President of UDST Dr. Salem bin Nasser Al Nuaemi emphasized the importance of the 17th International Coastal Symposium in light of the global changes that the university is hosting for 4 days, especially in terms of the changes that have occurred on the coasts and their infrastructure as a result of climate change and its negative effects on them and on the seas and oceans, and their uses in various economic, social and security sectors, and others such as water desalination, oil, and gas projects.
He said that the symposium will discuss in detail the problems and challenges related to all these phenomena and how to benefit from the results with the participation of expertise and scientists from North America, Europe, and Australia, as well as how to conduct joint research and work to localize it and benefit from it with the participation of scientists from Qatar and UDST in a manner consistent with issues related to the marine environment.
In a related context, Dr. Al Nuaimi pointed out that UDST has a sp
ecialization in the field of marine engineering, whose objectives and programs are in line with the themes of this symposium, which he considered an opportunity for academics and university students to have a role and conduct joint research at the local level that keeps pace with some phenomena related to the symposium topic and some of the economic, social, and technical needs of the Qatari coasts.
He indicated that the symposium will produce important outcomes, including some advice, policies, and guidelines for decision-makers and governments, and how to use technology to clean oceans and coasts, track marine life, and predict natural phenomena.
The four-day symposium includes several main and sub-sessions on changes in coastal processes, manifestations of climate change, coastal management, policy and planning, coastal biology, sustainable education for marine management, coasts, coastal management, policies and planning, beaches and sand dunes, coasts, coastal hazards and severe storms, biology and coa
stal environment, sweeping seas, lakes and oceanography, recent developments towards environmental sustainability and blue economy engineering in terms of developments and constraints in maritime transport technology, coastal engineering, climate change and renewable energy, geographic information systems, and other topics related to the symposium title.
The first day of the symposium included a session titled ‘Science to Policy Dialogue: Coastal Resilience Under Global Change: Frameworks for Sustainable Development of Coastal Regions.” In this context, the discussion focused on protecting the natural environment in Qatar, efforts to ensure sustainability and development, and effective laws and legislation that protect Qatar’s environment, with the presence of an integrated laboratory run by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) to protect the country’s marine and coastal environment. Another session addressed the efforts of the MOECC to preserve and manage marine natural resources, in addit
ion to organizing an exhibition of research posters.
Source: Qatar News Agency