WATER AND ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES: Future Vision and Innovative Solutions

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) - An-Najah National University Branch, in collaboration with Seeds for Development and Culture, the Palestinian Hydrologists Group, and the Women and Water Network, organized a distinguished conference on the environmental and water challenges currently facing water and the environment.

The event was attended by experts and professionals in environmental and engineering fields, as well as students from various universities across the West Bank. The focus was on urgent environmental issues that require immediate attention and sustainable resolution strategies. The conference affirmed the leading role of the ASCE in raising environmental awareness and contributing to practical solutions for the challenges facing the environment and communities.

The conference included a series of valuable lectures presented by a group of prominent speakers, covering various topics such as:

- "Water Pollution: Its Sources and Effects on Public Health and Ecosystems," presented by Engineer Nour Amleh, who highlighted the impact of water pollution on individuals' health and surrounding ecosystems.

- "Environmental Resource Management and Future Strategies," presented by Engineer Loay Al-Atrash, who discussed strategic solutions for sustainable environmental resource management to address current crises.

- "The Environmental Impact of Wars: The Effect of the October War on the Palestinian Environment and Water Resources," presented by Dr. AbdelHaleem Khader, examined the environmental damage caused by wars, specifically the long-term effects on water resources.

- "Sewage Problems Resulting from Wars: Environmental Pollution and Long-Term Damage," presented by Dr. Hafez Shaheen, who addressed the severe environmental impacts of sewage resulting from wars and how to manage them.

At the end of the conference, the ASCE extended its heartfelt thanks to all the speakers for their effective and valuable contributions, which helped shed light on these important environmental issues.

In a speech by the President of the ASCE branch, Heba Al-Masri, she expressed her gratitude to the attendees and participants, saying: "Environmental issues have become one of the most pressing challenges facing our communities today. At the ASCE, we believe in the importance of collective action in finding innovative and sustainable solutions to these challenges. Organizing this conference is part of the ASCE’s efforts to achieve its goals of enhancing engineering and professional knowledge among students and encouraging them to participate in solving environmental challenges. I thank all the speakers and attendees for their time and participation in making this event a success, which aims to raise environmental awareness and support innovation in environmental resource management."