Ashraf AboArafe

A new international achievement has placed Capital University on the global map of scientific excellence, as a team from the Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, has qualified for the finals of the EAGE Global Energy Transition Challenge 2026, organized by the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE).

The Capital University team was selected among the top three teams worldwide, earning a place in the final stage of one of the leading international competitions addressing the challenges of the global energy transition.

The achievement carries particular significance as the team is the only finalist representing the Arab and African worlds, bringing Egypt’s scientific and academic capabilities to an international platform.

The accomplishment reflects Capital University and the Faculty of Sciences’ commitment to advancing scientific research, innovation, and academic excellence, under the patronage of Prof. El Sayed Kandil, President of Capital University; Prof. Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences; Prof. Sahar Kamal, Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs; and Prof. Amin Khalil, Chair of the Department of Geology.

The team is supervised by Associate Professor Dr. Amir Ismail Abdelaziz, Associate Professor of Applied Geophysics in the Department of Geology and Coordinator of the Petroleum and Mineral Sciences Program at the Faculty of Sciences.

Science for a Changing Planet

The EAGE Global Energy Transition Challenge is an international competition that brings together students and young researchers from diverse disciplines to tackle real-world challenges associated with the transition toward sustainable energy.

Participants are called upon to integrate knowledge from earth sciences, engineering, economics, and environmental studies to develop practical, innovative, and economically viable solutions capable of addressing the complex demands of the global energy transition.

Throughout the competition, the Capital University team developed a comprehensive proposal for carbon capture and storage (CCS), integrating geological studies with reservoir engineering and designing an integrated system for carbon dioxide injection and the infrastructure required to support the project.

The proposal was further strengthened by an economic feasibility study, providing an integrated framework for assessing the project’s potential implementation.

From Cairo to Hanover

The Capital University team will represent Egypt and the African continent at the EAGE Global Energy Transition Conference 2026, scheduled to take place in Hanover, Germany, on November 2, 2026.

At the finals, the team will present its innovative project before an elite gathering of participating teams from universities and academic institutions around the world, turning its scientific achievement into an opportunity to showcase Egyptian youth and their capacity to contribute to solutions for some of the defining challenges of the future.

The Capital University Team

• Abdelrahman Ali
• Bassem Chikiban
• Sara Fakhry
• Mohamed Qenawy
• Hadeer Mohamed

The team’s qualification for the global finals stands as a testament to the outstanding academic capabilities of Capital University’s Faculty of Sciences students, as well as their ability to transform academic knowledge into innovative solutions to contemporary global challenges.

More than a place in an international competition, the achievement represents a bridge between science and sustainability, between Egyptian talent and the world, and between today’s knowledge and tomorrow’s energy future.