AUS celebrates Green Festival

As part of the Green Festival held across the UAE, American University of Sharjah (AUS) celebrated the campaign to improve awareness about sustainability and environmentally friendly practices through interactive events held across the campus. Over a hundred participants from the university's campus community took part in the festival's activities which were held from March 16 to April 16, 2014.

The festival comprised six main events activities with the drawing participants from a variety of age groups within the campus community. A number of these events focused on children, with an aim to enhance their environmental awareness. Activities included planting herbs and vegetables, making crafts out of recyclable objects, as well as campus-cleaning campaigns and an exhibition displaying all the achievements of the festival.

"As part of our outreach effort to improve sustainability at AUS, we were very pleased to participate and support this important festival. The festival was welcomed by our campus community which participated in the various events held on campus," said Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Acting Chancellor of AUS. "As one of the leading universities in the region, we take seriously the environment impact that affects the country and the region as a whole. We are committed to supporting these types of initiatives that bolster and support efforts made by several government entities in the emirates," he added.

As part of the festival, students from the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science program at AUS conducted a campaign to raise awareness about individuals' carbon footprint to help fellow students determine their ecological impact and how to reduce it.

"It is indeed very interesting to see the reactions of students and faculty when they realize the impact they have on the environment," said Fatma Karim, a senior environmental sciences student. "It was a great opportunity to spread awareness and suggest ways in which this impact can be reduced," she noted.