A nine-member team from Glenrich International School, Uttara has secured the first place in the prestigious NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Design Contest under the Large Group (Grade 9) category for their innovative project ‘Chirayatasroy’ (Eternal Shelter).

This marks the third consecutive year that Glenrich Uttara has achieved top honors in this international competition, organised by the US-based National Space Society (NSS) to promote creativity and scientific thinking among students through futuristic space settlement concepts, said a press release issued on Sunday.

Besides, another Glenrich team won second prize in the Small Group (Grade 9) category for their project ‘Exserta’, while a third team received an Honourable Mention in the Large Group (Grade 11) category for their submission ‘Atlas’.

The competition saw over 26,000 students from 25 countries, including Bangladesh, the United States, India, Ireland and Romania, submitting more than 4,900 entries.

Among them, Glenrich Uttara’s ‘Chirayatasroy’ stood out as the best in its category.

The winning team includes Adwoito Bhaskar, Ahmad Abdullah, Aisha Afsara Yasmin, Seam Ahmed, Ibrahim Amin, Muhayr Manzoor, Ahnaf Tahmeed Aryan, Safwan Chowdhury, and Kazi Afsan Rawnak Anan.

‘Chirayatasroy’ envisions the first self-sustaining space settlement orbiting the dwarf planet Ceres, designed to host up to 100,000 people.

The project aims to provide a viable alternative to life on Earth, addressing threats such as climate change and resource depletion. The design includes solar energy systems inspired by the Möbius strip, promoting sustainable living in space.

Principal of Glenrich International School, Dr. Amlan K Saha, expressed his pride in the students' achievement.

 “This is a proud moment for all of us. The students worked relentlessly to shape this project, addressing real-world crises like climate change through futuristic thinking. We will continue to nurture such talent,” he said.

Team member Ahmad Abdullah shared his thoughts on the victory: “We worked hard for about 55 days to complete this project. It’s rewarding to see our efforts recognized. Through Chirayatasroy, we hope to offer a sustainable future for humanity in the face of rising challenges.”

The NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Contest is recognized globally for inspiring young minds to explore the possibilities of life beyond Earth.