How to Cool the Planet by Capturing Contrails | Dr Sarah Qureshi | TEDxFaisalabad Medical University
Perhaps more than carbon emissions, the streaks that plague our skies are contributing to global warming?
In order to prevent global warming and provide a new source of onboard water, Dr. Sarah Qureshi, Pakistan's leading aerospace innovator, reveals a ground-breaking solution: engine-side technology that absorbs contrails, or those lingering white lines behind aircraft, and transforms them into stored liquid. Her vision? Clean skies, a cooler climate, and even rainfall on demand.In this talk, you’ll discover:Why contrails contribute more to global warming than aviation’s carbon dioxide alone—accounting for up to 50–60% of aviation’s climate impactHow her patented technology condenses water vapor inside aircraft engines to eliminate persistent contrails at source, drastically cutting aviation’s hidden warming effects
A compelling financial and environmental case for retrofitting existing planes—scalable, low-cost, and globally impactfulA bold mission for Pakistan: to showcase global leadership in green aviation and contribute to environmental solutions from Lahore to the world"We aim to make skies blue again—one aircraft at a time."
Leading a climate technology movement based on local creativity and global responsibility, Dr. Qureshi is turning research into practical action.Dr. Sara Qureshi, PhD in Aerospace Propulsion from Cranfield and a licensed pilot, is co-founder of Aero Engine Craft, Pakistan’s first aero-engine R&D company. She invented a contrail-free engine system with major climate benefits and is among the few women globally to invent a supersonic jet engine. With 33 international awards and a passion for green aviation, she’s redefining sustainable tech. A true trailblazer for women in aerospace, Dr. Qureshi was honoured with the Tamgha‑i‑Imtiaz in 2025 for her groundbreaking contributions. *We rise by lifting others.* This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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