The UNESCO Chair in Desalination and Water Treatment at the Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University (QU), successfully organized the Qatar Symposium on Desalination and Water Treatment at QU. The event, themed “Recent Advances and Innovations in Desalination and Water Treatment Technologies," brought together leading experts, researchers, and industry professionals to explore cutting-edge solutions, challenges, and advancements in water treatment practices. The symposium underscored Qatar's commitment to addressing critical water security and sustainability challenges through collaborative efforts.
On this occasion, Prof. Aiman Erbad, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at QU, emphasized the significance of the symposium in highlighting the achievements of the UNESCO Chair for Desalination and Water Treatment. He noted that the Chair has made substantial progress in the fields of desalination membrane technology, brine management, and energy-efficient processes. Prof. Erbad also highlighted the chair's collaborative efforts with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, international partners, universities, and various organizations. Furthermore, the Chair has spearheaded interdisciplinary research programs aimed at advancing desalination technologies, promoting women's participation in research, and driving community development—demonstrating QU's commitment to fostering global innovation and knowledge exchange.
The event began with an opening remark by Dr. Mohammed Irshidat, Director of the Center for Advanced Materials (CAM), in which he highlighted the role of UNESCO Chair in advancing desalination research in Qatar. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation with the international and industrial institutions to enhance desalination technologies. Dr. Salah Khaled, Director of the UNESCO Doha office for GCC and Yemen, also delivered a welcome remark and appreciated the efforts of the UNESCO Chair in Water Technology for promoting innovation and international cooperation in the water sector. Prof. Syed Javaid Zaidi, UNESCO Chair in Desalination and Water Treatment, delivered a keynote presentation, highlighting the activities of the UNESCO Chair and collaborative projects and capacity-building and training programs aimed at training future engineers and students.
The symposium featured a series of insightful presentations by leading experts, which included;
- Nature-inspired Solutions for Wastewater Treatment: Delivered by Dr. Suhur Saeed, ExxonMobil Research Center, QSTP, showcasing innovative wastewater treatment methods inspired by natural processes.
- Reassessing the Innovation Pipeline for Desalination and Water Treatment Membranes: Presented by Prof. Ali Alshami, Fulbright Fellow, University of North Dakota, USA, exploring advancements in membrane technology.
- Eight Years of SWRO Desalination in Qatar: Presented by Mr. Guillermo Hago, Director, ACCIONA Qatar, highlighting the operational successes and lessons learned in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination.
Afternoon sessions delved into advanced materials and technologies for water treatment, including;
- Novel Low-fouling Composite Membranes for Desalination and Water Treatment: Delivered by Dr. Viktor Kochkodan, Qatar Energy and Environment Institute, HBKU, introducing cutting-edge solutions to enhance membrane efficiency.
- Green and Energy-efficient Technologies for Water Processing in Qatar: Presented by Dr. Emin Esmaeili, University of Doha for Science and Technology, focusing on sustainable technologies tailored to Qatar's unique water challenges.
- Wastewater Treatment in Ashghal: Presented by Ahmed Hassan, Ashghal, detailing the organization's strategic approach to wastewater management.
The event concluded with closing remarks by the UNESCO Chair, Prof. Syed Javaid Zaidi, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in advancing desalination technologies, followed by a networking lunch that provided attendees an opportunity to engage and foster partnerships. Professor Syed Zaidi expressed gratitude to the distinguished speakers and attendees for their invaluable contributions to the symposium.
The UNESCO Chair in Desalination and Water Treatment at Qatar University is dedicated to driving innovation and collaboration among global stakeholders to address pressing water challenges. The symposium reinforced Qatar's leadership in sustainable water management solutions and underscored the critical role of research in advancing desalination technologies.
Participants left with a deeper understanding of the latest advancements in water treatment and desalination, as well as actionable insights to support Qatar's water security initiatives. The event successfully brought together academia, industry, and government leaders to explore solutions that promote sustainability and resilience.