Tag: United Arab Emirates

Sustainable living is not only about drinking your coffee from a reusable cup, but rather how your lifestyle choices can impact the world around you. From how you prepare your food to the fashion you choose to wear, your habits may potentially help save polar bears.

With the hope of applying her knowledge about sustainable living to her life, American University of Sharjah (AUS) student Tasneem Shafeeq Khuzai is grateful to be part of the Green Living Learning Community (GLLC) launched on September 6 in the AUS residential halls.

Coordinated by Dr. Dr. Lisa Bardill Moscaritolo, Executive Director of Student Experience at AUS; Kristina Katsos, Lecturer in International Studies; and Julia Angelika Carlow, Head of AUS Sustainability, GLLC offers an immersive environment for students to connect with like-minded peers who share interests in climate change and sustainable living.

“I am ambitious and excited to share what I learned about ecology and sustainability from my courses, previous internships and research with others who have similar interests to me. Most importantly, I hope to reconnect with those like me who care about being as sustainable as possible. I also hope to focus more this semester on volunteering and internships to be able to excel academically and be more involved with the community,” said Khuzai.

With the aid of AUS Residential Assistants(RA), GLLC members sharing the same floor in their respective residential halls will engage in a variety of activities and social opportunities that are focused on sustainability. These opportunities range from promoting events on sustainability to making GLLC-related bulletin boards and working closely with residential hall coordinators and the Office of AUS Sustainability to organize events.

“The GLLC fits well within our mission to create Living Learning Communities (LLC) where students can share common interests on various subjects. Research shows that having LLCs in the residential halls strengthens students’ sense of belonging at university. Naturally, there is much interest in climate action by the youth, and with the UAE hosting COP28, this is an important link for our students. The GLLC will empower students to make informed, impactful choices and develop personal living habits,” said Dr. Lisa Bardill Moscaritolo, Executive Director of Student Experience at AUS.

Members of the GLLC will have the opportunity to also take part in community service activities, such as working in the AUS community garden and the AUS Manbat Farmers’ Market, and other volunteer opportunities.

Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guide, the GLLC is organizing educational workshops by AUS faculty and staff throughout the semester that highlight the challenges and tools for a more sustainable world. Discussion sessions topics and speakers will include climate change, led by Dr. Fatin Samara, Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences; water insecurity, led by Dr. Sandra Knuteson, Senior Lecturer in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences; fashion and consumerism, led by Dr. Rania Semaan, Associate Professor in Marketing and Information Systems; sustainable cities and communities, led by Camilo Cerro, Associate Professor in Architecture; good health and well-being, led by Nathalie Montoya Curabba, AUS Sustainability Coordinator; and reduced inequalities, led by Sana Sayed, Senior Instructor in English.

“I have been an eco-conscious person for a few years now, but it can be challenging to always incorporate sustainability into my daily life. I aim to learn more about sustainability on a budget and finding sustainable ways to be sustainable, especially that being a student means we need to rethink the way we use plastic, the food we eat and recycling. I hope to gain a stronger sense of community as part of the GLLC to make a difference. I would love to exchange knowledge and ideas regarding sustainability and living. I would also like to learn more about sustainability in the UAE through the discussions we would be participating in,” said AUS student Vibhuti Mathur.

As a member of the Universities Climate Network (UCN), a network comprising UAE-based universities and higher education institutions facilitating dialogues, workshops, public events and youth participation in the lead up to COP28, AUS has been rolling out activities through its several offices to raise awareness about the role of the youth in promoting sustainability and encouraging their participation in COP28 events.

Bahraini architect Maryam Aljomairi, American University of Sharjah’s (AUS) College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) alumna and co-curator of the Pavilion of Bahrain at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, has presented research into how Gulf countries could harness the high volume of water created as a by-product of air conditioning systems.

Collaborating with fellow Bahraini architect Latifa Alkhayat and a team of experts, including AUS alumni Nada AlMulla, Rabeeya Abduljabbar, Nasser AlZayani and current AUS students Khaled Esguerra and Nujud Alhussain, the team’s research reveals that Bahrain’s air-conditioning systems currently produce enough water to irrigate three million date palms every year, but instead, it goes down the drain.

“Due to the extreme temperature in the Gulf, air conditioning systems are used almost all year-round. The air conditioning process generates an underutilized by-product called water condensate. During the operation of an air conditioning unit, air is drawn from the external environment and directed into the system, as it is cooled water condensate develops,” said Aljomairi.

“While we acknowledge the adverse environmental impacts of air conditioning and do not intend to glorify it, we also recognize its necessity in our given climate. As we await for cleaner alternatives, it is critical to utilize existing assets available in every building that can offset these repercussions,” she said.

Aljomairi, who is currently pursuing a Doctorate at Harvard Graduate School of Design, was appointed co-curator of the Bahrain Pavilion in November 2022 after responding to an open call by the Kingdom’s Authority for Culture and Antiquities, which was specifically looking to address the theme of water scarcity in the Gulf region.

Over four months, Aljomairi and her co-curator, Latifa Alkhayat, worked alongside an engineer and hydrogeologist in an extensive study to calculate the volume of water that could be collected from air conditioning units from every building type across Bahrain—an estimated 74 million m3. Further research and analysis showed that while the water byproduct is pure and distilled, it is very acidic and would, therefore, be best utilized for irrigation as well as to replenish Bahrain’s dried-up water springs as a means to revitalize local ecologies.

