Azerbaijan’s International Green STEAM Festival 2024 Empowers Future Engineers and Innovators
Last week, Azerbaijan proudly hosted the International Green STEAM Festival 2024 at the Baku Expo Centre, a premier event aimed at fostering innovation and climate resilience through education in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
Organized by the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan with the support of COP29, the festival united over 900 participants from diverse countries, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Slovakia, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, United States, and Uzbekistan, to collaborate and compete on forward-thinking solutions to today’s environmental challenges.
In alignment with Azerbaijan’s designation of 2024 as the “Year of Solidarity for a Green World,” the festival offered a unique platform for young innovators and educators to exchange ideas and develop practical approaches to critical issues such as climate change, sustainable energy, and water conservation. Competitions spanned categories including Engineers of the Future, VIDX, VEX IQ Competition, VEX Robotics Competition, H2 Grand Prix Pro, FlyTech, CubeSat, and Green Initiatives, featuring projects dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability.
At the opening ceremony, Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education, emphasized the significance of equipping young people to address future global challenges, calling STEAM education a “vital foundation for a sustainable future.” Nigar Arpadarai, UN Senior Climate Change Champion, echoed these sentiments by underscoring the festival’s alignment with global climate goals as COP29 approaches.
Participants engaged in expert-led training sessions on climate change and sustainability, deepening their knowledge and equipping them with the skills needed to drive meaningful environmental progress. At the closing ceremony, Firudin Gurbanov, Deputy Minister of Science and Education, and Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy, recognized and awarded the most exceptional projects, celebrating the participants’ creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit.
The STEAM Azerbaijan initiative currently spans 398 schools, impacting over 250,000 students nationwide, with plans to expand to 300,000 students by 2026. This year’s International Green STEAM Festival is a testament to Azerbaijan’s commitment to cultivating a new generation of leaders who will champion sustainable development and environmental resilience on a global scale.
