INSIDE: Water Research: In House Collaborations 3–5 Water Research: Partnering With Industry 6–7 Community 8

THE KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center (WDRC) not only

pursues research in water desalination, recycling, and reuse, but also cru-

cially contributes to the other three globally significant research areas of the

University, encompassing energy, food, and the environment, each as funda-

mental to life as water.

The production of potable water, using energy-intensive thermal seawater

desalination processes, is costly in both capital and environment terms, even

in Saudi Arabia where fossil fuels are available locally; it consumes eight

times more energy than pumping groundwater.

The groundwater aquifers, which currently provide 80% of the country’s

water supply, have been depleting rapidly as the population grows and urbani-

zation increases. This source is expected to last only another 15-20 years. In

tandem with the WDRC’s extensive research on lower-energy, cost-effective,

and environmentally friendly desalination processes, Center Director Gary Amy

and his world-class research team are focusing on diverse water innovation

technologies to support sustainable and integrated water resource management

in the Kingdom in line with the vision of the University.

The Beacon has published several recent articles looking at water desalina-

tion, so in this special issue, we will be highlighting wastewater reclamation,

conservation, and reuse. Articles on membrane technology (integral to many

processes), desert agriculture, climate modeling, and geo-engineering reflect

the transdisciplinary research model the University embraces.

It is only by taking the holistic view, as Prof. Amy does, that effective tech-

nologies, policies, and strategies can be implemented to effectively meet the

aggressive goals necessary to meet the future water needs of Saudi Arabia.

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud stated in a recent speech to the Council

of Al Shoura (Saudi Parliament) that, "The

Water Security in the Kingdom is equal to the

National Security."

An astonishing 90% of wastewater is not used

in this desert land where the true cost of a cubic

meter of desalinated seawater is US$1. Key organi-

zations, both public and private are, however, working

in partnership to expand the application of reclaimed

water with the goal of treating and reusing all wastewater by 2025. Prof. Amy

believes that wastewater should be managed locally in treatment plants in both

rural areas and smaller cities across multiple sectors including agriculture, indus-

try, landscaping, recreation, and aquifer recharge. When reused, potable water is

often employed when less processed water would be equally acceptable and the

tailoring of water quality and treatment to future use is another hot topic.

Currently, little rainwater is collected, but rather drains from the local wadis

(riverbeds) into the Red Sea or the Arabian Gulf. By anticipating where rainwa-

ter is most likely to fall and using these same riverbeds to collect water rather

than channel it, it is possible to replenish the aquifers with the soil acting as a

natural filter.

BEFORE 1932, the nomadic pop-

ulation of the land area that

became the Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia traditionally migrated in

search of food and water. With

an accuracy that seemed instinc-

tive, they used birdsong and

animal tracks to lead them to

water sources. Familiar with the

wadis (ephemeral streams over an

alluvial aquifer) they could find

water by digging just a few feet

below a seemingly dry surface.

Bedouin would dig up cool stones

just before sunrise, wait until the

dew settled on them, and would

then collect the water in an

example of early condenser tech-

nology. When water was found, it

was treasured.

Saudi Arabia is one of the driest

countries in the world described

as “hyper-arid to semi-arid”,

with only 0.7% of the country’s

area representing inland water

bodies such as lakes, reservoirs,

wadis and rivers. The population

has burgeoned from an estimated

1.5-2.5 million in 1932 to 27 mil-

lion today, of which over 95% of

the population is settled - 85% of

them in the major cities. The pop-

ulation is projected to reach 40M

in 2025, rising to 60M in 2060.

