The RHU team ‘ENERGY SAVING MODE ON’ was announced on Saturday, May 12 as one of top 6 semi-finalists of the Hult Prize Lebanon semi-final event along with teams from 3 other universities from Lebanon AUB, LAU, and BAU. The six teams were chosen from among 38 teams from 27 universities to join the Beirut accelerator, 1st in the Middle East, in June 2018 and compete for the 250 K prize during the HULT Prize Lebanon Final Edition in September 2018.
The team members are RHU mechatronics students Adam Choufi, Jawad Haidar, Rawan Ghlayini, and Rabab Kawtharani and their advisor is RHU part-time faculty member Dr. Nagham Ismail. The objective of their project is to replace the conventional heating system that is based on bleed air, and the electrical heating system that is based on electricity, with a free and healthy system. The system is based on a phase change material (PCM) that acts as a heat battery: On lower atmospheric levels, the heat will be charging inside the airplane. When the plane is at higher altitudes, the PCM will release the previously stored energy thus maintaining a constant temperature suitable for passengers comfort.
Two teams from RHU participated in this event ‘RHU MAG’ and ‘ENERGY SAVING MODE ON’. The opening of the semi-final began on Friday, May 11 with orientation sessions from the national director Jamal Khayat and from last year’s one million dollar winner Iman Cooper, founder of BuuPass). On Saturday May 12, 2018 the teams pitched their ideas in front of 12 jury members including Ralph Khairallah, Dr. Charbel Mansour, Hassan Kamal, and the General Manager at BLOM BANK, Dr. Amine Awad. Along the day some famous entrepreneurs shared their wisdom and experience to the audience.
The Hult Prize is the world’s largest student competition and start-up platform for social good. In partnership with President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Global Initiative, the “innovative crowdsourcing platform identifies and launches catalytic social ventures that aim to solve the planet’s most pressing challenges. Student teams compete around the world for a chance to secure USD $ 1 million in start-up funding to launch a sustainable social venture.”
Hult Prize Lebanon Sponsors include BLOM BANK, Banque du Liban - The Central Bank of Lebanon, and UNIC and EF Education First company