The Sustainable Built Environment Research and Education Lab (SBE), a research group within the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), recently hosted a workshop for young learners to raise awareness on sustainability.
Sustainability for Children invited 45 students from the third grade at Qatar Academy Sidra (QAS) to participate in a range of fun activities designed to heighten their awareness and understanding of key sustainability issues and their impact on Qatar and the rest of the world. The workshop was the latest in a series of events organised by SBE to address key sustainability challenges and their impact on the built environment, including energy and water supplies, resource recycling, and climate change.
Over the course of the day, SBE members introduced a variety of topics related to the workshop theme. These included the fourth state of matter known as plasma, which was demonstrated during an experiment involving a plasma ball lamp. Students also learned about critical water challenges facing Qatar and the GCC states, including the environmental impact of desalination. A demonstration of how a desalination plant works was accompanied by a few smart techniques on how to conserve water in buildings. This session included two short movies that also helped explain the topic to third graders.
Speaking after the workshop, SBE CSE Assistant Professor Dr Sami Al Ghamdi said that they are committed to taking graduate-level research into the community.
Doing so not only provides vital training opportunities for our group, but also enhances understanding of sustainability issues. Children will undoubtedly play an important role in shaping Qatar’s sustainable future. There’s no time like the present to introduce them to the challenges that lie ahead while making them increasingly aware of the complex environmental challenges we currently face.’
SBE was founded and led by Dr Al Ghamdi. The group represents the next generation of interdisciplinary education and research in environmental science, engineering, and sustainability. They conduct multi-disciplinary research on the complexities of the built environment. For more information about the group, visit cse.hbku.edu.qa.
