The results of the youth competition "Aral of the Future – Creating Solutions Today" were announced at the UN building in Ashgabat, timed to World Environment Day. The project, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), demonstrated the readiness of the younger generation to implement advanced digital tools in the area of sustainable environmental management.
Instead of traditional papers, participants presented conceptual 3D models and visual installations to the expert community, focused on overcoming the crisis in the Aral Sea basin.
The exhibition of competition entries attracted professional interest from international experts and UN agency staff. The exhibit covered a wide range of applied areas: from innovative water-saving technologies and desertification control methods to inclusive natural resource management systems.
As UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Narine Saakyan emphasized, engaging young professionals in the climate agenda is crucial for the sustainable development of Central Asia, and the organization will therefore continue to provide institutional platforms for transforming student and school startups into tangible environmental results.
The expert committee highlighted several key technological initiatives. Lale Garyyagdyeva (Mary Oil and Gas College) won the "Most Innovative Idea" category with her digital model for adapting the Uzboy and Aral Sea basins using artificial intelligence.
Maysa Atamuradova and Polina Klubkova (School No. 11, Turkmenabat) were recognized as the best in eco-design for their Earth remote sensing project, as was Guvanch Janmammedov (Balkanabat Oil and Gas College), who developed the "Green Protection" concept. The most inspiring concept was awarded to students from School No. 87 in Turkmenabat, "World at the Crossroads of Two Roads."
The winners received certificates and commemorative prizes, and all participants were recognized for their creativity and commitment to environmental sustainability.
Through educational initiatives, creative projects, and community outreach activities, the project supports solutions to environmental problems and promotes resilience in the Aral Sea region. This initiative is part of Turkmenistan's long-term strategy to develop a new generation of environmentalists and introduce high technologies to the restoration of regional ecosystems.
