Sharjah: Environmental issues came into focus at the American University of Sharjah when students were encouraged to take action on these issues by environmental organisations and guest speakers at the university's annual Environmental Day recently.
Organised by the Department of Biology and Chemistry under the theme "Our Environment, Our Life," 10 companies and organisations including the Emirates Wildlife Society, Zakum Development Company, British Petroleum and Emirates Environmental Group promoted awareness among students.
Five guest speakers and AUS alumni addressed environmental problems including ecological footprint, waste and air pollution and discussed possible solutions.
In his opening remarks, Dr Mohammad Abouleish, chair of the organising committee and assistant professor at AUS, highlighted the importance of preserving our planet, saying that the "environment is our life".
In an interview, Abouleish said that the purpose of the event was to raise public awareness and to encourage students to join the environmental sciences degree programmes at the university. He also said that in this culture many students and parents do not venture into this field because "it's not well promoted in the region."
The head of the Department of Biology and Chemistry, Dr Fawwaz Jumean, said that "… more than at any time in the past, environmental sciences is an extremely rewarding field of study."
Speakers and AUS alumni provided an update on job opportunities offered by environmental agencies in various fields. According to guest speaker Camille Heaton, who is a deputy project manager at the Abu Dhabi-based Environment Agency, "environmental careers are very stable careers".
Presenters also addressed several environmental problems in the UAE and the region. Environment and Sustainability Manager of Masdar Richard Perry said that the UAE has the highest ecological footprint in the world. Alumni speaker Meera Taryam, the environmental officer at Bee'ah, said one of Sharjah's biggest environmental problems is waste.
- The writer is a student at the American University of Sharjah.
