Team UAE received a warm celebration on Saturday after securing a historic Gold Medal at the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge in Panama City, where they triumphed over competitors from 193 countries. The international robotics event, held from October 28 to November 1, brought together young innovators from around the world to tackle pressing global issues through science and engineering.
The eight-member UAE delegation earned praise for their creativity, discipline, and strong technical skills. Students Riya Mehra, Aarya Parekh, Aarush Pancholi, Aditya Anand, Krithin Satya, Simran Mehra, Sreya Binoy Nair, and Aryan Goyal dedicated more than 300 hours to preparation. Their work was supported by Unique World Robotics, the team’s official training partner, which guided them through design and strategy ahead of the global competition.
Coach Muhammed Mukhtar said, “This victory is a testament to the extraordinary dedication and ingenuity of our young innovators. They have made the nation proud and shown that UAE students can compete at the highest level on the global stage.”
The UAE team won for their project, STASH, a mobile biopreservation system intended to protect endangered species such as the Ghaf tree. The concept removes the need for freezing or electricity by using sodium alginate hydrogels to enclose living cells in affordable, transport-safe beads that stay viable for several days. STASH also comes with an AI-powered cell viability checker and a 3D-printed field kit, allowing use in remote or low-resource regions.
A panel that included professors from MIT and scientists from Lam Research recognized the project for its innovation and wide global usefulness.
Team Captain Aarush Pancholi said, “Winning Gold was the result of countless hours of collaboration, experimentation, and teamwork. We are proud not just of the medal, but of creating a solution that can truly make a difference for biodiversity and communities worldwide.”
National organiser Bansan Thomas George commended the students for upholding the UAE’s commitment to STEM excellence. “Team UAE’s victory reflects the nation’s long-standing commitment to STEM education and youth innovation. Their work on STASH demonstrates not only technical brilliance but also a vision for sustainable solutions that can benefit the world,” he said.
