5 Innovative Air Pollution Projects Developed by Students

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Pollution is a ubiquitous problem in the present-day world, and it is rising continuously all around the globe. Amongst all other kinds of pollution, such as water, land, and sound, air pollution has a profound impact on every living organism present on the earth. We inhale many toxins and pollutants along with oxygen while breathing, which can cause severe health problems and can even lead to an untimely death. Developing countries face more pollution-related health problems as compared to developed countries. However, students alongside scientists are working hard to protect our home planet from air contamination and its hazardous effects.

Fortunately, more and more people are working for environmental protection and conservation. Government and private organizations are working to reduce the factors that are damaging the nature we live in. Today’s students are also more concerned about the harmful effects of the contaminated environment and seek to help in their own way. During school and college if you are wondering how to rewrite my paper, you should know the importance of a sound environment. They are also asked to work on projects and proceedings on environmental protection methods.

climate-change-public-health

Students may significantly benefit from essay samples https://eduzaurus.com/free-essay-samples/environment/ to work on their paper and learn more about protecting the earth. Reading such pieces helps in their course to develop useful projects that aid to solve the existing pollution related problems.

Cities around the world are choked with smog and dangerous emissions. Addressing the harm caused by rapidly increasing air pollution, many university students worldwide have developed useful environmental projects. Some of them are as follows:

1. Pollution vacuum cleaner

The idea of a pollution vacuum cleaner is to suck up the contaminants from the air. Developed by an Indian mechanical engineer, it takes all the pollutants along with the air and releases clean air after filtration. As the air passes through various layers inside the filter, the contaminants stick in the filter, and clean air is released. Such vacuums can be used near chimneys and generators to reduce the presence of smoke in the air.

2. Hydrogen fuel from pollutants

Extracting hydrogen gas from the air is challenging, but not for enthusiasts. As part of their project, students have developed a device to purify the air from organic adulteration. This device is powered by solar energy, which houses a thin membrane that attracts the contaminants and exhales purified air. The extracted hydrogen can be stored and used later as fuel in hydrogen-powered vehicles.

3. Air pollution AI framework

Predicting the level of smog in a place can help the locals take a precautionary approach in case of an increment in contamination. A high school student from New-York made a device as project work that predicts air pollution levels using neural networks. The AI-equipped tool can predict contamination with up to 92% accuracy.

artificial-intelligence-environment-protection

Artificial Intelligence can provide invaluable assistance in environment protection and resource conservation

4. Anti-smog gun

The anti-smog gun is an effective method of clearing the air pollutants in smog-afflicted areas. During the high level of pollution, the gun sprays vapor into the air, absorbing the toxins. It is a short-term solution to minimize the harms of hazardously polluted air.

5. Air-Ink

Air-Ink is a creative and interesting device that can convert air carbon to ink. People can connect the KAALINK device to their car exhaust pipe to get the ink from the fuel fumes. The tool can extract 30 ml of ink within 45 minutes of driving. However, the collected ink requires to be purified in the lab before its use.

Bottom Line

Students may find that working on air pollution control projects is one of the best ways in which they can learn about environmental hazards during their educational course. Such insights inspire them to search for a solution and develop various solutions to counter the threats.

Getting involved in innovative air pollution projects will help us to understand the importance of the atmosphere and environment and our responsibility towards keeping the earth safe for the future generation. We can all contribute to fighting air pollution and saving all beings for generations to come through our collective effort.

Women Entrepreneurship in MENA: An Analysis

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Women entrepreneurship is an important unexploited source of economic growth in almost all parts of the world. Unfortunately women in MENA have the lowest rates of Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) at merely 4% of the population. The highest rates, globally, are in sub-Saharan Africa, at 27%. Latin American and Caribbean economies also show high levels (15 percent). In just seven economies (Panama, Thailand, Ghana, Ecuador, Nigeria, Mexico, and Uganda), women had equal or slightly higher levels of entrepreneurship than men. For the rest, women represented a smaller share of the entrepreneur population.

women-entrepreneurship-middle-east

Current Situation

The recent interest in women entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa region has spurred a number of studies that aim to explain MENA’s very low female participation in the workforce and political life, at  both the inter-regional and the intra-regional scales and  to identify the challenges facing women entrepreneurs.

The comparative data shows that the MENA region has made strong gains in human development: Literacy increased to 69 percent, average schooling (for those above 15)  rose  to  5.2  years,  child mortality  rates  plunged  to  around  46  per  thousand  births,  and  life  expectancy  has climbed to  reach  68  years.”.

However the level of unemployment among women remains high throughout the region. Of course, there is enough evidence to show that culture and social norms — not religion since countries with the same religion clearly show different rates — have a great deal to do with it.

Also Read: Buying and Trading Gems in the Middle East – An Easy Guide

Key Barriers and Constraints

The MENA region, more than other regions, faces specific barriers for women to interact in the public sphere and to access vital resources. This poses constraints that need to be addressed with specific measure in access to technology, financing and access to information which is a necessity in a globalized world. Some of the main barriers and constraints identified in hampering women entrepreneurs from entering the economic mainstream are as follows:

  • Gender specific barriers: Despite the fact that MENA nations have made considerable efforts to narrow the gender gap, much remains to be done to raise the social welfare of women in the region.
  • Cultural norms.
  • Civil law: Prevalent laws tend to enforce certain customs and social norms and, in doing so, institutionalize and legitimize certain behaviors.
  • Access to financial services and resources.
  • Barriers in the business environment.
  • Lack of research and data to inform an effective advocacy strategy.

Inter-regional Disparities in MENA

The difference of Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) rates among countries in the MENA region is well explained by the heterogeneity and diversity of their historical development, social makeup and system of governance as well as  the  key  indicators  of  human  development  such  as health, education and living  standards.

role of women in food security

It is quite difficult to make generalizations across the MENA region as the region  includes super-rich oil economies, a relatively small population and a large expat population such as Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE; mixed oil economies such as Algeria, Iran, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and  Syria  and non-oil economies  like  Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Malta and Cyprus. This further complicates attempts to explain variations in the character and gender aspects of employment and entrepreneurship.

Also Read: Building Businesses With Purpose – Social Entrepreneurship

Thus, each country in the Arab world is confronting constraints and barriers to women entrepreneurship in different contexts. The profile of barriers for each nation is shaped by inter-connectedness of intrinsic and extrinsic factors specific to each country. Some studies have attributed MENA’s low rates of female labor force participation in oil-exporting countries of MENA (the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) to oil.

It has been argued that the economic structure, social norms, and institutional characteristics of oil-rich economies discourage women from formal sector work. Ross (2008) argues that oil production “reduces the number of women in the labor force, which in turn reduces their political influence.” Oil-rich countries tend to have undiversified private sectors characterized by male-dominated employment and large public sectors. Consequently, employment opportunities for women often are highly concentrated in the public sector

Oil is a significant source of income for some MENA countries, especially GCC nations, and has definitely limited the growth of non-oil sectors. Nevertheless, it is notable that many countries in the region are net oil importers but still have rates of female labor force participation as low as those of oil-rich MENA countries. In contrast, oil producers outside MENA such as Norway and the Russian Federation have higher rates of female labor force participation.

