TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA QATAR FOUNDATION for Education, Science and Community Development will host the first ‘Qatar Environmental Education Fair, ’ to observe Earth Day on April 22 with a view to showcasing the country’s serious and sincere efforts to help it move away from carbon dependency.

At the fair various organisations will present environmentally- friendly ideas for implementation in the fields of education, research and business. Adopting such ideas will play a critical role in Qatar’s shift to a more sustainable society.

“It’s such a wonderful opportunity for Qatar Foundation to be able to host this fair. For the first time, a wide array of stakeholders, who are working on diverse projects related to sustainability, will gather in one place to showcase their efforts and network with one another,” said Qatar Foundation’s Sustainability Education Coordinator Christopher Silva on Tuesday.

“I really hope this becomes an annual event, and that we can infuse these types of sustainability efforts into different universities and academic programmes across Qatar,” explained Chris.

Attendees to the fair will consist of students and teachers, including those from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, TAMU-Q), and VCUQ.

Members from Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute and Qatar Solar Technologies have also registered to attend.

“I am proud to say that VCU-Q students will be able to present some of their artwork pertaining to sustainability, including multiple sculptures designed to draw attention to the incredibly high intake of plastic water bottle consumption across Qatar,” said Blair Aboutaleb, a Student Activities Officer in the Student Affairs Department at VCU-Q.

“I am thrilled to be attending the Environmental Education Fair, which will not only be an essential event for Qatar Foundation, but also for the country.” In addition to VCU-Q’s projects to support QF’s sustainability efforts, TAMU-Q boasts of an impressive ‘Qatar Sustainable Water & Energy Utilisation Laboratory.’ The facilities are designed to address the need for sustainable water and energy resources in the midst of Qatar’s spectacular economic growth.

Qatar Foundation also recently launched Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute whose ongoing research in climate change and the nation’s carbon emissions will ensure Qatar can meet its future energy needs sustainably.

While the fair is an opportunity for networking and collaboration, teachers will discuss environmental education in the classroom on Earth Day.

Their collective brainstorming will spark ideas for ways to encourage more student participation in Doha’s local sustainability efforts.