UWL RAK student represents UAE and receives Nasa Space Apps Challenge Award
The University of West London – RAK Campus recently celebrated a moment of international recognition as Umamah Ali, a final-year BSc (Hons) Computer Science student, visited Nasa headquarters in Washington, DC, to receive the 'Most inspirational project award' at the Nasa International Space Apps Challenge 2024. Umamah represented both UWL RAK and the UAE, accepting the award on behalf of her team, which includes Rikzah Noorul Huda Khattal, Samira Rafiq Khan, and Shafeeqa Fathima Jahangir.
The team made history as the first from the UAE to win this prestigious recognition in a competition that saw participation from over 93,000 individuals across 163 countries. Their award-winning project, Eco-Metropolis: Sustainable City Simulation, is an educational, interactive game designed to engage youth in sustainability, climate resilience, and smart city development. By incorporating real Nasa datasets and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, the game offers a practical learning tool that empowers players to understand the importance of responsible urban planning and resource management.
"This is not just a win for UWL RAK, but a proud moment for the UAE,' stated UWL RAK leadership. "The team's innovative spirit and dedication reflect our institution's vision to nurture global changemakers who are prepared to solve the world's most pressing challenges."
The University of West London RAK campus remains committed to empowering its students to lead with innovation, impact, and purpose on both local and global platforms.
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