Ways to Enhance Female Entrepreneurship

Targeted, coordinated efforts are needed on multiple fronts to increase women’s participation in the economic and political spheres, and these efforts must be specific to country context. These efforts include changes in policies to secure women’s equality under the law, to bridge the remaining gender gaps in health and education, to redress the skills mismatch in the job market, and to promote women’s civic and political participation, and changes in economic policies by adoption of more nuanced labor taxation systems, more targeted social welfare benefits, tax credits, public financed parental leave schemes and promotion, better flex-work arrangements, enhanced access to finance and training for female entrepreneurs.

women entrepreneurship in Arab world

All these policy options and more can narrow the gap between men and women in economic life, and can trigger a momentum of growth and job creation that can support much higher rates of GDP and ensure prosperity for all.

Furthermore, the economic and political environment arising from the Arab Spring has created an unprecedented window of opportunity for change. Given the growing labor, demographic, and fiscal constraints, and the changing aspirations in the Middle East and North Africa region, policy reforms are urgently needed to boost job creation for all.

References

  • Ebba Augustin, Ruby Assad & Dalila Jaziri, 2012, Women Empowerment for Improved Research in Agricultural Development, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer in the West Asia/ North Africa Region, AARINENA Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa
  • Leyla Sarfaraz, Nezameddin Faghih and Armaghan Asadi Majd 2014, The relationship between women entrepreneurship and gender equality, The Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research (JGER)
  • Michael L. Ross, 2008, “Oil, Islam, and Women.” American Political Science Review
  • OECD-MENA Investment Programme, 2013, Gender inequality and entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa : A statistical portrait
  • World Bank, 2007, The Environment for Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa Region

كاربونيفا: إعادة صياغة العمل المناخي من خلال الكربون، والطاقة والتكيف

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بالغالب عندما نقوم بمناقشة التغير المناخي، نقوم بمناقشة مجزأة، حيث نصوّر الطاقة كأداة للتخفيف من آثار هذا التغير وننظر للتكيف على أنه وسيلة للسيطرة على الأضرار الحاصلة، ونقوم باختزال الكربون لمقياس وحيد للانبعاثات. وبالرغم من ان هذه المقاربات ساهمت في تنظيم العمل المناخي عالمياً، إلا أنها تقف عاجزة أمام التسارع الذي يواجه العالم بآثار تغير المناخ ومخاطره وتحديات الموارد المرتبطة به. لا تنقصنا التكنولوجيا أو الطموح، بل التكامل. فالتغير المناخي ليس مجرد مشكلة طاقة، ولا انبعاثات فقط، بل هو تحدٍ لكيفية إدارة الكربون ويمتد هذا التحدي عبر أنظمة الطاقة والنظم البيئية وموارد المياه، والامن الغذائي، والمرونة الاجتماعية، وكذلك الاقتصادية. ولتتم معالجة هذا التعقيد، فإن هنالك حاجة لتطوير مفهوم جديد، وهنا بهذه المقالة فإننا نقدم (كاربونيفا) كإطار عمل موحد لدمج الطاقة مع تخفيف الكربون والتكيف للتصدي لآثار التغير المناخي في نظام واحد متطور من شأنه تحقيق مرونة مناخية طويلة الأجل وخلق تنمية مستدامة.

Climate Action Through Carbon, Energy and Adaptation

من تجزئة العمل المناخي إلى التفكير المنهجي

تم تنظيم استراتيجيات المناخ لعقود طويلة بمسارات خطية؛ تقليل الانبعاثات، وتثبيت درجات الحرارة، والتكيف مع الآثار المتبقية. تم تنفيذ هذه المسارات عن طريق سياسات قطاعية تعمل كلٌ على حدا من الناحية العملية، لأنه من النادر أن تُراعى مرونة النظم البيئية مع تخطيط الطاقة وفي الكثير من الأحيان تتجاهل استراتيجيات التكيف الآثار الكربونية. وفي بعض الاحيان تزيد الجهود المبذولة للتخفيف من حدة التدهور المائي، وتدهور الأراضي وحتى الهشاشة الاجتماعية. وبنفس الوقت، لم تعد آثار المناخ مجرد توقعات بعيدة، فإننا بالفعل نشهد موجات الحر والجفاف والفيضانات وندرة المياه وهي تعيد تشكيل الاقتصادات والمجتمعات، خاصة في المناطق القاحلة وشبه القاحلة، وتؤثر هذه الاثار بشكل مباشر على استراتيجيات التخفيف وعلى أدائها واستدامتها كذلك. ومن هنا وُلد مشروع كاربونيفا ليس كتقنية جديدة أو بديلة لأطر المناخ الحالية، بل هو تطور لمفهوم يعترف ويؤكد بأن العمل المناخي هو نظام حيوي متكامل وليس مجرد مجموعة من الأهداف المنفصلة.

ما هي كاربونيفا؟

يرمز هذا المصطلح إلى الكربون والطاقة والتكيف، وقد تمت صياغته بكلمة واحدة عمداً ليعبّر عن إجراءات تغيير لثلاث أفكار رئيسية وليس قائمة من الإجراءات. أولاً، يجب أن نفهم ان الكربون هو عنصر حيوي مشترك بين النظم الطبيعية والانسان، وإنه ليس مجرد انبعاثات من الواجب تقليلها. ثانياً: تعتبر الطاقة المتجددة محركاً أساسياً للتخفيف والتكيف، لإنها تؤثر على الأمن المائي، والنظم الغذائية والقدرة على المقاومة.

ثالثاً: إن التكيف والتخفيف يعتبران عمليتان متكاملتان وليس أولويات متنافسة، لا بل على العكس، فهما يجب أن تتطورا معاً. وبهذا وحسب نظام الكاربونيفا فإن التغير المناخي لا يجب أن يتمحور حول تخفيف الكربون والقدرة على المقاومة، وإنما يدور حول تصميم أنظمة لتمكين تخفيف الكربون على تعزيز القدرة على المقاومة، وتُمكّن القدرة على تخفيف الكربون بشكل أعمق.

الكربون يتجاوز الانبعاثات

يعتبر الكربون عنصراً رئيسياً في تغير المناخ، ومع ذلك فإنه غالباً ما يُهمّش دوره. وهنا نرى بأن السياسات المناخية قامت بالتركيز بشكل أساسي على خفض انبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون من الوقود الاحفوري، وهذا أمراً ضرورياً، ولكن الكربون يوجد كذلك مُخزّناً في التربة والغابات والمحيطات والأراضي الرطبة وحتى البُنية التحتية. وهذه المخزونات تعمل على تنظيم المناخ وتسهم في دعم النظم البيئية وتعزز كذلك من سبل العيش. يوسّع نموذج نطاق مفهوم الكربون بإقرارهِ أن الكربون المُتَجنب عن طريق استخدام الطاقة المتجددة، والكربون المخزّن في النظم البيئية والمواد، والكربون المعاد تدويره في الاقتصادات الدائرية، وكذلك المصارف الطبيعية للكربون، تشكّل جميعها عناصر ذات دور فعّال في استقرار المناخ. ومن هذا المنطلق، تصبح إدارة الكربون مسألة تحديد مكان وجوده، كيفية تدفقه، وكيف ستكون قدرته على دعم التكيف. تُساهم النظم البيئية الصحية بعزل الكربون مع التخفيف من حدّة الظواهر المناخية المتطرفة، وتقوم التربة الزراعية المرنة بتخزين الكربون مع تحسين الأمن الغذائي، وتقوم أنظمة المواد الدائرية بتقليل الانبعاثات بالإضافة لخفض هشاشة الموارد، وبذلك يصبح الكربون عاملا رابطاً وليس مقسمّاً.

