At D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, the school project competition “Green Minds EKTU: Environmental Projects of the Future” was held as part of the national environmental campaign Taza Kazakhstan. The university platform brought together students in grades 7–11 from Oskemen, the East Kazakhstan Region, and the Abai Region, who presented their own scientific solutions to pressing environmental challenges in the region.
The competition was organized by the School of Earth Sciences, the Green Campus project leader, and the University’s Office of Sustainable Development. The competition committee worked in an approved composition and evaluated the projects according to the relevance of the environmental issue, scientific validity, originality of solutions, feasibility of implementation at the university level, and quality of presentation.
A total of 55 projects were submitted by 106 participants under the supervision of 47 teachers: 27 projects in the 7–9 grade category and 28 projects in the 10–11 grade category.
The projects addressed specific and practice-oriented areas: research on soil and air pollution by heavy metals in industrial zones; analysis of the condition of small rivers in Oskemen; detection of microplastics in water bodies and the development of devices for their removal; digital monitoring of air quality within the Smart City framework; waste recycling and the development of “smart” sorting systems; creation of environmentally friendly furnaces with safe waste incineration; development of bioplastics and alternative materials; reduction of pollutant concentrations in the Irtysh and Ulba rivers; implementation of automated mini-ecosystems, “smart” greenhouses, and sustainable urban solutions.
As part of the competition, selected schools were presented with eco-boxes for separate waste collection, representing a practical contribution by the university to promoting a culture of waste sorting and recycling.
All participants received certificates and commemorative prizes. The event was supported by the university’s socially responsible partners — Sogrinskaya CHPP, Development Group, and Plasma Science — who provided gifts and incentive prizes for the school students.
Following the competition, a formal award ceremony was held, bringing together participants, teachers, university representatives, and partners. The “Green Minds EKTU” competition demonstrated the high level of research preparedness among school students and their genuine interest in addressing environmental challenges in the region. The implementation of such initiatives at D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University strengthens cooperation between the university and schools and contributes to building a sustainable future through education, science, and practical environmental solutions.