The Kingdom’s reliance on

desalination is evidenced by

its extraordinary 30% of the

global capacity, and its energy-

intensive thermal desalination

processes account for over half of

the Kingdom’s domestic oil con-

sumption. Major transmission

lines transport water hundreds

of kilometers inland and, like

many countries in the region,

Saudi Arabia loses one third of

its potable water to leakage in

distribution pipe networks. On a

per capita basis at almost 1000m3

per annum, the Kingdom con-

sumes 91% more water than the

global average - an unintended

consequence of the government’s

Continued on p. 2Water Security | Continued on p. 2

KINGDOM'S CONSTANT QUEST FOR WATER

WATER SECURITY: KAUST SUPPORTS THE QUEST FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

WATER SECURITY: KAUST SUPPORTS THE QUEST FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

KAUST research team with a world map indicating their home countries

Professor Gary Amy (right) with Mr. Nasir Moosa of Dow

“Abundance and scarcity both present opportuni-ties. Energy, both fossil and solar, provides a vast research opportunity because of its abundance here in Saudi Arabia. Water – because of its scarcity –

gives us an opportunity on just as big a scale.”- President Choon Fong Shih

www.kaust.edu.sa

BEACONthe

March 2012 / Rabi Al-Thani 1433 Volume 2, Issue No. 7

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology at Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Water Security | Continued from p. 1

Kingdom's Constant Quest For Water | Continued from p. 1

Since its inception in July 2009, the WDRC has evolved and reached criti-

cal mass with an international research team of eight faculty members, seven

research scientists, about 20 postdoctoral research associates, and some 30

PhD students, all working in world-class resea rch facilities (over 1,000 m2 of

laboratory space with $10M of equipment) and performing industry-driven

research with its 13 industrial affiliates.

Conscious of its role in the region, KAUST will be co-hosting a workshop in

Muscat, Oman on April 12 entitled, Moving Water Reuse Forward in the GCC Region,

which will culminate in a discussion around the possible formation of a regional

Water Reuse Think Tank (no pun intended!).

Speaking about the Kingdom’s challenges and priorities, President Choon Fong

Shih observed: “Abundance and scarcity both present opportunities. Energy,

both fossil and solar, provides a vast research opportunity because of its abun-

dance here in Saudi Arabia. Water – because of its scarcity – gives us an

opportunity on just as big a scale. Delivering science and technologies to secure

clean, sustainable water supplies is a key goal for our University.”

generous subsidy of 92% of the total cost of pro-

ducing it. As the population increases, tariff reforms

guaranteeing potable water for poorer residents and

supporting economic growth will need consideration.

Yet surprisingly, desalinated water constitutes a

mere 6% of the total water consumed annually; 80%

comes from most fossil (non-renewable) groundwater

reserves and 14% from renewable water sources such

as surface water, so that water demand is seven times

the natural renewable resources available. Almost all

of the annual rains fall in the southern hills; when

rain falls elsewhere, it is rare and unevenly distrib-

uted. Much non-renewable groundwater is linked to

food production; this water is being rapidly depleted

and will not sustain demand without water conser-

vation measures in agricultural irrigation. While only

9% of total municipal wastewater in the Kingdom is

currently reused, the amount of reused is projected

to increase by 800% to make Saudi Arabia the third

largest reuse market after China and the US by 2016.

Along with growing population and water demand,

municipal wastewater has increased to 6.67M m3/day

of which some 33% is treated and then discharged

as waste to tidal waters or wadis. Only 21% of the

treated water is reused, so the potential for future

water reuse is substantial. In 2008, the National Water

Company was created by Royal Decree to restructure

drinking and wastewater services in compliance with

international standards through public-private part-

nerships globally.

As most wastewater is generated in urban areas,

distributed (decentralized) infrastructure can facilitate

tailored water reuse locally thus avoiding the sig-

nificant cost of large water conveyance systems. By

using automated plants with hybrid membrane bio-

reactors, effluent quality can be high with minimal

load on centralized facilities. Air conditioning con-

densate is another water source being investigated;

in humid air, a domestic air conditioner can generate

over 60 liters of condensate/day.

Storage and alternative treatment processes

include artificial recharge and recovery (ARR)

systems for reclaimed water that could be integrated

in wadis, in or close to urban settings. As well as

minimizing the evaporative losses that dams suffer,

ARR can lead to the attenuation of pathogens and

trace organic chemicals.