الطاقة المتجددة كعامل تمكين للمرونة

تلعب الطاقة المتجددة دورًا محوريًا في مشروع كاربونيفا، لكن أهميتها تتجاوز بكثير مجرد خفض الانبعاثات. فالطاقة الشمسية وطاقة الرياح وغيرها من أنظمة الطاقة المتجددة تقلل الاعتماد على أسواق الوقود المتقلبة، وتعزز سيادة الطاقة وتتيح بنية تحتية لامركزية. وفي المناطق التي تعاني من ندرة المياه، يمكن لتحلية المياه وإعادة استخدامها باستخدام الطاقة المتجددة أن تعزز القدرة علىالتكيف. وفي المناطق الريفية كذلك، تدعم مصادر الطاقة المتجددة الزراعة وتخزين الطاقة وسلاسل القيمة المقاومة لتغير المناخ. وفي إطار مشروع كاربونيفا، لا تُقيَّم أنظمة الطاقة المتجددة بناءً على كثافة انبعاثات الكربون فحسب، بل أيضًا بناءً على تفاعلاتها النظامية مع المياه والأراضي والنظم البيئية والمجتمعات ويصبح تخطيط الطاقة تخطيطًا متكاملًا، يربط أهداف المناخ بأولويات التنمية واحتياجات المرونة. ويُعد هذا النهج المتكامل ذا أهمية خاصة في المناطق التي تواجه مخاطراً مركبة، حيث يتقاطع تغير المناخ مع ندرة المياه وانعدام الأمن الغذائي والضغط الديموغرافي.

دمج التكيف والتخفيف

من ضمن التحديات المستمرة في سياسات المناخ، فإن الفصل المصطنع بين التخفيف والتكيف يعتبر من أبرزها. وهنا تعمل كاربونيفا على تقليل هذا التحدي من خلال اعتبارهما عنصرين مترابطين تحت نظام واحد. تؤثر آثار تغير المناخ على أنظمة الطاقة من خلال الإجهاد الحراري، وتوافر المياه، والظواهر المناخية المتطرفة. وفي ذات الوقت، فإن خيارات التخفيف تقوم بتشكيل القدرة على التكيف من خلال التأثير على النظم البيئية، والبنية التحتية، والعدالة الاجتماعية. وتجاهل مثل هذه التفاعلات يؤدي الى سوء التكيف وضياع الفرص. لذلك، تُركّز كاربونيفا على التغذية الراجعة بدلاً من المسارات الكتابية. يقوم خفض الانبعاثات بإبطاء آثار تغير المناخ، وبالتالي تقليل الضغط على النظم البيئية والبنية التحتية. تقوم النظم البيئية الأقوى على عزل الكربون وتثبت الدورة المائية. وبالتالي تحسين المرونة المجتمعية باتباع مسارات تخفيف ذات طموح أعلى مما يُعزّز العمل المناخي ليصبح حلقة وصل داعمة بدل من كونه مفاضلة بين أمرين.

لماذا تُعدّ كاربونيفا مهمة بالنسبة للجنوب العالمي

على الرغم من أهمية نموذج كاربونيفا على مستوى العالم، إلا أن قيمته تبرز بشكل خاص في المناطق المعرضة لتغير المناخ، مثل الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا. ففي هذه المناطق، يُهدد تغير المناخ الأمن المائي، وإنتاج الغذاء والاستقرار الاقتصادي، مما يجعل التكيف أولوية ملحّة، يقدم كاربونيفا بديلاً لنماذج المناخ التي تُعطي الأولوية لأهداف خفض الانبعاثات دون معالجة مواطن الضعف المحلية ومن خلال دمج التخفيف ضمن أهداف التكيف والتنمية، فإن كاربونيفا يدعم استراتيجيات مناخية تتسم بالمسؤولية العالمية والجدوى المحلية. وبالنسبة للدول التي تواجه الجفاف والإجهاد المائي وتحولات الطاقة في آن واحد، فإنكاربونيفا يوفر رؤية متكاملة تربط بين نشر الطاقة المتجددة وبناء القدرة على المقاومة وإدارة الكربون.

نحو تنمية إيجابية للمناخ

في نهاية المطاف، يُغيّر نموذج كاربونيفا طموح العمل المناخي، فبدلاً من الاقتصار على تحقيق نتائج “منخفضة الكربون” أو “صافي انبعاثات صفرية”، فأنهيفتح المجال أمام أنظمة المناخ الايجابية لتُحسّن بشكل فعّال القدرة على الصمود، وتُعيد تأهيل النظم البيئية، وتُثبّت دورات الكربون. ولهذا التحوّل آثارٌ على تصميم السياسات، وأولويات الاستثمار والحوكمة. فهو يدعو إلى تكامل للمؤسسات، وتخطيط شامل للقطاعات، ومؤشرات تُراعي القدرة على الصمود والفوائد المشتركة إلى جانب الانبعاثات. كما يدعو إلى مناهج شاملة تربط العمل المناخي بسبل العيش والعدل والاستدامة طويلة الأجل.  في عالم لم تعد فيه المخاطر المناخية مجردة، يُقدّم نموذج كاربونيفا إطاراً موحداً للتعامل مع التعقيدات وتوجيه الانتقال نحو مجتمعات مرنة، ومنخفضة الكربون، وقادرة على التكيف.

ترجمة: ماجدة هلسه

أردنية متعددة الإهتمامات، لديها من الخبرة ما يقارب السبعة وعشرون عاماً في مجال المالية والإدارة في المؤسسات المحلية والدولية، وتعمل ماجدة حالياً مع التعاون الدولي الالماني كموظفة مالية. ومع ذلك كله وعلى الصعيد التطوعي، فإن لديها شغفاً كبيراً بالترجمة في كافة المواضيع والمجالات، وقد بُني هذا الشغف بالخبرة الشخصية والعملية على مدى هذه السنين.

Note: The original English version of the article is available at this link.

Solid Waste Management in Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Arabia has been witnessing rapid industrialization, high population growth rate and fast urbanization which have resulted in increased levels of pollution and waste. Solid waste management is becoming a big challenge for the government and local bodies with each passing day. With population of around 29 million, Saudi Arabia generates more than 15 million tons of solid waste per year. The per capita waste generation is estimated at 1.5 to 1.8 kg per person per day.

More than 75 percent of the population is concentrated in urban areas which make it necessary for the government to initiate measures to improve recycling and waste management scenario in the country. Solid waste generation in the three largest cities – Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam – exceeds 6 million tons per annum which gives an indication of the enormity of the problem faced by civic bodies.  

Waste Management Scenario

In Saudi Arabia, garbage is collected from individual or community bins and disposed of in landfills or dumpsites. Saudi waste management system is characterized by lack of waste disposal facilities and absence of tipping fees. Most of the landfills are expected to reach their capacities within the next 10 years. Recycling, reuse and energy recovery is still at an early stage, although they are getting increased attention. Waste sorting and recycling are driven by an active informal sector. Recycling rate ranges from 10-15%, mainly due to the presence of the informal sector which extracts paper, metals and plastics from municipal waste.

Dumping of wastes in deserts is a common sight in the Middle East

Recycling activities are mostly manual and labor intensive. Composting is also gaining increased interest in Saudi Arabia due to the high organic content of MSW (around 40%).  Efforts are also underway to deploy waste-to-energy technologies in the Kingdom. All activities related to waste management are coordinated and financed by the government.

