Areej Al-Muqbil Alqarni

Areej Al-Muqbil Alqarni is a Saudi climate researcher, entrepreneur, and public speaker operating at the intersection of science and policy. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Development at Columbia University as an I.I. Rabi Scholar, following a valedictorian record at Al-Batool International School's Gifted and Advanced Track. In 2026, she founded Nasun, where she serves as Founder and CEO, building a regulatory intelligence platform that delivers Climate Compliance-as-a-Service to businesses and governments navigating the complex terrain of climate policy alignment.

Her research spans four institutions across three countries, tackling some of the most urgent challenges in climate science and engineering. At Columbia's Climate School, she works under Professor Shahid Naeem at the E3B Lab on deforestation analysis and evidence-based climate policy review. At KAUST, she contributed to a $20 million flagship research program funded by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy, developing a novel contact liquid for pilot-scale cryogenic carbon capture under Professor William Roberts. At Fondazione Bruno Kessler in Italy, she built a subseasonal weather forecasting system using temperature anomaly detection, validated on the Leonardo Supercomputer.

Her body of work includes two pending patents, one issued patent, and publications spanning geoengineering and stratospheric aerosol injection, solar coating technology, and a CNN-based glaucoma diagnostic method. At KACST, she developed a patented anti-dust nanostructured coating for solar panels and architectural glass, earning the Regeneron ISEF Environmental Engineering Grand Award and recognition from the Society for Science. She is also the author of Evolution by Design: The Genetic Renaissance, reflecting a rare capacity to synthesize deep technical inquiry with accessible public discourse.

As a speaker, Areej has commanded some of the world's most influential platforms. She delivered opening speeches at Misk Global Forum 2025 and 2026, moderated its Storytelling that Sticks panel, addressed the UNIDO 21st General Conference on unlocking global youth talent, and delivered her personal speech and final remarks at the Arab Reading Challenge Final Ceremony at Dubai Opera House, where she received the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Award. Her work has been featured by Arab News, MBC's Sabah Al-Kheir Ya Arab, and Al Share' Al Saudi, and she has been honored with the Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Royal Badge of Honor and Saudi Arabia's Most Influential Youth Award.