initiative in doing so by bringing together and into the congress, young academics and entrepreneurs from diverse cultures and fields.