In Riyadh – meaning “Garden,” 450,000m3 of

treated sewage is used daily in the Wadi Hanifa

Wetlands Project, which won an international award

for Islamic architecture. The green valley it has cre-

ated is used for recreational purposes including fishing

and picnicking, attracting migratory birds as well as

increasing date palm production for local farmers.

The water also helps to irrigate the public gardens and

parks recalling why Riyadh is so-named.

IN 1797, the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote The Rime of the Ancient

Mariner, describing an ill-fated voyage in which the scarcity of water in the famous

lines above might serve as a prescient omen for our planet’s journey today. As this

special BEACON issue dedicated to H2O illustrates, with water covering some 70% of

the planet and with our bodies containing up to 78% water, it is truly intrinsic to the

very essence of our lives – and yet we waste it and sully it with seeming impunity.

KAUST is committed, by its Founder’s vision, and its scientists’ passion to solving

the challenges of water sustainability. From Professor Gary Amy’s comprehensive

and holistic approach in our Water Desalination and Reuse Center to Professor Ingo

Pinnau’s Advanced Membranes & Porous Materials Center – our people are apply-

ing all of their energies, intelligence and imagination to this most precious of our

natural resources.

“ Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water every where, Nor any drop to drink. “

Write to us at thebeacon@kaust.edu.saThe Beacon, Issue 7, March 2012. Published by The Communications Department, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. Contact Salah Sindi +966 (2) 808-3221, email salah.sindi@kaust.edu.sa, or Caroline Kingdon +966 (2) 808-2074, email Caroline.Kingdon@kaust.edu.sa

© King Abdullah University, of Science and Technology. Printed on partially recycled paper.

Water, a Way of Life: Sustainable Water Management in a Cultural Context by Lida Schelwald-van derKley, Linda Reijerkerk

Water, a Way of Life takes the reader

on a watery journey through time and

across the world’s continents. Along the

way it explains the past and present

ways in which different cultures, both

traditional and modern, view and man-

age water in response to the distinct

environments they inhabit.

Beliefs and values are at the heart of any

culture and this book also highlights the

views of world religions on water and

its use. Understanding cultures and their

beliefs and practices around water can

inform new concepts for future sustain-

able water management – from flood

management to water supply, sanitation

and irrigation management.

This book is available at the

University Library.

Water Chemistry by Mark M. Benjamin

Water Chemistry is a good

starting point for understanding of the

chemistry of natural and polluted water

and wastewater treatment. This textbook

describes the principles of chemical

kinetics, dilute solution equilibria, effects

of temperature and ionic strength, and

thermodynamics in relation to water

chemistry. The book gives a strong em-

phasis to graphical interpretation of data.

In Water Chemistry concepts are not

only developed mathematically, but also

explained in terms of molecular structure

and interactions. Numerous analogies

from non-chemical systems round out

the presentation and facilitate the devel-

opment of an understanding of the con-

cepts, while extensive example problems

demonstrate their application to natural

and engineered aquatic systems.

This book is available at the

University Library.

Solving the World’s Water Problems by Colin Chartres, Samyuktha Varma

Solving the World’s Water Problems is an

e-book, part of the University Library’s

growing electronic collection. It describes

the looming water crisis facing the world.

This crisis is a result of a growing world

population, changing dietary habits, and

the competition for water from many

sectors of a society increasingly urban

and industrial in nature. The agricultural

sector receives particular attention

in this study.

Lack of water for growing food will be

one of the most critical challenges in

the 21st century. What is needed, the

authors suggest, is a “Blue Revolution”

that starts with effective water measure-

ment and monitoring systems and ends

by creating positive incentives to break

the cycle of water poverty.

BOO

K RE

VIEW

S

EXPERTS ON MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY TO

MEET AT KAUST

KAUST is hosting the European-Middle East School

on Membrane Technology for Sustainable Water

Desalination and Reuse from April 28 – May 3. The

deadline for registration is March 10.

