A miniature robot for desert seed planting and a simple solution to reduce ocean plastic: The Global Grad Show envisions a more sustainable future

The annual Global Grad Show in Dubai never lacks innovative ideas. While some may seem puzzling, others hold the potential to change the world.

Touted as the world’s most diverse collection of graduate design projects, the show focuses on finding solutions to social and environmental challenges, with the exchange of ideas and collaboration being a major draw.

This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the international exhibition was partially held virtually, though the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) segment took place in person as part of Dubai Design Week.

As in 2020, many projects addressed the pandemic, with several concepts designed for the 'new normal.' Global Grad Show director Tadeu Caravieri shared with Dinogo that this year’s event showcased 'two or three key trends.'

“There’s a growing concern about health and mental well-being,” he explained. “People are also focused on how to make the home a suitable environment for work, education, healthcare, and food security.”

As always, environmental issues were at the forefront, often intersecting with pandemic-related concerns. Dalilah Mansoor and Kaya Tueni, students from the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation, developed 'Wastology,' an indoor composting system that also functions as a herb and vegetable grower.

'We aim to tackle food waste in the UAE,' Tueni said. 'We believe this small-scale project, when implemented in homes, could have a larger global impact,' Mansoor added.

Mazyar Etehadi, a student at the same institution, also turned his attention to the home with 'A’seedbot,' a solar-powered robot designed to plant seeds in the desert. 'I just wish there were more plants and greenery out there,' he shared.

'A’seedbot' is about 20 cm (8 inches) long, designed to charge its battery during the day and operate at night. It works autonomously within a five-kilometer (3-mile) radius, with its 3D-printed legs crawling through the sand to find the ideal moisture level, detected by one of its “eyes,” for planting seeds. The robot is equipped with collision avoidance, requiring humans only to refill it.

'I thought it was a simple solution, but no one had actually done it,' Etehadi remarked, noting he is developing a version capable of navigating different types of sand and that several investors have shown interest in his project.

Meanwhile, Darya Ercivan took a fresh approach to laundry by developing a way to capture microplastics at their source. The Middle East Technical University student explained that clothing often contains plastic microfibers, which are released during washing and can eventually pollute rivers and oceans. 'I’m aiming to tackle this problem before it taints our water,' he said.

Ercivan's solution, EcoPhil, is a filter attachment that fits onto the front of the washing machine and filters the water, stopping microplastics from entering the wastewater system. Ercivan added that an app will notify users when it’s time to replace the filter.

Caravieri expects that eco-conscious innovations will only continue to grow at future Global Grad Shows. 'The discussions we’re having now will likely have an even greater impact on future applications,' he said.

He also believes the show serves as a powerful catalyst for change. 'The Global Grad Show has the power to ignite something in you,' Caravieri said. 'It motivates you, and you start to feel hopeful that change can come faster than we imagine.'

'No other group is as well-positioned as academic innovators to create real, meaningful change,' he added.