Environmental engineer Yousef Alramzi, Vice-Head of the Environmental Engineers Team and official spokesperson for the team affiliated with the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, stressed the importance of highlighting the vital role of environmental engineering in confronting contemporary environmental challenges. He pointed out that the team’s participation in the «Enhancing Environmental Awareness» event, organized by the Environmental Impact Studies and Environmental Monitoring Department of the Environmental Affairs Department at the Public Authority for Housing Welfare on Thursday, on the occasion of Arab Environment Day, October 14, comes within the Society’s efforts to introduce environmental specializations and enhance the presence of national competencies in the fields of sustainable development.
Alramzi explained that “environmental engineering is not limited to monitoring pollutants, observing environmental problems, and assessing their impacts, but extends to designing and implementing engineering and technical solutions to address and prevent them, whether related to air quality, water resources, soil pollution, or infrastructure.” He further stated that “an environmental engineer possesses the knowledge and skills that enable them to develop water and wastewater treatment systems, manage waste, rehabilitate contaminated sites, and design solutions that reduce emissions and achieve efficient use of natural resources.”.
Alramzi addressed the importance of integrating sustainability principles into the design of homes and residential areas, emphasizing that rationalizing water and electricity consumption begins at the planning and design stage and is not limited to residents' consumption habits. He also highlighted the role of environmental engineering in improving building efficiency, utilizing energy- and water-saving technologies, and reducing waste and emissions, thus contributing to lowering the environmental impact of residential areas.
High school students, particularly those in the science track, were encouraged to explore environmental engineering as a promising field closely linked to the future of sustainable development in Kuwait. For his part, environmental engineer Hussein Thabet Al-Amir, a member of the environmental engineers' team at the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, stated that the team's participation included an educational and scientific exhibition showcasing a range of environmental projects completed by team members, including university graduation projects. He explained that the exhibition aimed to simplify engineering and environmental concepts for the public, introduce the solutions that environmental engineers can offer to address pollution and improve quality of life, and highlight the importance of innovation and scientific research in confronting environmental challenges.
He added that “the team’s pavilion included a presentation of several environmental engineering projects presented by team members, with the aim of introducing visitors to the practical applications of this specialization and highlighting the environmental engineer’s ability to transform environmental problems into opportunities for innovation and development. He pointed out that the project presentations allowed visitors to see practical models of engineering solutions, which enhances their understanding of the relationship between scientific research, technological applications, and environmental protection, and underscores the importance of investing in national talent capable of meeting the demands of green jobs.”.
The Prince explained that “the team cooperated with the Public Authority for Housing Welfare in preparing and implementing an interactive environmental competition, designed in a style that combines education, entertainment and competition, and included five diverse categories that included questions about the environment of Kuwait, the environment in the Arab world, discovering the different picture from among four pictures, deducing environmental terms through the symbols displayed on the screen, as well as identifying scientific terms from their definitions and the first letter of them, which allowed participants to test their knowledge and acquire new knowledge in an exciting way.”.
He noted that “the competition witnessed great interaction from the attendees, especially when unexpected scientific information was presented that sparked discussion and questions, including that electric cars, despite their role in reducing direct emissions during operation, may have environmental impacts on the manufacturing of their batteries and the production of the electricity needed to charge them, which vary according to energy sources and manufacturing methods.
The competition also addressed the pivotal role of marine phytoplankton in producing a significant portion of the oxygen generated through photosynthesis on Earth, highlighting the importance of marine ecosystems in maintaining global ecological balance. The Prince concluded by emphasizing that ”employing educational games and interactive competitions in environmental activities is an effective way to reinforce information and correct common misconceptions, especially when combined with science fairs and applied projects.“.
He praised the Public Authority for Housing Welfare’s cooperation with the Kuwait Environment Protection Society in organizing this participation,” stressing “the keenness of the environmental engineers team to continue providing initiatives that link scientific knowledge to daily life, and encourage members of society to adopt more sustainable practices, coinciding with Arab Environment Day, which commemorates the launch of Arab ministerial cooperation in the field of the environment in 1986.”.
