





Join us for Challenge Week live from 5-9 April 2021! Listen in as 24 teams go head-to-head to present their disruptive solutions to save the disappearing Aral Sea in Central Asia, once the world’s fourth-largest inland water body.
The audience will have a front row seat as an expert jury chooses the winning proposals, the chance to network with fellow participants, connect with world leading environment and development institutions, regional organizations and universities, and make their mark on the global landscape restoration community.
Register below to receive the latest updates on Challenge Week, including speakers, agenda and networking opportunities, as well as reminders when the event goes live!
Natalya Akinshina; Azamat Azizov
Anvarjon Rahmetov; Pavel Li; Ruslan Lyu
Nigora Isamiddinova; Neal Spackman; Mehemed Bougsea
Knyazev Ilya; Sonina Natalia
Alim Asamatdinov
Maral Annanurova; Akmyrat Atamyradov; Dildar Babajanova; Nuryagdy Halmedov
Ewoud Volbeda; Hugo Ekkelenkamp; Michel Zuijderwijk; Herman Mondeel
Zharkyn Imanakunova; Yann Le Coz; Jordan Obri
Silas Joseph; Kunal Prasad; Krishna Kumar; Praveen Pankajakshan
Daulet Yegemberdiyev; Akmaral Dyisenova
Mona Poorzady
Shahnaz Shaikh; Khalil Shaikh
Trina Listanco; Endre Balogh
Andrey V. Mitusov; Beknazar Ziyabidin; Mehrojiddin Rajabov; Zhaniya Khaibullina
Otabek Suleimanov; Sanjar Rakhmatullaev; Jurabek Abdurahmanov; Valentina, Indira and team of volunteers
Rasulova Khairiniso; Bobokhanova Muyasara; Tulieva Shohida; Makhmudova Farzona
Aiman Absattarova; Janay Sagin; Zhanuzak Baimanov
Michel Oosterhof; Socrates Raymond
Emmanouel Tsiros; Apostolos Karteris; Dimitra Rapti; Ioannis Kapanidis
Sharanya Rajiv; Tiffany Chan; Matt Trevithick; Xi Hu
Annemarie Klaasse; Mechteld Andriessen
Maksat Tuganbekov; Tamenov Timur
Saliou Diallo; Julien Maîtrehenry; Lukas kokot; Victoria Cantillo
Almas Kitapbayev; Tilo Shoene; Cornelia Zech; Bolat Bekniyaz
Join the Grand Finale of the Challenge, connect with world-leading environment and development institutions, regional organizations and universities, and get to know the winners of the Challenge!
Opening Remarks
Roundtable
Rising Star Awards
Challenge winners’ announcement per category
Presentation by the winning team, Agriculture and land management
Presentation by the winning team, Sustainable forestry
Presentation by the winning team, Socio-Economic Development
Presentation by the winning team, Information and Knowledge
Closing Remarks
The Global Disruptive Tech Challenge 2021 aims to identify and support disruptive technologies and innovative approaches to landscape restoration in the Aral Sea region and Central Asia. The Challenge will select innovators (individuals or entities) from around the world to change the lives of millions of people in the Aral Sea region. Proposals obtaining the best scores will obtain recognition and awards, including a monetary award of up to US $4,000 and an invitation to participate in a 4-month Mentorship Program.
This is your opportunity to help change millions of lives, while showcasing your innovative idea before a global audience. Join the Challenge, get recognition from experts and international organizations, and become part of a restoration community
The Aral Sea in Central Asia, once the world’s fourth-largest inland water body, has almost disappeared due to more than 30 years of overuse of its resources to grow water-intensive crops, such as cotton and rice. This dramatic change has led to a steep decline in the environmental, social, and economic well-being of the region.
The situation has been further impacted by global climate change, which is already affecting the livelihoods of more than four million people who live in the disaster zone. That covers a significant part of Uzbekistan and the southern part of Kazakhstan; in total, 40 million people live in the Aral Sea basin and might be affected further by the disaster there.
Moreover, salt from the Aral Sea is found far beyond this region, including in Scandinavia and Antarctica. Every year, winds carry some 150 million tons of salt – often toxic due to pesticides and fertilizers used in intensive farming – from the Aral Sea over hundreds of thousands kilometers.
Innovative technologies and approaches have the power to substantially “disrupt” the status quo of development paradigms. Disruptive technologies can help alleviate the negative impacts on landscapes from natural and human induced factors, while also addressing the needs of economic growth and sustainable development.
Innovators are invited to propose their disruptive and innovative solutions to landscape restoration issues in the Aral Sea region with the potential to scale-up in the entire Central Asia (from the mountains to the steppes).