2021 Frontiers champions

Frontiers Champions receive funding to convene a network of peers over a 12-month period. Find out more about our Champions and their projects via the interactive map.

Abid Mehmood, Cardiff University
Sustainable Pathways for Renewable Energy Transition – SPRET
Akino Tahir, Resilience Development Initiative
Voicing Urban Asylum Seeker and Refugee Stories through Artistic Expression
Almoayied Assayed, Royal Scientific Society
Plant Factory in MENA Countries: A Tool to Achieve Food Security at Cities in Amidst of Climate Change
Leo Choe Peng, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Propagate Positive Impacts of IoT in Water Reuse through Frontiers
Harry Chaplin, Tatirano Social Enterprise
Learning and sharing experiences in rainwater harvesting from around the world as a pioneering appropriate technology for sustainable long term access to clean water.
Mwaffaq Otoom, Yarmouk University
Engineering Education in Supporting the SDGs in Jordan
Nebil Achour, Anglia Ruskin University
Fostering Innovative Resilience in Healthcare Service (FIReS)
Nurkhat Zhakiyev, Astana IT University
Knowledge exchange towards sustainable smart cities: an energy efficiency and air quality of Nur-Sultan city
Sunil Bhopal, Newcastle University
Knowledge exchange towards sustainable smart cities: an energy efficiency and air quality of Nur-Sultan city
Witiya Pittungnapoo, Naresuan University
Natural-based design for climate adaptation in protecting cultural heritage sites in Thailand and Southeast Asia

"There is no easy way to upscale an effective development intervention, but Frontiers Champions empowers people to come together to make a proper impact long-term"

Harry Chaplin, Tatirano Social Enterprise. Championing access to clean water and sanitation.

“It’s a great opportunity to promote your ideas and to let others know what you’re doing. It is a very important window to get in touch with other researchers that are working in an area that you’re working in. It’s a good opportunity to network with others. I would recommend that others apply.”

Dr Almoayied Assayed, Royal Scientific Society, Jordan. Championing smart agriculture.

“The issue around the forced displacement of transit refugees in Southeast Asian cities is very complex. Unfortunately, that complexity frequently means the people who are most directly impacted have a minor voice in the solution. I realised that the support from the Academy could help me break down some of these barriers.”

Akino Tahir, Resilience Development Initiative, Indonesia. Championing representation for asylum seekers and refugees.

“Frontiers Champions is one of the best projects in terms of engaging with communities. If you have collaborators, it becomes fun and if they come from different backgrounds or different cultures, you can create a very good idea that can be shared with everyone”.

Dr Choe Leo Peng, University Sains Malaysia. Championing water reuse.

“If you have a good idea, you’re not constrained by discipline. The Royal Academy of Engineering’s flexibility is impressive and they’re ready to risk supporting good ideas.”

Dr Abid Mehmood, Cardiff University. Championing renewable energy.