Indian teacher links menstrual health with climate change; her classroom initiative wins Oxford Saïd Global Climate Tech Challenge 2026

Lucknow teacher Mariya Shah has won the teacher category at the Oxford Saïd Global Climate Tech Challenge 2026 for a programme connecting menstrual health education with climate change. Her initiative, ‘Break the silence: Zero waste periods to combat climate change’, teaches students about menstrual waste, plastic pollution and sustainable practices through classroom lessons and community activities. She will receive a place on an Oxford Saïd programme in 2027, bringing international recognition to her innovative teaching approach.