“The inception of cooling technology in Bahrain dates back 40 years, yet until now, the potential benefits of this resource have remained largely untapped. We are living in a time that we cannot afford to even forgo the smallest drops of water,” she said.

With this in mind, the team has also looked at how water may be conserved at the microscopic level and collected from glass surfaces by applying waterproof sprays in a way that would direct them to shed water more quickly and efficiently before it can evaporate in the heat. The research has been compiled in a publication which complements the exhibition in Venice and has opened important conversations about policy change in Bahrain and across the Gulf, with further studies building on the initial findings and recommendations already underway.

The Pavilion of Bahrain is located adjacent to the National Pavilion UAE, which has been curated by AUS alumni-turned faculty, Faysal Tabbarah, along with his own team of AUS alumni researchers.

A career in research was not always on Aljomairi’s agenda, who graduated from AUS in 2017 with a Bachelor of Architecture and went on to work in reputable firms both at home in Bahrain and later in New York. In 2018, she attended a conference in Mexico with architects and researchers from institutions such as MIT and Harvard, who left a lasting impression.

“The research presented at the conference highlighted a truly multidisciplinary approach to architecture and the built environment. Integrating computer science, synthetic biology, engineering and material science into their work. That’s when I realized a strong inclination towards engaging in that path— an approach to architecture that’s driven by discovery, exploration and innovation,” said Aljomairi.

She has since gone on to complete a master’s degree in design computation at MIT and is now pursuing a doctorate at Harvard where she is researching adaptable and shape-shifting materials systems. During this time, Aljomairi has enjoyed collaborating with the growing cohort of AUS alumni in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“Because of the number of AUS graduates coming into these institutions now, people are becoming more aware of AUS, and Sharjah in general. Everybody here can see there is something different about CAAD graduates,” she said.

“We all know that AUS has a strong foundation, but what makes it very unique is the environment that it has created through its faculty and students. At CAAD, there is this energy that always pushes you to break boundaries and do your best, setting the standard for what defines outstanding work,” Aljomairi said.

“As a student of both MIT and Harvard, I have yet to see the same commitment and rigor. To this day—even six years later—whenever I work, I always ask myself, ‘Is this up to the standards set by CAAD?’,” she said.

For more information about the College of Architecture, Art and Design at American University of Sharjah, visit www.aus.edu/caad.

A research team from American University of Sharjah (AUS) investigated the impact of isolation and confined environments on astronauts and provided recommendations on protecting their mental health as part of a collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

The study involved six primary crew members including Saleh AlAmeri representing the UAE, who were put into a confined environment for 240 days from November 2021 to July 2022 in the SIRIUS facility, during which they experienced simulated long-distance space travel. A backup crew that supported the primary team from the operations center was present, which also included Abdalla AlHammadi from the UAE.

The AUS research team used advanced brain imaging modalities such as electroencephalography, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, alpha amylase biochemical marker and behavioral responses to measure brain electrical activity, blood oxygenation and stress hormone levels. Based on data collected at different stages, the team found an increase in the level of the stress hormone the longer the isolation continued, and a significant decrease in information flow and direction between brain regions, indicating a drop in cognitive abilities due to elevated mental stress.

“The findings of this research will impact future space missions locally and internationally. They will help develop techniques to mitigate stress at its early stages to protect astronauts’ mental health. An additional advantage of this study is applying the findings to our modern-day life in managing workplace environments to reduce the risk of mental stress, leading to an improved quality of life,” said Dr. Hasan Al-Nashash, Professor in Electrical Engineering at AUS.

The study was conducted by Dr. Al-Nashash along with Dr. Fares Al-Shargie, a visiting postdoctoral scholar, and Dr. Usman Tariq, Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering at AUS.

The UAE crew members were trained in the Biomedical Engineering Lab of the Neuroengineering Research Group at AUS by Dr. Al-Shargie and Dr. Al-Nashash on experiments protocol and data collection. The College of Engineering (CEN) labs are furnished with state-of-the-art equipment to conduct the training and experiments. The international crew members were trained online.

“We presented several recommendations, including the use of advanced neuroimaging and artificial intelligence for early detection of mental stress. The research findings motivated us to develop methods for reducing mental stress in confined environments using digital technologies to stimulate human senses to influence the brain in ways that prompt it to control emotions. This work does not only benefit space research but also impacts other social domains including healthcare, safety, education and quality of life,” said Dr. Al-Shargie.

The interdisciplinary nature of research, which combines electrical and biomedical engineering, reflects the quality of education offered to students at the AUS College of Engineering. As one of the most exciting branches of engineering, electrical engineering graduates have many opportunities to shape their future.

AUS offers a highly acclaimed four-year Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree program that is based on a solid foundation of science and mathematics. AUS is ranked among the top two (tied) in the UAE and top ​300 universities globally for ​electrical ​and electronic ​engineering, according to QS World University Subject Rankings (202​2​). In keeping with the developments in the UAE and wider Middle East, AUS offers a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBME) and recently launched a new doctoral program in biosciences and bioengineering (PhD-BSBE) that will be available for students starting Fall 2023.