Promising young researchers from around the world are visiting the Federal Republic of Germany in October to present and discuss their projects in the field of sustainable development with German elite researchers during a two-week expedition to sustainability hotspots.

The 25 international awardees of this year’s Green Talents Competition (www.greentalents.de) have travelled to Germany to attend the Science Forum for talented junior researchers from the field of sustainability science. 2019 marks the ten-year anniversary of the programme under the motto “Smart Green Planet – Solutions for a Sustainable Future”. The awardees’ individual research profiles can be accessed on our website: https://www.greentalents.de/awardees-2019.php.

The Green Talents programme is held under the patronage of the Federal Minister of Education and Research, Ms Anja Karliczek. The award has been honouring talented researchers since 2009 and provides young scientists with a platform for sharing their innovative green concepts to help shaping a more sustainable future. This year, a high-ranking jury of German experts selected 25 up-and-coming researchers from among 837 applicants and 97 countries, which marks a new high score of applications received. Furthermore and for the first time ever, winners from Cameroon, Lebanon, Morocco and Papua New Guinea are among the chosen awardees.

In the coming days, the Green Talents will be visiting German research institutions, universities and organisations concerned with sustainability science and discuss their projects with local experts. Among the research institutions included in this year’s programme are the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Saarbrücken, the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security in Bonn, RWTH Aachen University, and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy. Furthermore, Germanwatch e. V., a non-governmental  organisation based in Bonn will be visited, as well as the company Covestro AG, which will present itself at K 2019, a trade fair for plastics and rubber in Düsseldorf. To celebrate the 10^th anniversary, the tour ends this year with a major Networking Conference, bringing together the awardees, further distinguished German experts from the field of sustainability research, and selected Green Talents alumni.

By establishing contacts with the German science community and exchanging ideas with its key innovators, the awardees will be able to lay the foundations for future cooperation. These efforts are supported by the invitation to return to Germany in 2020 for a fully funded research stay at an institution of their choice.

The 25 Green Talents will be honoured by Parliamentary State Secretary Dr Michael Meister during a festive award ceremony within the framework of the Networking Conference, attended by embassy representatives, key representatives of the German sustainability landscape, former awardees, and other renowned guests.

 Date: 24 October 2019, 10.00 a.m.-12.00 p.m.Venue: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Kapelle-Ufer 1, 10117 Berlin Room: Alexander von Humboldt

GREEN TALENT COMPETITION 2019 : INDIA​N​​ 4 ​WINNERS  

Debanjan Das, PhD Student in Chemistry; Research focus: Material science, water splitting, hydrogen production, and electro-catalysts: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, INDIA

The jury especially valued Debanjan’s contribution to electrolytic hydrogen technology which is highly significant to the storage of solar energy. They also lauded the versatility of his research and in regard to glucose sensors his practical approach to an urging medical issue.

 Priyanka Sarkar, PhD Student in Ecology and Environmental Science; Research focus: Ecosystem services, conservation and sustainable management of wetlands;ASSAM UNIVERSITY, INDIA

The jury was convinced by Priyanka’s strong interdisciplinary interests and her comprehensive approach to her topic. Through this, her study can set an important impulse for sustainable management of tropical wetlands. Besides her research she is engaged in various awareness and conservation programmes involving the local communities.

Dr Vikram Soni, PhD in Mechanical Engineering; Research focus: Phase change material-based waste energy storage and recovery for comfort management, and thermal performance enhancement using nano-additives; INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KANPUR, INDIA

The jury recognises Vikram’s important contribution to finding solutions for sustainable and affordable energy available to people in developing and emerging countries. The jury also values his engagement in a technical society to provide much-needed exposure to real-life engineering problems for researchers and students.

Dr Sheikh Adil EDRISI, PhD in Environmental Science and Sustainable Development; Research focus: Land management, bioenergy, and ecosystem services; BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, INDIA The jury was very impressed by Adil’s strong interdisciplinary interests and his work on finding promising solutions for the use of formerly “useless or neglected” land with multiple benefits. Through this, these lands can become a driving force to meet several SDGs simultaneously, which is imperative not only for the smart and sustainable land utilisation in India but for the global land management