Qatar University Hosts A Virtual Summer School Focusing On Desalination Technologies

Qatar University(QU)

The Centre for Advanced Materials at Qatar University (QU), in partnership with Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in India, recently organized a two-day online summer school titled 'Desalination Technologies.' This event, hosted by the Unesco Chair on Desalination and Water Treatment, addressed global water challenges, with a strong focus on the crucial role of water treatment in achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to provide clean water and sanitation for all.

Over 600 students registered for the event, from which 100 were selected to participate. The summer school provided a valuable platform for exploring emerging and cost-effective solutions that contribute to a sustainable future. During the event, renowned experts in desalination technologies delivered lectures, and participants were offered virtual lab tours and training on various desalination techniques, providing them with a visual understanding of the technologies used in desalination processes.

The Unesco Doha office for the GCC and Yemen, represented by Donia Abdelwahed, expressed Unesco's strong support for initiatives like this. Distinguished professors and experts engaged the participants in stimulating discussions on desalination and water treatment, sharing their knowledge, experiences, and innovative ideas.

Professor Syed Javaid Zaidi, the Unesco Chair, emphasized that the summer school would significantly enhance students' scientific pursuits. Guest speakers, including Prof. Faisal Irshad Khan from Texas A&M University (USA), Dr. Ali Altaee from the University of Technology (Australia), Prof. Nadeem Khalil from AMU (India), Dr. Georgios Kolliopoulos from Laval University (Canada), Dr. Mohamed Hassan from QU, and Prof. Syed Javaid Zaidi from QU, covered various aspects of desalination technologies. Topics included desalination fundamentals, safety measures in desalination plants, wastewater treatment, membrane-based desalination, and emerging pressure-restricted osmosis techniques.