Government Initiatives

The Saudi government is aware of the critical demand for waste management solutions, and is investing heavily in solving this problem. The 2017 national budget allocated SR 54 billion for the municipal services sector, which includes water drainage and waste disposal. The Saudi government is making concerted efforts to improve recycling and waste disposal activities.  Recently the Saudi Government approved new regulations to ensure an integrated framework for the management of municipal wastes. The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs will be responsible for overseeing the tasks and responsibilities of the solid waste management system.

However, more serious efforts are required to improve waste management scenario in the Kingdom. A methodical introduction of modern waste management techniques like material recovery facilities, waste-to-energy systems and recycling infrastructure can significantly improve waste management scenario and can also generate good business opportunities. 

Conclusions

Strong legislations, financial support, public awareness, modern technologies and stakeholders’ participation should be the key in transforming Saudi Arabia into a ‘green’ nation. A strong political commitment and unflinching public support is mandatory for implementing a sustainable waste management strategy in the country. 

How Environmental Engineering Has Improved Environmental Condition

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It is common knowledge that the environment is not at its best now nor has it ever been for the past decades. Unfortunately, people have been deliberately negligent of their environmental responsibilities. With many abusive and irresponsible acts against the environment, resources are seriously depleted. Without conscious awareness about the adverse effects of environmental abuse, the planet may be uninhabitable in the years to come.

As experts see the need for reform and to counteract the abuses done by many, various corrective actions are put in place. Tactical strategies and methodologies are created to correct what needs to be corrected and to undo what has already been done.

Environment-Melbourne

However, it still takes a great deal of cooperation from everyone. There is absolutely nothing advanced with this. It is easy to follow, however, most people tend to lean towards financial gains. Many would rather go for fleeting conveniences rather than actively partake in saving the environment.

Thankfully, environmental engineering has gone leaps and bounds in improving the global environmental condition. With its strategically designed protocols, the global populace still has clean drinking water and generally acceptable air quality to breathe. For one, environmental engineering in Melbourne has significantly improved the city’s environmental condition.

Some Processes To Combat Worsening Environmental Condition

1. Press Optimisation

This process is to spread the exhaust air for energy efficiency. The Press Optimisation process is essential for various reasons. It reuses waste exhaust generally to reduce energy requirements. Since it mainly deals with energy efficiency, nothing is put to waste. It supplies enough energy for resources that need it.

2. Regenerative Thermal Oxidisers

These units are known for their energy efficiency. It combats and destroys hazardous air pollutants. It does take care of odorous emissions which can be found in the air exhausted by different manufacturing units using solvents. The RTOs (as what these units are commonly known as) use high temperature thermal oxidation to destroy pollutants.

Well, we don’t have to be experts in environmental engineering to know all these. Obviously, it is the experts’ responsibility to ensure that we live another day by working round the clock.

Environmental engineering is a necessity now

According to Environmental Science, sanitation is an important part of our evolution. The absence of sanitation means more water-borne diseases and illness. Such a problem definitely increases global mortality rate. As environmental engineering greatly deals with sanitation, various advancements were put in place to effectively deal with sewage systems. It also has a significant contribution in developing natural and artificial water supplies.

Experts in environmental engineering have devoted time and energy to continuously keep our air and water pollutants-free. They have also done enormous work in protecting us against radioactive and other poisonous materials. As a result, climate change has been under control.

What should the next action steps be?

Discipline is the key. The environment is severely damaged and obliterated. No one else has to be blamed but us. It is vital that we all understand the severe and unimaginable consequences if we don’t act NOW. Sure, environmental engineering takes care of the technicalities in cleaning up after us. However, it can only do so much.

Even if environmental engineering gets more and more advanced, it will not be enough to fix the damages we do against the environment. It has to be a conscious partnership between this branch of engineering and our awareness to mend our ways. Then, we all won’t have to deal with complicated processes and the likes.

Bats as Nature’s Pest Controllers: Reducing Pesticide Use in MENA Agriculture Through Bat-Friendly Ecosystems

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Farmers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are facing the challenge of protecting crops from pests while reducing the environmental and economic costs of chemical pesticides. Luckily, a quieter and more sustainable option already exists in the night sky. Insect-eating bats are a practical and effective way to control pests naturally.

bats as a tool for pest control

The Growing Challenge of Pests in a Changing Climate

Climate change is reshaping agriculture worldwide, including in MENA. Warmer winters allow more insects to survive year-round, while hotter summers speed up breeding cycles. These changes result in expanded geographical distribution and increased survival, putting pressure on crops.

To keep up, many farms increase pesticide applications. The pest control industry in the Middle East and Africa is expected to grow by 5.2% annually from 2026 to 2034. While chemicals may offer short-term control, they can come with high costs.

Financially, pesticides are expensive and often need repeated use. Environmentally, they harm the ecosystem by contaminating soil and water and harming many non-target species. Over time, pests can also develop resistance, making chemicals less effective and locking farms into a costly and toxic cycle.

An Unlikely Ally: How Bats Protect Your Crops

Insectivorous bats are among the most efficient pest controllers on the planet. A single bat can consume thousands of insects in one night, including those that damage crops. These include moths whose larvae feed on leaves and fruits and mosquitoes that spread disease.

MENA is home to a wide variety of bat species adapted to deserts, oases, mountains and coastal zones. Many of these hunt over farmland after sunset, following insects around crops and irrigation systems. Because bats hunt at night, they can target pests that daytime predators like birds often miss.

Unlike pesticides, these animals do not disrupt the ecological balance. They reduce pest populations steadily, lowering the chance of sudden outbreaks. Over time, this natural control helps stabilize farm yields and reduces the need for chemical intervention.

The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Bat-Friendly Farming

Bat-friendly farming offers clear advantages that go beyond pest control. These improvements create a more resilient agricultural system, especially in the MENA region, where water scarcity and climate stress already challenge farmers.

Reducing Your Reliance on Costly Pesticides

One of the most immediate benefits of bat-friendly farming is cost reduction. Insect-eating bats naturally suppress pest populations, as shown in research conducted in conventional and organic date plantations. This phenomenon allows farmers to cut back on chemical pesticides, which lowers spending on chemicals, fuel, equipment and labor. Over time, these savings add up, making bat-friendly practices a practical economic choice.

Reducing pesticide use also helps prevent pest resistance. When insects adapt to chemicals, farmers need to use higher doses or stronger products. Natural bat activity works continuously, helping you avoid this costly cycle.

Increasing Overall Crop Yields and Quality

Healthier ecosystems lead to healthier crops. Bats feed on insects that damage leaves and stems, reducing crop stress and loss. This steady, nightly pest control supports more consistent growth that could improve overall yield volume and quality. Crops may be less likely to show cosmetic damage, which is especially important for fruits and vegetables sold in local and export markets.

Protecting Vital Pollinator Populations

Chemical pesticides can effectively target pests, but they also harm beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. When you rely more on bats for pest control, you reduce the exposure of pollinators to harmful chemicals. Strong pollinator populations assist in flowering and seed production, which directly support long-term farm productivity.

Improving Water and Soil Health Naturally

Lower pesticide use means fewer chemicals leaching into soil and water systems. Preserving soil and water health is critical in MENA regions where groundwater and irrigation sources are already under pressure. Cleaner water supports both agriculture and surrounding communities, while healthier soils retain nutrients and moisture better. Encouraging bat activity supports a natural balance that protects your land over time.

