Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. As we tackle a triple planetary crisis – climate, biodiversity loss and pollution – the KAUST community came together this Earth Day to showcase the university’s contribution to scientific education, its sustainability-driven discoveries, and investment in eco-technological innovation and community awareness.

This Earth Day the KAUST community was able to discover:

• The exciting research being undertaken at the Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC) and how it contributes to environmental sustainability, addressing the challenge of water security in the Kingdom and providing sustainable solutions for desalinating seawater, wastewater treatment, and more.
• What happens to the waste produced at KAUST every day in a Waste Transfer Station Open House. Community members enjoyed a tour of the waste management facility, emphasizing the waste collection program, waste processing and storage, and the waste operation fleet. A waste-to-art exhibition was also carried out at the campus library.
• How KAUST potable water is generated and recycled and how the university’s buildings are kept cool. The Facilities Management – Utilities Operation team hosted visits focused on Reverse Osmosis Desalination, Wastewater Treatment processes, and Center Chiller Cooling processes.
• KAUST Solar Center’s state-of-the-art facilities, gaining an insight into the research being conducted to invest in a clean energy future.
• KAUST’s nature-based carbon offsets through the university’s thriving and vibrant mangrove forest that spans over 110 hectares.

As all these events demonstrated, KAUST’s world-leading research translates to action-oriented solutions and empowers students to become sustainability champions for our planet, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and a globally sustainable future.