Egyptian PhD researcher honoured in Rome for eco-friendly wastewater innovation
Egyptian researcher Shimaa Farag, a PhD candidate at the American University in Cairo (AUC), has won the Giovani Talenti Dall’Africa (Young Talents from Africa) Prize for her pioneering research introducing an eco-friendly, enzyme-based strategy for wastewater treatment in Egypt.
She received the award during the 17th Eni Award ceremony held at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, in the presence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Eni Chairperson Giuseppe Zafarana, and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi.
Farag’s doctoral research seeks to, as she puts it, “solve the problem from within” by harnessing the potential of microorganisms that naturally inhabit wastewater. Her team isolates bioactive enzymes produced by these microbes, which are capable of breaking down heavy metals, pharmaceutical residues, and other toxic compounds. The process transforms wastewater sludge into a renewable resource for sustainable purification.
The innovation offers promising solutions for water-scarce countries such as Egypt, where the reuse of treated wastewater is increasingly vital to address water security challenges. Farag explained that her enzyme-based system is low-cost, biodegradable, and chemical-free, relying entirely on “nature’s own machinery to clean the environment.”
With more than 11 years of experience in molecular microbiology and biotechnology, Farag has contributed to eight major research projects in Egypt. These include studies on enzyme- and nanotechnology-based wastewater treatment, the EU-funded Microbial Fuel Cell project, and enzyme extraction from the Red Sea and Siwa Oasis hot springs. Her discovery of a novel thermophilic Streptomyces strain capable of degrading lignocellulosic waste has been officially deposited in the NCBI GenBank database.
Her achievements have earned her multiple awards and fellowships, including the Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim A. Allehedan PhD Fellowship, the USID Large Grant, and the Best Poster Award at AUC’s Research and Creativity Convention. She has also presented her work at major international scientific gatherings, such as the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) Conference, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and Egypt’s International Conference on Microbiota and Microbiome in Health and Disease.
Established in 2008, the Eni Award has become a global benchmark for excellence in energy and environmental research. Over the years, it has evolved to promote innovative approaches to energy efficiency, sustainable resource management, and scientific advancement. The Giovani Talenti Dall’Africa category, in which Farag was honoured, recognises young African researchers whose work contributes to sustainable development and the responsible use of natural resources.
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