How to Create a Bat-Friendly Farm

Animals and plants are interdependent, with this relationship contributing to ecosystem health. Creating a bat-friendly farm is affordable and well-suited to agricultural conditions in the MENA region. Small, intentional changes can make your land more attractive to bats and allow them to support natural pest control each night.

Build or Install Bat Boxes

Bat boxes provide safe roosting spaces, especially in areas with limited trees or caves. In hot and arid climates, proper design and placement are essential.

Install bat boxes a few meters above the ground, mounted on buildings or poles instead of trees to protect them from predators. Position them where they receive balanced sunlight and shade to prevent overheating. Installing multiple boxes helps increase the likelihood of bat populations settling successfully.

Provide a Consistent Water Source

Water is essential for bats, especially in dry and arid regions. Bats drink while flying in a phenomenon called skim drinking, and they also hunt insects that gather near water sources.

Irrigation ponds, reservoirs or well-maintained canals can all support bat activity. Calm, open water surfaces work best. If your farm already relies on irrigation, maintaining clean and accessible water sources can support bats without requiring new infrastructure.

Cultivate Native Plants

Native plants help create a complete food web. They support the insect populations bats rely on while also improving soil health and minimizing erosion. Field borders and buffer zones planted with native vegetation give bats safe feeding areas at night.

Avoid clearing all vegetation around fields, as proximity to farmland helps strengthen bat activity. A mixed landscape is more resilient and easier to manage long term.

The Future of Sustainable Farming

Sustainability initiatives are essential in agriculture, especially in the MENA region, where the effects of climate change can be especially strong. Working with nature offers a practical path forward. Bats provide a proven, efficient form of pest control that reduces pesticide use and protects ecosystems. Nurturing their habitats helps create a healthier and more resilient farming system that supports humans and wildlife alike.

3 Apps for Students to Maintain Well-Being in College

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Nothing is more important for a student than taking care of their mental health. With a big pile of homework, terrifying exams, and a lot of other responsibilities, life for a student can get overwhelming.

As a college student, you need support, and one of the ways to get it is to download an application, which is an easy task to do. However, searching for the apps yourself can give you even more stress. First, you need the exact names and then time to test the application and figure out if it’s a good solution.

apps for your well-being in college

Luckily, other people have already created, found, and tested certain applications that can be useful in day-to-day life. There is also assignment help available for a student whenever they are stuck with their homework or feel like they won’t be able to catch up with the deadline by themselves. Utilizing such services and efficient software will help you make progress in your studies and keep calm in any situation.

Intrigued to find out what are the top names of the apps that you could use for your well-being in college? The following list will reveal some of the best ones for you.

1. Calm

Calm is a popular self-care app with a name that speaks for itself. Along with the soothing visuals the application provides, it brings a lot of real-life benefits. It targets reducing anxiety and enhancing the quality of sleep, which is crucial for a student who has a bad habit of staying up late.

It teaches effective stress-managing with practical solutions, such as guided meditations, for example. In fact, it gives access to a whole library of meditation sessions that focus on various themes, from falling asleep to anxiety attacks. Among the other things this app offers are sleep sounds and music, exercises, breathing techniques, and even bedtime stories.

When you log in to the app, it will ask you to pick a specific personal goal:

  • Improve productivity/performance;
  • Get more happiness;
  • Fight anxiety;
  • Practice gratitude;
  • Uplift self-esteem;
  • Enhance sleep quality;
  • Reduce stress.

Thus, you can work on the highest-priority issue and track your progress.

2. Flora

It’s hard to focus sometimes, which causes guilt and anxiety when you try to cram everything in one night. Flora has a solution for that.

It’s an application developed for building a positive relationship with a healthy focus and deadlines. It encourages making real progress by setting timers to stay off the phone and noting clear to-do lists. The green design and nature theme make the atmosphere chill and aesthetically appealing, which gives no chance but to work along with it.

Ways to Make Your Business Eco-Friendly

Moreover, it’s not just a focus app. The concept revolves around a game. You have to spend time studying smartly and growing trees while discovering new plants every day. You can use this app with your friends and even help the environment – how cool is that?

3. Evernote

Many people call Evernote the best note-taking app, and it definitely has a lot of users. The reason for that is the simple interface that allows you to efficiently save, edit, upload, and organize all of your files and create notes on your device.

It’s super convenient because you can sync information on your phone and laptop, as well as integrate third-party applications in it.

online education

You can leverage Evernote to keep track of the best paper writing services and note all the homework specifications so they don’t get scattered among different places. It’s even possible to pin a certain note to not forget about any of the tasks in progress.

Conclusion

There are times when students simply survive college instead of enjoying it to the fullest. With so much going on, in addition to distractions and mental health issues, it can get quite tough to keep up with the tasks.

Using the applications developed to make a student’s life easier and more enjoyable is one of the best modern solutions accessible to everyone. You could greatly improve your mental health, productivity, and overall well-being if you try out these three apps. So, don’t hesitate to change your life for the better; act on it now!

Recommended Reading: Tips for Balancing Study in College and Other Areas of Life

Practical Home Improvements for Healthier and Cleaner Indoor Spaces

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When you’re trying to maintain a healthy home, the details matter. If you have cracks, gaps, or other small openings in your home, they are an invitation for dust, dirt, and animals to take up residence indoors. You’ll start to notice this problem through diminished air quality and dust build-up.

Fortunately, making some key changes can translate to a healthier environment. Read on as we explore practical home improvement for cleaner indoor spaces.

a beautiful living room with healthy air quality

Replace Old Window Seals

Your windows face a lot of wear and tear from the outdoor elements. And when you’re constantly opening and closing them in the summer months, you’ll start to see caulk and other sealants wear down. That’s why it’s so important to reseal any gaps that develop from peeling weatherstripping or damaged caulk.

You can use fresh weatherstripping for any components that move within your window. Use caulk for areas that don’t move. Ultimately, you’ll help keep dust, moisture that can cause mildew, and pollutants from entering your home.

Invest in Door Sweeps

You might not think much about your doors, but any gaps around them can let dirt and brisk air into your home. If there’s a gap at the base of your door before it meets the floor, that’s an easy place for water or insects to seep inside. Installing door sweeps is the answer to this problem.

Opt for durable rubber sweeps or ones with a brush strip for the best protection. You want to make sure your door sweep doesn’t drag, and it should be flexible. Once installed, you notice cleaner spaces around your door and less draftiness.

Check Your Thresholds

Thresholds are the strips that sit right beneath your door when it’s closed. Over time, these strips can form cracks or wear down, making it easier for dirt and dust to enter your home.

Make a point of checking your door thresholds and replacing them. You’ll end up with a better seal. And when your threshold is in good shape, that can prolong the lifespan of the door sweep that makes contact with it.

Evaluate Your Service Penetrations

Service penetrations do a lot of unseen work in your home. These are the openings in your home through which HVAC ductwork or electrical wiring passes. You’ll find them in utility spaces or basements, and they can be prone to having gaps.

Use sealant to ensure you have more secure openings that keep pests and cold air from entering, too. If you have an attached garage where exhaust fumes and other chemicals are stored, it’s especially critical to seal these gaps.

Make Key Improvements

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a healthier and cleaner indoor space. Replacing or reinforcing seals, checking thresholds and service penetrations, and investing in new door sweeps can make a huge difference.

