Water for peace

The theme for this year’s World Water Day is “Water for Peace.” As climate change impacts increase and populations grow, there is an urgent need — within and between countries — to unite around protecting and conserving our most precious resource.

To mark this year’s World Water Day on March 22, KAUST wishes to celebrate the importance of water and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Towards Sustainable Water Use

Global prosperity and peace depend heavily on shared water resources. Considering the arid climate of Saudi Arabia and the challenges affecting global water resources, recognizing the importance of sustainable freshwater management is crucial. Within this context, KAUST is committed to continuously enhancing its water management system to reach a zero-water waste goal through efficient water production, distribution, waste minimization, treatment, and reuse.

Celebrating World Water Day at KAUST

Water as a Catalyst for Peace: A KAUST Faculty Panel Discussion

Mark your calendars to attend this panel discussion in line with World Water Day’s theme, “Water for Peace.” During this lively discussion, KAUST faculty will share their insights and contributions towards resolving water scarcity, a critical step towards promoting peace and harmony.

Panelists:

• Noreddine Ghaffour, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering
• Yoshihide Wada, Professor of Plant Science and Environmental Science
• Susana Carvalho, Associate Professor of Practice of Marine Science

Moderator:

• Ana Margarida Costa, Head of Sustainability and Professor of Practice of Sustainability 

Event details: Thursday, March 21, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, rehearsal Room 2011, building 20. No registration is required.

Exploring Solutions to Water Scarcity: A TKS Student Initiative

Support our Grade 11 students from The KAUST School as they tackle the pressing issue of water scarcity. The day will begin with a 20-minute keynote presentation by Dr. Sofiane Soukane, a KAUST research scientist from the Water Desalination & Reuse Center, who will discuss the importance of addressing this global problem. Following the presentation, five student teams will take the stage to present their innovative solutions, with each team given a 3-minute slot to share their ideas. A brief Q&A session will follow to encourage critical thinking and engagement with the proposed solutions. The event will conclude with a poster session where all Grade 11 students will showcase their innovative ideas for tackling water scarcity. 

Event details: Thursday, March 21, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, building 19, Hall 1 & 2. No registration is required. 

Water Desalination Plant Open House 

Did you know KAUST owns and operates a Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination (SWRO) Plant with a 40,000 m3/day production capacity? Facilities Management, in collaboration with Students for Sustainability, has organized guided tours for our community to learn about the plant’s production, monitoring and tracking of all potable water supplied to the community. 

Event details: Thursday, March 21. Tour 1: 10:00 am to 11:00  am and tour 2: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Transportation will be arranged. To register, fill out this form. 

Nature Walk

Join the Health Safety & Environment (HSE) team on an early morning walk along the KAUST pier in front of the Minister’s house. This beautiful location offers a unique opportunity to appreciate and observe the diverse array of local flora and fauna, including aquatic life, mangroves, fish and birds. The HSE team will host this event monthly following this inaugural walk to foster a deeper appreciation for our surrounding environment and promote healthy lifestyle habits. The Students for Sustainability group and the Birding Club of KAUST will also actively participate in these events.

Event details: Thursday, March 21, 6:30 am. To RSVP, please fill out the participation form. Limited spaces are available.

Water Movie Night for Students 

The IWA-KAUST student chapter will organize a movie night for students to watch The Day After Tomorrow (2004), where pizza and soft drinks will be offered. Movie Synopsis: When a sudden worldwide storm begins to plunge the entire planet into a new ice age, paleoclimatologist Jack Hall undertakes a dangerous trek to New York City to save his son from the disaster. Registration is closed.

This celebration is a collaboration between the Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), TKS, KEY, Facilities Management, Health Safety and Environment, IWA KAUST Students Chapter, Students for Sustainability, GBC and the Sustainability Office.