Meet the Winner of the Global Graphene Challenge Competition

Graphene Challenge Overview

The Graphene Challenge was a global competition that invited individuals from around the world to submit ideas for sustainable innovations made from graphene that would revolutionize the modern household.

The Winner

Nadia Ayad

Nadia is student pursuing a bachelor's degree in materials engineering at the Military Institute of Engineering (Instituto Militar de Engenharia – IME) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Winning Idea

Nadia Ayad submitted the idea of using graphene for a filtration device and system for desalinization that would provide drinkable water to households. Her idea would significantly reduce energy costs and strain on current water supplies by recycling water.

Q&A with the Winner

How did you feel when you found out that you won The Graphene Challenge?

I felt very excited and surprised to be the winner. It was completely unexpected and that made me even happier.

How did you hear about The Graphene Challenge?

I first heard about it online through my university.

What made you decide to enter The Graphene Challenge competition?

Graphene is one of the most exciting materials right now; so I took this opportunity to learn more about it and challenge myself and see how far I could take my idea.

How did you come up with your idea for the filtration device and system for desalinization?

With increasing urbanization, globalization, and the threat of climate change, it is projected that almost half of the world will live in water-stressed areas, so there is a real need for efficient methods of water treatment and desalinization. I thought that the unique nature of graphene and its properties, including its potential as a desalinization membrane and its superior sieving properties, could be part of the solution.

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

I was always fascinated with regenerative medicine and how we could use advanced materials to fix and improve the human body. This led me to pursue a career in materials engineering with a particular focus on research work in biomaterials and tissue engineering.

What are you looking forward to the most during your trip to Sandvik Coromant’s headquarters in Sweden?

I am looking forward to meeting with top researchers in the field and experiencing first-hand how cutting edge research is conducted in a leading organization. I think it is a great learning opportunity for me and I am excited to see which methods and advanced materials are being used around Sandvik Coromant.

Who Were the Judges?

Click here to read the press release announcing The Graphene Challenge winner »