When you’re mindful of the small gaps and crevices where pollutants and pests can enter your home, you can help maintain a healthier, safer space for your family.

Desalination at the Heart of Algeria’s Green Hydrogen Future: Water Security as a Strategic Energy Lever

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Algeria stands today at the crossroads of two defining transitions: the global shift toward low-carbon energy systems and the intensifying pressure on water resources across arid and semi-arid regions. In this dual transformation, green hydrogen has emerged not only as an industrial opportunity but as a strategic lever capable of reshaping the country’s energy model, export structure, and environmental trajectory. Yet, at the heart of this hydrogen ambition lies a critical enabler that is too often underestimated: desalination.

Green hydrogen, produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of global decarbonization strategies [1,2]. Unlike conventional hydrogen produced via steam methane reforming, which emits significant amounts of CO₂, green hydrogen can be virtually emission-free when driven by solar or wind power. Its relevance is particularly high for hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, fertilizers, aviation, shipping, and long-distance transport [3,4]. For Europe, which has committed to installing 40 GW of electrolyzers and importing an equivalent capacity by 2030, neighboring regions with abundant renewables have become strategic partners [5].

seawater desalination plant in algeria

In this context, Algeria possesses a unique combination of assets. The country benefits from some of the highest solar irradiation levels in the world, exceeding 2,500 kWh/m² per year in vast Saharan areas [6,7]. Its solar atlas identifies over 169,000 km² suitable for photovoltaic deployment, theoretically capable of generating electricity far beyond domestic demand [8]. This solar abundance enables highly competitive renewable electricity costs, a decisive factor in lowering the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). Since producing 1 kg of hydrogen requires approximately 50–55 kWh of electricity [9], access to low-cost solar power is essential for competitiveness.

However, renewable electricity is only one side of the equation. Electrolysis also requires high-purity water. Approximately 9 to 10 liters of ultrapure water are needed to produce 1 kg of hydrogen [10]. While this may appear modest at first glance, scaling up to industrial levels dramatically increases demand. Algeria’s target of producing 30–40 TWh of hydrogen and derivatives by 2040 could require tens of millions of cubic meters of water annually [11]. In a country already facing structural water stress due to arid climate conditions, recurrent droughts, groundwater overexploitation, and climate change impacts, this raises a critical question: where will the water come from?

The answer increasingly points toward desalination.

Algeria has already made desalination a strategic pillar of its water security policy. The country currently operates 17 large-scale seawater desalination plants distributed along its Mediterranean coastline, with a combined production capacity of approximately 3.8 million m³ per day [12]. These plants now provide around 42% of the national potable water supply, a remarkable shift in a country that historically relied on surface water and groundwater resources. By 2030, additional projects are expected to further increase this capacity, reinforcing desalination as a structural component of national water management.

This existing desalination infrastructure offers a decisive advantage for green hydrogen development. Coastal hydrogen production hubs, such as those planned in Arzew and other industrial zones, can directly couple electrolysis units with desalinated seawater, avoiding pressure on freshwater resources. The 50 MW semi-industrial green hydrogen project in Arzew, developed in partnership with German institutions, is a first step in this direction, testing the technical and economic feasibility of renewable-powered electrolysis integrated into existing industrial ecosystems [13].

Nevertheless, desalination is not a neutral solution. Conventional reverse osmosis (RO) desalination consumes between 3.5 and 4.2 kWh per cubic meter of produced water [14]. When desalinated water is used for hydrogen production, this additional energy consumption slightly increases overall hydrogen production costs, typically by 5–10% depending on configuration [15]. In economic terms, this increment remains relatively modest compared to the dominant role of electricity and electrolyzer capital expenditure in the LCOH structure [16,17]. Yet, at large scale, optimizing this water-energy interface becomes crucial.

This is where the concept of the water-energy-hydrogen nexus becomes central. Integrating renewable energy directly into desalination operations can significantly reduce the carbon footprint and operating costs of both water and hydrogen production. Algeria’s exceptional solar potential enables the development of co-located solar photovoltaic plants powering both desalination units and electrolyzers. Such integrated systems reduce transmission losses, improve capacity factors, and enhance overall system efficiency [18].

Recent techno-economic analyses suggest that under favorable conditions—low-cost solar electricity below €0.02/kWh and declining electrolyzer costs—green hydrogen production costs in Algeria could fall to the range of 2.1–2.7 USD/kg in optimized configurations combining solar PV and desalination [19]. Although current global averages remain higher, typically between 4 and 6 USD/kg [16], the trajectory of cost reduction is clear. Electrolyzer costs, currently ranging from 500 to 1,800 USD/kW depending on technology, are expected to decline substantially by 2030 [20]. As capital expenditure decreases and renewable capacity expands, the relative cost contribution of desalination becomes even less significant.

Beyond desalination cost considerations, desalination provides a strategic resilience benefit. By decoupling hydrogen production from freshwater availability, Algeria can avoid competition between industrial uses and domestic water needs. This is particularly important given the geographical mismatch between solar resources, which are strongest in the south, and desalination plants, which are located along the coast. A rational spatial planning approach would prioritize coastal hydrogen production clusters linked to desalination facilities and export infrastructure, while inland renewable energy can supply electricity through high-voltage transmission networks.

Environmental sustainability must also be addressed. Desalination produces concentrated brine that must be carefully managed to avoid marine ecosystem degradation. As hydrogen production expands, cumulative brine volumes could increase. Therefore, investment in advanced brine management solutions, including energy recovery devices, brine dilution systems, and potential mineral valorization, will be essential to maintain environmental integrity. Research and innovation in membrane efficiency and low-energy desalination technologies can further reduce the environmental footprint [21].

From a geopolitical perspective, desalination strengthens Algeria’s position as a reliable green hydrogen supplier to Europe. The country’s extensive natural gas pipeline network, including the TransMed pipeline to Italy and Medgaz to Spain, could be partially repurposed for hydrogen transport at significantly lower cost than building entirely new pipelines [22]. Participation in initiatives such as the SoutH2 Corridor, linking North Africa to Central Europe, illustrates Algeria’s ambition to integrate into the emerging European Hydrogen Backbone. In this export-oriented model, coastal hydrogen production based on desalinated seawater becomes not just a technical solution, but a strategic export enabler.

At the policy level, Algeria’s National Hydrogen Development Strategy outlines a phased roadmap from pilot projects to large-scale industrialization between 2023 and 2050 [11]. Desalination must be fully embedded within this strategy as a core enabling infrastructure rather than a peripheral utility. Planning future desalination expansions with dual-use potential for potable and industrial water, including hydrogen, will optimize public investment and create synergies across sectors.

Moreover, desalination-driven hydrogen development can stimulate domestic industrial value chains. Local manufacturing of membranes, pumps, pressure vessels, and control systems for desalination and electrolysis could generate skilled employment and technological learning. Coupled with renewable energy deployment, this integrated approach supports economic diversification beyond hydrocarbons, aligning with broader sustainable development goals.

Of course, significant challenges remain. Financing large-scale hydrogen and desalination infrastructure requires multi-billion-dollar investments. Estimates suggest that Algeria’s hydrogen export ambitions could require around 25 billion USD in cumulative investment by 2040 [11]. Mobilizing this capital will depend on stable regulatory frameworks, green certification schemes aligned with European standards, long-term offtake agreements, and international partnerships.

green hydrogen production plant

Yet, the fundamental message is clear: in Algeria, green hydrogen cannot be discussed without desalination. Water scarcity is not a marginal constraint; it is a structural reality. By proactively integrating desalination into hydrogen planning, Algeria transforms a vulnerability into a strategic asset. Desalination, powered by the same renewable energy that feeds electrolysis, becomes a circular and synergistic component of a new low-carbon industrial model.

