91��ý

The EcoNomads KZ team, consisting of PhD and Master’s students from the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences at 91��ý Kazakh National University, won third place at the international Anthropocene Case Competition 2026 Finals.

A total of 85 teams from 26 countries participated in the competition. Following the selection rounds, the top 13 teams advanced to the finals held in Gödöllő, Hungary.

The competition was organized at the  and focused on innovative solutions related to the future of the food industry, sustainable development, and the circular economy.

The team members were:

• Dana Akhmetzhanova — PhD student in Ecology (Team Leader); 

• Aitolkyn Alimuratkyzy — PhD student in Geoecology and Environmental Management; 

• Roza Mussagaliyeva — Master’s student in Ecology. 

The academic mentor of the team was Olga Zubova, Candidate of Technical Sciences and Senior Lecturer.

During the competition, the team presented an innovative project focused on converting poultry industry waste into high value-added products. The project included:

• production of activated carbon from poultry feathers; 

• development of high-quality protein feed from industrial waste; 

• implementation of a zero-waste and circular economy model. 

The project also addressed water reuse, biosecurity, carbon reduction, and increasing environmental efficiency in the agro-industrial sector.

The international jury highly appreciated the scientific validity, environmental sustainability, and economic feasibility of the EcoNomads KZ team’s solutions and awarded the team third place.

This achievement is another strong example of the international scientific potential of KazNU in the fields of sustainable development, ecology, and green technologies.