Developed at AUW, the Green Bangle EcoMeter app launches on Google Play, transforming a classroom project into a multinational research initiative promoting sustainable lifestyle awareness and data-driven environmental action.
A student project at the Asian University for Women (an independent, international university in Chittagong, Bangladesh) has grown into a multi-national sustainability research initiative with the launch of the Green Bangle EcoMeter on the Google Play Store, marking a significant milestone in student-led environmental innovation.
Developed under the university’s Green Bangle Movement, the EcoMeter was first conceived in an Introduction to Environmental Science elective led by Dr. Mosae Selvakumar Paulraj, Director of Environmental Science at AUW and founder of the Green Bangle Movement. During a classroom discussion on carbon footprint platforms, Paulraj challenged students to create a simpler and more accessible tool to measure how eco-friendly daily life truly is.
“Are we eco-friendly or ego-friendly? Are we eco champions or eco villains?” he asked, prompting students to reflect on how everyday habits reveal environmental responsibility.
Three computer science students, Purnata Biswas, Subaita Shirin and Tahiyat Islam, responded by designing and developing a draft version of EcoMeter as part of their coursework. Initially built as a prototype, the application evaluates daily practices including waste management, water usage, energy consumption, transportation choices and shopping behavior. After generating an eco-score, the app recommends tree plantation targets aligned with the user’s score to encourage tangible environmental action.
The project gained international attention when Biswas presented the draft EcoMeter at the International Conference on Environment and Climate Action 2025 where it received strong engagement from researchers and delegates and won the Best Presentation Award. The response signaled that the project had potential beyond the classroom.
Following the conference, EcoMeter transitioned into a structured research initiative led by Dr. Paulraj and Dr. Taufique Sayeed, Director of Computer Science at AUW. Student researchers Purnata Biswas and Ayesha Shafika Bhuiyan are now collaborating on the study, examining sustainable lifestyle patterns across Asian communities to better understand how daily behaviors shape environmental impact.
Hosting support from Abhishek Avi enabled the team to deploy the application on the Google Play Store in time for public access.
Even before its official launch, EcoMeter began generating diverse data. AUW students representing 19 nationalities contributed responses, with participants from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and multiple regions of Bangladesh. Additional engagement came during the International Conference on Environment and Climate Action 2025 where delegates interacted with the tool.
The application was also showcased at AUW’s 12th Convocation Ceremony Project Showcase Event. Biswas presented the initiative before Chancellor Cherie Blair, Vice Chancellor Rubana Huq, Founder Kamal Ahmad and other distinguished national and international guests. Many attendees used the app during the event, expanding the dataset further.
Unlike conventional carbon calculators, the Green Bangle EcoMeter emphasizes awareness-driven behavioral reflection. After receiving their eco-score, users are encouraged to take practical environmental steps including tree plantation aligned with their sustainability performance. The approach links individual habits with measurable action and reinforces the idea that environmental responsibility begins at a personal level.
The research team aims to collect more than 10,000 data entries to analyze sustainable behavior patterns across Asian populations. Researchers plan to identify behavioral gaps, compare regional practices and propose practical sustainability interventions through the Green Bangle Movement. Future developments include AI-supported behavioral analysis, data-driven recommendations and expanded grassroots engagement focused on tree plantation and community action.
As part of AUW’s broader sustainability vision, the EcoMeter reflects how academic initiatives can evolve into platforms for measurable environmental impact. The application is now publicly available on the Google Play Store at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.green.ecometer&pcampaignid=web_share
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By contributing their everyday experiences, users join a research-driven effort to understand sustainable lifestyle patterns and promote responsible environmental action, reinforcing the idea that building a greener future begins with measuring, reflecting and choosing to act.
