Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab, President of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, considered the signing of the memorandum of understanding between “Environmental Protection” and the Kuwaiti Society for Earth Sciences to be an acknowledgment of the importance of strengthening the principle of partnership between local public benefit organizations and associations whose goals are compatible, supporting cooperation between them, and the importance of combining and unifying efforts to raise awareness in the various fields of earth and environmental sciences, and strengthening professional ties and relationships to coordinate and unify efforts made to develop work in the fields of earth and environmental sciences, praising Dr. Mubarak Al-Hajri, President of the Society for Earth Sciences, for his keenness to open up avenues of cooperation with the Environment Society.
Dr. Al-Aqab explained on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the memorandum that it “coordinates the efforts of both parties in the various fields that serve the fields of earth and environmental sciences, and frames joint work and cooperation between them through several specialized articles, including the first article, which includes strengthening cooperation between the two parties in the fields of awareness and spreading culture in the field of earth and environmental sciences and increasing awareness of phenomena and manifestations scientifically in the various fields of earth and environmental sciences and the challenges associated with them.“.
The second article states: “Both parties are committed to cooperating in areas related to earth and environmental sciences and to utilizing their applications through joint research projects that serve specialists and those interested in various fields of earth sciences. This includes exchanging expertise and experiences in earth sciences, contributing to a better understanding of geological phenomena and finding solutions to shared challenges. The parties will also organize joint and specialized training courses in earth sciences to develop the skills of national personnel and enhance awareness and development in specialized areas. Furthermore, they will contribute to providing training opportunities for staff and personnel from both entities and implement high-quality, enriching training programs through coordination with relevant bodies. The parties will also coordinate and cooperate in organizing joint awareness activities to promote understanding of earth sciences and highlight their importance to society, thereby contributing to the discovery and support of those interested in earth sciences. This includes participating in organizing workshops, seminars, and scientific and educational geological expeditions to explore geological features and related developments. Finally, they will coordinate the organization of local, regional, and international conferences on scientific topics and establish a mechanism to monitor the implementation of recommendations and resulting outcomes.”.
For his part, the President of the Kuwaiti Society for Earth Sciences, Dr. Mubarak Al-Hajri, stated that “the two parties, under the agreement, will enhance their contribution by providing support and advice when needed in the following areas: providing advice on technical topics related to geological phenomena and local challenges that require solutions through scientific and practical expertise, and contributing informational support and adopting beneficial initiatives to develop various fields of earth and environmental sciences in coordination with the relevant authorities.” In this context, he praised the activities of the Environment Society throughout its 50-year history, which has been rich in enriching environmental sciences and volunteer fields, including the field of geology, which the Society has clearly focused on.
He pointed to the importance of partnerships and cooperation between the Earth Sciences Association and local, regional and international organizations, adding, “Cooperation agreements were signed between the Kuwaiti Earth Sciences Association and some local, regional and international organizations to frame joint work and cooperation, and their number reached 8, which were made with each of: (the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, the Kuwaiti Geographical Society, the Saudi Society for Earth Sciences, the Omani Geological Society, the Saudi Geologists Association, the American Society of Petroleum Geologists, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and the European Society of Geoscientists and Engineers).
Dr. Al-Hajri stated that the establishment of the Kuwaiti Society for Earth Sciences is the latest in a series of numerous attempts made by dedicated professors and distinguished colleagues for more than 45 years. He explained, “The Society seeks to raise awareness about the importance of Earth sciences and their role in the development and growth of societies, and to encourage, promote, and support scientific research and professional development in the field of Earth sciences and their applications. This is achieved by providing a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences among scientists, researchers, and those interested in this field, in order to create a scientific environment that promotes professional excellence and the application of ethical standards for the public good. It also focuses on students and recent graduates in various fields of Earth sciences and guides them towards job market options.”.
