Yara Mohammed Ewida, a student from the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture Master's Degree in Biodigital Architecture, has been awarded one of nine international grants offered by the Swarovski Foundation through the Swarovski Foundation Institute Programme called: Creatives for our Future. It is an international grants programme, aimed at creative young people aged 18 to 25 in creative disciplines such as fashion, art, design, architecture and engineering. It aims to identify and support the next generation of creative leaders in the area of sustainable development. The initiative is supported and advised by the United Nations Office for Partnerships.

Yara Mohammed Ewida won the grant for her “SBOOM” project, carried out along with student Julieta Grimberg, and developed within the framework of the Workshop on “Bioreactors and Cells” led by lecturer Yomna Abdullah as part of our Master’s Degree in Biodigital Architecture. The proposal is based on the development of bioactive systems using microalgae for the generation of renewable energy, which can then be applied in the field of design and architecture. “I am very excited about this great experience that has opened up for me with the Swarovski Foundation and the United Nations, which will give me the opportunity to develop projects like ‘Sboom’ and contribute, through my own work, towards the creation of a more sustainable future,” said Yara Mohammed Ewida. 

The UIC Barcelona student will receive a $15,000 grant to develop her proposal and will benefit from a tailored educational and guidance programme from the Swarovski Foundation, in cooperation with prestigious international institutions. Additionally, in September, the 9 winners of a grant will be invited to present their proposals at a High-Level Segment during the United Nations General Assembly.