In the broader Mediterranean context, this integrated water-energy-hydrogen approach could position Algeria as a regional leader. Few countries combine such abundant solar resources, extensive coastal infrastructure, established desalination capacity, and direct pipeline connections to Europe. If managed sustainably, desalination-enabled green hydrogen could reduce carbon emissions, strengthen water security, enhance energy export revenues, and support industrial modernization simultaneously.

Conclusion

The success of Algeria’s green hydrogen vision will not depend solely on gigawatts of solar panels or kilometers of pipelines. It will depend on the coherence of its systemic design. By recognizing desalination as a strategic enabler rather than a secondary input, Algeria can build a hydrogen economy that is not only competitive, but resilient, climate-aligned, and adapted to its arid realities. In a warming Mediterranean region facing both energy transition and water stress, this integrated pathway may well become a model for sustainable development in the 21st century.

References

[1] Elimelech, M., Phillip, W.A., 2011. The future of seawater desalination: Energy, technology, and the environment. Science 333, 712–717. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200488

[2] Zhou, Y., Tol, R.S.J., 2005. Evaluating the costs of desalination and water transport. Water Resources Research 41, W03003. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003749

[3] Kalogirou, S.A., 2005. Seawater desalination using renewable energy sources. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 31(3), 242–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2005.03.001

[4] Beswick, R.R., Oliveira, A.M., Yan, Y., 2021. Does the green hydrogen economy have a water problem? ACS Energy Letters 6(9), 3167–3169.

[5] Ben Rouane Doha, A., Ait Errouhi, A., Mghaiouini, R., 2025. Seawater desalination: A review of technologies, environmental impacts, and future perspectives. Desalination and Water Treatment 324, 101578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2025.101578

[6] Panagopoulos, A., Haralambous, K.-J., 2020. Environmental impacts of desalination and brine treatment: Challenges and mitigation measures. Marine Pollution Bulletin 161, 111773.

[7] Jones, E.R., Qadir, M., van Vliet, M.T.H., Smakhtin, V., Kang, S., 2019. The state of desalination and brine production: A global outlook. Science of the Total Environment 657, 1343–1356.

[8] Bourzgui, O., 2025. Water–energy–hydrogen nexus: Addressing water scarcity challenges in hydrogen production in water-limited regions. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 225, 116194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.116194

[9] Zawadzki, P., Kończak, B., Smoliński, A., 2023. Municipal wastewater reclamation: Reclaimed water for hydrogen production by electrolysis – A case study. Measurement 216, 112928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2023.112928

[10] Chahtou, A., Taoussi, B., 2025. Techno-economic assessment of solar-powered desalination for green hydrogen production: Insights from Algeria with global implications. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 121, 210–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.03.306

[11] IRENA, 2023. Water for Hydrogen Production. International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi.

[12] IEA, 2023. Global Hydrogen Review 2023. International Energy Agency, Paris.

[13] European Commission, 2023. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Official Guidance. Brussels.

[14] Drouiche, N., Hennane, S., Youcef, R., Lounici, H., Kettab, A., 2025. Desalination in Algeria: A major challenge to guarantee water security. EDS Porto 2025, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.5004/po2024105

[15] Saadoune, N., 2025. Energy transition in Algeria (green hydrogen is the ideal choice). Algerian Review of Security and Development 14(01), 17–29.

5 Top Reasons To Embrace Sustainable Manufacturing

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What is sustainable manufacturing? Put simply, it defines processes that minimise a plant’s overall environmental impact. Once regarded as rather niche, sustainable practices are becoming widely adopted. Here are five reasons why embracing sustainable manufacturing is growing in popularity:

green-manufacturing

1. It can create a Unique Selling Point

Climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions continue to dominate the environmental agenda: sustainability is here to stay. Did you know that millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996, makes up most of today’s workforce? They are also the generation that is most committed to implementing sustainable goals, according to Forbes research. Becoming a sustainable manufacturer could therefore give you an edge in attracting new customers in this highly competitive industry.

2. It can reduce energy costs

The manufacturing industry is not only highly competitive it’s also energy intensive. By embracing sustainable manufacturing you are consciously taking steps to improve your efficiency and reduce waste, which over time will save you cold hard cash. One way of achieving this is by doing an energy audit.

By defining your plant’s unique energy footprint you’ll be able to take steps towards to minimise energy consumption. Whether it be switching your lightbulbs to more energy-efficient ones or training staff in energy best practices, it will help improve your efficiency efforts for years to come.

3. It can improve productivity

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the manufacturing sector to evolve operations faster than ever before, in the process creating new levels of digital insights. It’s therefore the perfect time to improve your plant’s capabilities by leveraging this data. Embracing digital advancements is particularly crucial when considering complex equipment such as shell and tube heat exchanger. This will help make processes more sustainable by enabling you to optimise system utilisation, enhancing manufacturing resilience and flexibility.

4. It can attract governmental funding

Sometimes the barriers to upgrading processes to become more sustainable comes down to one thing: funding. Governments around the world understand this; that’s why many offer incentives in the form of tax breaks, rebates and grants. In addition to saving you costs, deciding to become more sustainable could mean a cash injection for our business.

Important Environmental Metrics

As a bonus, it could also make you more attractive to governmental contracts, since thanks to the Paris Agreement, most countries have mandated reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions.

5. It can boost staff retention and well-being

Manufacturing plants have a large turnover, costing them hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. It is no secret that happy workers feel more loyal to their businesses and will tend to contribute more innovative ideas, so the feelgood component of working for a company that makes a difference should not be overlooked. Becoming sustainable could not only save you thousands in recruitment, it could improve productivity, too.

As you can see, sustainability in manufacturing is a multi-step process – from reduced energy consumption to enhanced employee engagement. However, if done right the investment involved can yield multiple returns. And in an increasingly competitive business environment those gains cannot be overlooked.

How to Surpass Microsoft MS-300 Using Exam Dumps

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It’s still in a dojo. And students still receive the classic progression from white to black belts. BUT, it’s something completely different. When kids enter this space, they are taught robotics not roundhouse. There Microsoft MS-300 Practice Test exists an entire martial-arts-style course where children learn programming skills. Its name: ‘Code Ninjas’. With their t-shirt & jeans-wearing sense is and culture of “gameplay is the best way to learn”, this organization aims to bring out the next generation of creative coders by letting kids design their own video games from their imagination. The environment itself is inductive of bright ideas: letting children be themselves, excitedly discuss their findings, share their codes, and overcome hurdles together; exactly the things developers do all the time. Since its launch in 2016, Code Ninjas have taught programming to more than 15,000 children, with a more advanced coding curriculum for teens just on the horizon.

ms300-examdumps

Programmer & founder David Graham thanks Microsoft for helping him piece his unique idea together and bring it to life. Code Ninjas & their entire curriculum are built on Microsoft tools: the little ninjas program using C# and use Windows 10 devices, the team’s game-building engine is hosted on Certbolt Microsoft Azure, and every franchise of Graham’s business uses Office 365 facilities including Microsoft MS-300 Practice Test & Microsoft Teams. Graham acknowledges how much time and funds these readily available tools saved their start-up, allowing Code Ninjas to concentrate on their mission: helping U.S. kids catch up to the rest of the world in STEM subjects.

