University Remains Proactive in Sustainable Community Engagement through Research and Outreach Initiatives
Khalifa University of Science and Technology will be showcasing several sustainability-focused research projects at the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in the UAE, validating its status as an academic institution that remains proactive in engaging the community through eight outreach programs.
Khalifa University’s stand is located at the ‘Technology & Innovation Hub’ in the Green Zone, displaying projects encompassing all areas of sustainability. The projects include the SAVE software that predicts the stability of power grids; Beam-Down Solar Thermal System serves as an alternative to the central receiver design of a concentrated solar tower; a project to assess weather extremes, and 3D-printed membranes for water treatment, a system that exploits the complementary advantages of Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) and electric propulsion; a 3U CubeSat for climate change assessment; a water-from-air system, powered only by solar energy; and the Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS) – the world’s first research facility to minimize waste, and grow both food and fuel using desert land irrigated by seawater, and produce sustainable biofuels for aviation.
As a research-intensive institution that seeks innovation in all sustainability areas, Khalifa University has always gone the extra mile to be among the front-runners, implementing over 30 sustainability initiatives in various areas. These include a global sustainable aviation forum, an energy transition conference, a sustainability project exhibition, a COP28 model exhibition, a climate change activities exhibition, a hackathon on food waste, stopping use of plastic bottles on-campus, a plant distribution campaign, a waste-to-clothes conversion initiative, a logo design competition for students, a climate action pledge, podcasts on sustainability, and new initiatives from the Students Sustainability Club.
Moreover, Khalifa University is one of the few institutions that has eight community outreach programs, demonstrating the university’s deep-rooted commitment to supporting the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national and global scales.The Khalifa University outreach initiatives such as the KU-SDG Ambassador Program, Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL), Al Nokhba program, Visiting Undergraduate Student Research Experience program, Ektashif Camp, National Ambassadors Program ‘Estedad,’ and the Ro’ya program, help in contributing towards the UN SDGs.
Not stopping with innovation, Khalifa University also assists students and researchers in developing their transformative science or engineering ideas into successful startups through the Khalifa Innovation Center (KIC).
