The Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at the University of Balamand is proud to announce
that The CatAlists, a team from the Department of Chemical Engineering, has been selected among the
Top 10 international finalists of Creative Shock 2026, an international social entrepreneurship and innovation competition organized by the Students' Association of ISM University of Management and Economics in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The team consists of three Chemical Engineering students:
Rita Douaihy, Cherelle Atallah, and Hussam Agha, under the supervision of
Prof. Wael Hamd, Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, and
Dr. Mantoura Nakad, Assistant Professor and Director for Curriculum & Sustainable Development at the Faculty of Engineering.
This distinguished recognition was achieved in a highly competitive international event. The 2025 edition attracted approximately
500 participants from 28 countries, while the 2026 edition has brought together around
1,000 participants, highlighting the growing international reach of the competition. Being shortlisted among only ten finalist teams reflects the innovation, scientific merit, and potential impact of the team's proposed solution.
As one of the
Top 10 finalists, The CatAlists have been invited to participate in the final round, taking place from November 18 to 21 in Vilnius, Lithuania, where the teams will compete for the
USD 4,000 first-place prize. Only the ten shortlisted teams have received this invitation.
As part of the online qualification round, The CatAlists developed and submitted a video pitch introducing their concept for a modular, photocatalytic, and sustainable water treatment system. The proposed solution harnesses solar energy and innovative photocatalytic nanomaterials to degrade emerging contaminants, including recalcitrant and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), offering a potentially sustainable and adaptable approach to addressing challenging water pollution problems.
Designed to accommodate varying water quality characteristics, the system initially targets the chemical and petrochemical industries, with the flexibility to be customized according to specific treatment requirements.
Through their presentation, the team highlighted the environmental challenges addressed by their proposal, the scientific principles underlying the technology, its innovative features, and its proposed business model, demonstrating its potential to generate both environmental and economic value.
The proposed solution contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; and SDG 14: Life Below Water, through its focus on sustainable water treatment, technological innovation, pollution reduction, and the protection of aquatic ecosystems.
Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud congratulated the team of students and their supervisors for this international achievement. He stated that this accomplishment reflects the Faculty of Engineering's continued commitment to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustainable engineering solutions.
Watch the video