Need a Badge? Get One!

Microsoft is also the company that offers skilled IT workers around the world a chance to get a formal certification for their talent by taking necessary exams, which inevitably leads to more career opportunities and a higher salary. So, say you already are in the job role of a ‘Teamwork Administrator’ meaning you are familiar working with Microsoft Office 365 & handling Azure workloads in a way that promotes effective collaboration between parties. Work as a Teamwork Administrator also means you are competent in using, securing, and integrating a range of apps & services including line-of-business applications & also those used by ‘Code Ninjas’ such as Teams, SharePoint, and OneNote.

Now, the combination of tests you would need to take to achieve your formal IT credential as a Microsoft 365 Certified: Teamwork Administrator Associate is MS-300: Deploying Microsoft 365 Teamwork and Microsoft MS-300 Practice Test : Deploying SharePoint Server Hybrid. The rest of this article looks more closely at MS-300 assessment.

Exam MS-300 Details

MS-300 assesses your abilities on four main topics: SharePoint Online, Teams, Workload Integrations, and OneDrive for business. So expect to be tested on-site collections, hub sites, search facility optimization, and setting up guest access when working with SharePoint. While encountering the ‘Teams’ section, you need to form Teams using its Admin Center as well as troubleshoot issues that may arise in the platform. ‘Workload Integrations’ part of the syllabus that will help you integrate line-of-business solutions according to the business’s data needs and explore the potential of Microsoft tools like Yammer & Stream.

Finally, when working with OneDrive for Business you will be taught how to sync securely, view files shared with those not part of the organization, and block synchronization of certain types of files. MS-300 is by no means an easy feat. As such, aside from a basic understanding of apps & services like Office, Power Apps, Flow, Yammer, Microsoft Graph, Stream, Planner, and Project, Microsoft recommends that to be a suitable candidate for this test you need to have a firm understanding of Networking, PowerShell, SQL Servers, Azure Active Directory, DNS, different operating systems, and administering Windows servers. When it comes to the details of this exam, for 150 minutes you’ll be exposed to a minimum of 40 tasks and an entry test fee equals USD 165.

The Lifeline

If you’re wishing there was something to guide you through this ordeal, well there is. Filled with informative pictures, tables, and charts is ‘Deploying Microsoft 365 Teamwork: Exam MS-300 Guide’, a book by Aaron Guilmette. Aaron is a technical specialist over at Microsoft, who not only works closely with the Microsoft 365 platform, including ‘Teams’ but was also involved in designing technical certification exams at Microsoft.

Owing to this advantage, the book is able to provide learners with insider perspectives, tips & tricks, strategies to approach the different topics, and invaluable expert advice from Aaron. To add more, the book also includes practice questions for MS-300.

Exam Dumps Mean a Better Shot

There’s one more thing aspiring candidates for the Microsoft MS-300 assessment need, and this is a ‘can’t miss’ resource. Aaron’s practice tests don’t really simulate the exam environment of MS-300, whereas when you open Exam-labs’s exam dumps using the ETE Exam Simulator by the Vumingo team, it will replicate the exact testing atmosphere of MS-300 assessment including the allocated time frames & types of questions, helping you build your competency in this test.

Certs Score Big Time

Getting Microsoft certified only entails benefits. According to Microsoft, technical specialists that attained their badges see an INSTANT spurt in their salary while also being entrusted with more responsibility by supervising peers. So what are you waiting for? Use effective & reliable exam dumps to demolish the Microsoft MS-300 test alongside MS-301 and clutch onto your Microsoft 365 Certified: Teamwork Administrator Associate badge. Then, enjoy thriving in this fast-paced realm known as the IT industry.

Future Water Scenarios in the GCC Countries: Perspectives

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Water is an important vector in the socio-economic development and for supporting the ecosystem. In the arid to extremely arid Arabian Peninsula, home of the GCC countries, the importance and value of water is even more pronounced. The GCC countries of United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, are facing the most severe water shortages in the world.  Rainfall scarcity and variability coupled with high evaporation rates have characterized this part of the world with a limited availability of renewable water.

However, the scarcity of renewable water resources is not the only distinctive characteristic of the region, inadequate levels of management and the continuous deterioration of its natural water resources have become during the past few decades equally distinguishing features as well.

brine production from desalination

The Clamour for Water

In the last four decades, rapid population growth and accelerated socio-economic development in the GCC countries were associated with a substantial increase in water demands, which have escalated from about 6 billion cubic meters (Bcm) in 1980 to about 30 Bcm in 2010.  These demands have been driven mainly by the agricultural sector consumption (currently (2012) consumes about 77% of total water used), and by rapid population and urban expansion (18%).

To meet rising demands, water authorities have focused their efforts mainly on the development and supply augmentation aspects of water resources management.  Demands are being satisfied by the development of groundwater (83%), extensive installation of desalination plants (15%), expansion in wastewater treatment and reuse (2%), in addition to dam construction to collect, store, and utilize runoff.  Currently, groundwater resources are being over-exploited to meet mainly agricultural water demands, with continuous deterioration in quantity and quality. In most of the countries, unplanned groundwater mining continues without a clear “exit” strategy.

To meet domestic water supply requirement, GCC countries have turned to desalination and have become collectively the world leaders in desalination, with more than 50% of the world capacity.  However, desalination remains an important technology, capital intensive and costly, and with negative environmental impacts.  In terms of wastewater recycling, available treated wastewaters are still not being reused to their potential; planning for full utilization of treated effluent are in the early stages.

In fact, the supply augmentation approach coupled with inadequate attention to improving and maximizing the efficiency of water allocation and water use have led to the emergence of a number of unsustainable water use in these countries, such as low water use efficiency, growing of both water demands and per capita water use, increasing cost of water production and distribution, and deterioration of water quality as well as land productivity.

The situation was further aggravated by the lack of comprehensive long-term water policies and strategies that are based on supply-demand considerations, and was further compounded by the institutional weaknesses, multiplication and overlap of water agencies, and inadequate institutional capacity development and enabled participating society.

The Way Forward

Fortunately, all the Gulf countries have realized that efficient development and management of water resources require water policy reforms, with emphasis on supply and demand management measures and improvement of the legal and institutional provisions.

In essence, appropriate water sector policy reform needs to address the key issues of reliable assessment of water supply and demand, water quality deterioration and protection, water use efficiency and allocation, role of the private sector, pricing policies and cost recovery, groundwater mining, stakeholder participation, improved institutional support, food security and the increasing problem of water scarcity. Water policy reform needs to address these key issues, taking into consideration the specific requirements and the prevailing social, economic, and cultural conditions of the GCC countries.

a water engineer working in a water treatment plant

Furthermore, addressing the immense challenges associated with water resources management in the GCC countries requires daring reforms to existing institutions and policies governing water resources. Far-reaching and multi-sectoral approaches will be critical if we are to overcome inefficient use of water resources and make their use sustainable.

However, the most important choices affecting water resources, as well as the environment, in the future are not necessarily water/environment sector choices; achieving water/environmental sustainability relies on a multitude of potential interventions and developments, such as changing governance approach, the education system, the implementation of technological innovations, changing the behavior of people, in addition to many other socio-economic policies. Moreover, water and environmental policies should not be compartmentalized, and they should be integrated and mainstreamed into the national socio-economic development plans.