Shell's Better Environment Award

Briefing sessions to be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah for representatives from Educational Zones and short-listed schools

Dubai December 17, 2006; The Judging Committee for the Shell Better Environment Awards (BEA) 2006, comprising representatives from the UAE Interschool Sports Association in the UAE Ministry of Education, UAE municipalities, Zayed International Prize for the Environment, UAE Cultural Heritage Club and Shell, has begun the assessment process for applications submitted by schools in the UAE and will announce the names of the short-listed schools tomorrow (Monday, December 18, 2006).

This year's award drew heightened participation from 149 schools across the UAE, building on the momentum of successful previous editions. Entries for the 2007 edition of the award are currently being evaluated and the short-listed schools will be receiving cash grants from Shell to enable their proposals to be put into action.

Following the announcement of short-listed schools, highly focused workshops will be held in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The itinerary will see briefing sessions being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai on the 18th of December, the Millennium Hotel in Sharjah on the 20th of December and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Abu Dhabi on the 21st of December. During these sessions, representatives from the short-listed schools and from the different Educational Zones in the UAE will be given a detailed brief about the award along with reference books, equipments and materials that will help them complete their projects on time.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Head of External Affairs and HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment), Shell, said, "It is heartening to see the increasing levels of participation from schools in the UAE with every edition of the Better Environment awards. The quality of all the entries we received this year is of the highest standards, which makes the initial assessment a challenging task for the judging committee. The commitment shown by the students, teachers and the schools to actively involve themselves in creating a better environment highlights the significance of these awards, and justifies the cash grants Shell gives away each year. "

Shell's BEA, the UAE's foremost initiative aimed at addressing and raising awareness of environmental issues, has been revamped for its 2007 edition to catalyse research and the development of initiatives towards pertinent issues afflicting society today and to foster the conceptualisation of a wider range of initiatives under environmental, health and road safety themes.

This year's award will enable schools to plan larger projects that can be implemented over a longer period with more funding available. Under each of the three themes - Health, Safety and Environment - come two subjects to be chosen from. Students will be invited to select between Vehicles Safety and Pedestrians Safety under Road Safety; Shores Environment and Toxic Waste under Environment; and Obesity and Smoking under Health.

Following the announcements of the grant winners, short-listed schools will be invited to submit their final projects by April 5, 2007. Winners will be announced in May, with projects being judged on thoroughness and effectiveness.