ISD student makes his mark in global competition

Syed MIZAN::

Aditya Varshney from International School Dhaka (ISD) has recently secured third place in a global competition called Global Change It Challenge 2025, which was hosted by Australia’s Monash University. He was the sole finalist from Bangladesh.

The Global Change It Challenge 2025, hosted by Australia’s Monash University (ranked #37 in the QS Rankings), encourages young people to create innovative solutions to tackle significant global issues, with a primary focus on sustainability and the environment. The competition featured six teams from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, and India, who showcased remarkable presentations, research, and innovative solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Regional rounds took place in each country where local schools participated, with the 12 finalists traveling to Melbourne, Australia, for the final round.

In Bangladesh, 11 teams from 13 schools participated in the regional round – Aditya’s project was selected as the country’s finalist. Competing against students from five other nations in the grand finals, he secured third place globally by developing an innovative solution for the problem of water hyacinth—an invasive plant that poses a serious environmental threat. Through his project, ‘Weed to Wealth,’ he transformed this challenge into an opportunity by creating eco-friendly products like paper and baskets.

Aditya Varshney said: “We often discuss climate change but overlook equally impactful issues that are easier to see and address. Through ‘Water Hyacinth – Weed to Wealth,’ I aimed to repurpose water hyacinths from an environmental challenge into a community-driven solution.”

Three students – Srivatsav, Srinivas, and Sriram – from The Indian Public School, Coimbatore, India, secured first place. They showcased the impacts of methane gases on rising temperatures. Their solution used a biogas generator to turn cow dung into clean and renewable energy. Anna, Michelle, and Neyja, from Taman Rama Intercultural School Bali, Indonesia, attained second place, with their solutions for reducing, reusing, and recycling to support the ecosystem of Bali’s Ocean.

Steve Calland-Scoble, Director, International School Dhaka, said, “Congratulations to Aditya Varshney for his remarkable achievement in getting to the finals in Australia, with a fantastic innovation that can transform an environmental threat into a fantastic opportunity. His dedication and hard work exemplify the spirit of innovation and global collaboration the competition represents. We’re proud of your success. I also want to congratulate all the other winners.”

The 12 finalists also got to explore Monash UniversIty’s Caulfield and Clayton campuses, where they explored state-of-the-art facilities, such as a stock market simulator, design workshops, media lab, and library. They also embraced campus life by participating in Q&A sessions with students, while discovering Melbourne’s finest laneways and Australia’s unique wildlife.