Four members of the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) community were honored by Boston Consulting Group’s V60 Awards for Sustainability Champions in the Middle East for leading the way in sustainability focused research and advocacy.

Dr. Verónica Bermúdez, Senior Research Director, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), and Dr. Sabah Mariyam, Dr. Samar ElKhalifa, and Dr. Shifa Zuhara, all alumni of HBKU’s College of Science and Engineering (CSE), join a regional network of like-minded peers dedicated to fighting climate change and pushing for a green future throughout the Arab world. The network includes innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers from the region’s  public, and private sectors.

Dr. ElKhalifa, an alumna of CSE’s PhD in Sustainable Energy program, won the award for conducting important sustainability focused research throughout her career. Her publication "Food Waste to Biochars through Pyrolysis," highlighted a promising method for transforming waste into valuable resources that could contribute to the circular economy and mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. The award recognizes her pioneering research based on the conversion of Qatari waste into valuable commodities, contributing to waste management. 

Also an alumna of CSE’s PhD in Sustainable Environment program, Dr. Zuhara received her award in recognition of her status as a rising leader in environmental sustainability. Her groundbreaking research on converting waste from Qatar’s oil and gas industry into activated carbons for water treatment and participation in events such as the 31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition demonstrated her active role in championing sustainability research.

Dr. Mariyam, an alumna of CSE’s PhD in Sustainable Energy program, collected an award for her history of environmental advocacy within the Qatari community. She was recognized for her founding of the Sustainability Student Council at Qatar Foundation’s Education City campus, which promotes environmental consciousness, and her organization of interactive workshops for primary school students, underlining her grassroots approach to promoting sustainability awareness.

Dr. Verónica Bermúdez, Senior Research Director, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, was honored for her pivotal role in spearheading renewable energy research in the Middle East and North Africa. The award acknowledged her body of work in photovoltaic technology,  which includes over 120 scientific papers published in top-tier journals.

A member of QF, HBKU strives to empower students and engage alumni to develop skills and competencies through diverse, multidisciplinary educational and social learning opportunities. For information, please visit hbku.edu.qa