The Prototypes for Humanity Awards celebrate the next generation of innovators and their commitment to finding solutions for social and environmental issues.
Since 2017 prizes have been presented to outstanding participants from the showcase each year, awarded to academic innovators who use problem-solving to address challenges of global proportions. An independent jury selects recipients, enabling them to further develop their projects.
In 2024, $100,000 in prizes will be presented to the students and lead professor behind each of the best solutions across 5 categories:
– Health
– Energy
– Civil Society
– Nature
– Data science and AI-enabled solutions (across all above)
The selection criteria to the exhibition remain originality, positive impact for people and the planet and use of technology (low or high tech). The level of matching between any given application and the categories above will not be a decisive factor for the exhibition selection.
Chaired by Her Highness Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, and member of the Dubai Council, the jury for the 2024 Awards includes leaders across private and public sector, and intergovernmental agencies, who contribute their expertise to select projects with outstanding potential:
In 2023, $100,000 in prizes was presented to the students and lead professor behind each of the best solutions across 5 categories, reflecting key COP28 themes.
Nature, Food and Water Systems
HyaPak, Turning invasive weeds into eco-friendly bioplastics
By Joseph Nguthiru. Egerton University, Kenya
Health, Relief and Safety
Golden Capsule, Medicine-injection device optimised for emergency disaster scenarios
By Yujin Chae, Yeonghwan Shin, Bai Yuan and Daeyeon Kim. Hongik University, South Korea
Energy, Efficiency and Waste
Synthetic Yeasts for Biotechnology, Synthetic yeast to enhance sustainable production of chemicals and biofuels
By José de Jesus Montano Lopez, Yu Zhao, José L. Avalos, Jef Boeke and Elijah Gallimore-Repole. Princeton University and New York University, USA
Education, Equality and Communities
Kapak, AI to detect suspicious activity in public procurement processes
By Mara Fortuny, Daniel Riofrío, Farith Simon and Erika Guerrero. Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Ecuador
Data Science and AI-Enabled
Digital Twins 4 Tailings Dams, Using satellite monitoring to prevent tailings storage facility risks
By Maral Bayaraa, Prof. Brian Sheil and Dr. Cristian Rossi. University of Oxford, England
