Monica Akkineni, a Grade 10 student from Merryland International School in Abu Dhabi, was honored with the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize for her innovative project aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The award was presented to her by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on January 14.
Monica’s project, developed with her classmate Muskan Maheshwari, involved creating carbon tiles infused with green algae to purify the air. The tiles, called “carbon sponge tiles,” are designed to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The inspiration behind the project came from the duo’s research on sustainable solutions, where they realized the potential of algae, particularly chlorella vulgaris, in reducing carbon emissions.
Monica shared her excitement about meeting His Highness Sheikh Mohamed, describing the moment as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She expressed her admiration for his kindness and patience during the ceremony, and how he showed pride in seeing a local student win the prestigious award.
Their project was tested by placing tiles in glass houses and measuring the CO2 levels. The results showed a significant reduction in CO2 levels in the house with the tiles, dropping from 1,170 ppm to 770 ppm in just an hour, proving the effectiveness of the project in improving air quality.
School principal Subha Clifford praised the achievement, highlighting the school’s ongoing efforts to tackle pollution in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With plans to expand the project, the team is confident that the carbon sponge tiles will have a lasting impact on public spaces in the future.
