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Abu Dhabi University Opens Its Doors To The Second Group Students To Enrol In Its BSc In Environmental Science Program |
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Abu Dhabi University opened its doors to the second group of female students that are enrolled in its Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science program for the Fall semester of the 2010 / 2011 academic year. The program was launched as an initiative of H.H. Shiekha Latifa Bint Hamdan and is aimed at creating a solid foundation of national human capital that is specialized in the various areas of the environmental sciences, especially as it relates to protecting the environment from pollution, preserving the UAE’s natural resources, and other specializations in this field that will serve the public political agenda of Abu Dhabi and its economic vision 2030. In response, ADU has commissioned the construction of a state of the art environmental research laboratory to accommodate the program. The laboratory is the first of its kind to be available to students at any of the institutes of higher learning in the UAE, and contains the most advanced scientific equipment used in the teaching of environmental sciences. Dr. Nabil Ibrahim, the ADU Chancellor, pointed out that ADU is proud of this outstanding initiative of H.H. Sheikha Latifa Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan – its stems from her understanding of the significance of the environment in our daily lives as well as her appreciation of the leading role of the late Sheikh Zayed and his exceptional leadership in protecting the environment on a local, regional and international level. He explained that H.H. Sheikha Latifa support of this program will open great windows of opportunity for students that are interested in conducting research and launching applied projects that will explore all aspects of the environment in the future. Graduates will use their academic and applied experience in serving the efforts of protecting the environment which is a top national priority. He expressed also his appreciation for the great efforts of the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi in which they have been involved in campaigning to protect the environment, wildlife, and preserve the nation’s natural recourses. He pointed out that the efforts of the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi are appreciated and treasured by the UAE society that acknowledges the groundbreaking environmental accomplishments which will make Abu Dhabi and the UAE an international hub for successful global research in the field of environmental sciences. He added that environmental agencies are facing complicated issues which necessitate a focus on local and global environmental issues such as global climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and other immense pressures put on inhabitable environments – Issues which H.H. Sheikha Latifa Bint Hamdan’s environmental program will endeavor to address. Dr. Gabriel Mailloux, the Program Supervisor, indicated that there is a high demand for such a program. This is a true barometer of the UAE’s awareness of environmental issues. Core courses for this program include Geology, Geography, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Oceanography, Soil Science, Natural Resource Conservation, Environmental Policy, and Global Environmental Issues. The program also covers a range of options for elective courses in desert studies, water resource management, and other topics related to ecology, climate, natural resources and marine biology. The BSc in Environmental Science requires 127 credit hours for graduation (approximately 4 years), including a summer internship. She added that completing this program will qualify students to: describe the essential processes of ecological systems in the world in terms of chemical, biological and physical processes; assess the economic and social implications of environmental issues; analyse, understand and predict the consequences of human actions on the physical, biological and cultural world; use gained information to be able to specify requirements needed to achieve environmental conservation for a sustainable society; develop required action plans for environmental conservation to ensure a sustainable society; write, speak and use electronic communication to skilfully communicate with the public and professionals concerning environmental issues; apply critical thinking methods, including logic, discrimination and deliberate evaluation when making decisions and value judgments on environmental issues; and exhibit teamwork, leadership and conflict resolution skills when working with groups on environmental issues. |
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