American University of Sharjah (AUS) Sustainability was honored with the Outstanding Sustainable Campus award at the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) 7th Sharjah Sustainability Award (SSA) on April 18. The award was granted to the best university campus that showed excellence and innovation in a range of sustainable activities that were implemented on site and which display aspects of sustainability in different areas.

AUS was able to highlight a number of activities that are happening on campus such as sustainable curriculum development, engagement of the AUS community about sustainability issues and the enhanced efficiencies that facilities has implemented across campus to reduce our carbon footprint.

Sustainability has been integrated into all aspects of learning, living and leading at AUS. It is included as a key theme in the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan and has been incorporated into the curriculum, where 72 percent of our academic departments have sustainability course offerings and 70 percent of our graduates have taken a class that has sustainability learning outcomes.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Kevin Mitchell, Acting Chancellor of AUS, said:

“AUS is very pleased that the university has been recognized by the EPAA for the progress that the university has made in terms of raising awareness and reducing consumption. The Outstanding Sustainable Campus award results from a collective effort by the entire campus community, and encourages us to continue to work together to secure a better future.

In addition to the Outstanding Sustainable Campus award, AUS was recognized as a leader in sustainable research. Nour Attia, an environmental sciences graduate, under the supervision of Dr. Fatin Samara and Dr. Mustafa Khamis, from the AUS Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, and Mohamed Ali, from Khalifa University, was honored with the SSA award for Applied and Scientific Research on Physical and Chemical Characterization of Dross and Salt Cake Products.

AUS prides itself on engaging and educating on sustainability issues within the UAE and globally. AUS Sustainability contributes to these goals by providing a sustainability speakers’ series. The speaker series is an opportunity for AUS Sustainability to touch upon the cross-sectionality of sustainability, as most of our speakers touch on the work of multiple colleges. Additionally, AUS Sustainability employs student workers and staff EcoAmbassadors to help promote peer-to-peer sustainability education and provide incentive through campaigns, competitions and outreach activities.