“This will be a very good opportunity to

host some of the top European names

in membrane technology,” says sym-

posium chair Dr. Suzana Nunes from

Water Desalination and Reuse Center.

Organized together with the European

Membrane Society, the symposium brings together

students and researchers from KAUST and other

universities. Topics covered in the program include

polymer and ceramic membranes, membrane charac-

terization, and membrane processes and engineering.

Dr. Nabil Nada from First National Operation and

Maintenance Company(NOMAC) will provide an

overview of desalination in Saudi Arabia.

BRING YOUR ART TO THE KAUST ART EXHIBIT!

THE University Library will be accepting entries for the

2012 annual Artists of KAUST Exhibit until Sunday,

April 1. Examples of original art to be featured in the

exhibition include paintings, photography, fabric

art, jewelry, sculpture, and ceramics. The exhibition

will open with a reception on April 23 and will run

until May 4.

All KAUST ID holders are welcome to partici-

pate. Submissions must be ready to display. A

committee made up of community members will

review all exhibition material for suitability.

For further information, visit: libguides.kaust.edu.sa/

artexhibit.

ADVANCES IN GULF SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

OVER 300 participants from 29 countries dis-

cussed seismicity, tectonics, and natural hazards

in the Arab region at the biennial Gulf Seismic

Forum (GSF), held biennially in Jeddah in

January. The highly successful conference was

organized by the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS)

under the scientific leadership of Dr. Martin Mai,

Professor of Earth Science & Engineering at

KAUST. The Minister for Petroleum and Mineral

Resources, His Excellency A.I. Al-Naimi made the

opening remarks. KAUST scientists made a strong

contribution to the 65 presentations and 83 post-

ers on display, and were also able to showcase

the University’s research and education programs.

At the closing ceremony, the scientific committee

made several recommendations for advancing seis-

mological research in Arab countries. These would

address both fundamental scientific questions and

problems of large socio-economic impact that call

for open international cooperation and mutual

data and knowledge exchange. They include

seismic and volcanic hazard studies; research

on the lithospheric structure of the Arabian

Peninsula; global archiving of regional seismic

and GPS networks and, importantly, the found-

ing of the Arabian Seismological Commission. It

is hoped that the next Gulf Seismic Forum (Spring

2014 in Oman) will show some fruits from these

ambitious recommendations.

IN BRIEF

General view of the Wadi, 2005.

©Agha Khan Architecture awards.

- THE BEACON Editorial

March 2012 The BeaconNews2

IN an increasingly populous and resource-scarce world, food secu-

rity is a major concern. In a country such as Saudi Arabia, with a

still-growing population, a paucity of arable land and shrinking

groundwater resources, it is becoming critical.

Science, engineering, and technology must converge on the

dual challenges of increasing agricultural output under steadily

deteriorating climatic conditions and developing much greater

water-efficiency in agriculture in the face of declining ground

water supplies. KAUST is poised to be a major contributor at this

water-food nexus.

With substantial investments in alternative energy, membranes,

desalination, computational biology, and plant stress physiology,

the University is harnessing many disciplines to address the needs

of the Kingdom and of the global community in a world growing

hotter and more crowded, as well as regionally more arid.

There are several ways to tackle desert agriculture. Firstly, desert

land, now considered unsuitable for farming, can be made pro-

ductive using solar desalination technology combined with more

efficient irrigation methods to minimize evaporative loss. Newly

greened desert coastlines can also help to sequester the carbon

dioxide that contributes to global warming. This is about tailoring

the water to the needs of the plants, about minimizing the energy

needed to generate the water and recycling water, as well as about

delivering the water directly to where it is needed, the plants’ roots.

Precision “fertigation,” which combines subsurface drip irriga-

tion with fertilizer application, is about making the most efficient

use of both water and nutrients. Driving desalination with solar

energy can be both cost-effective and environmentally acceptable.

Minimizing freshwater use and nutrient pollution diminish agricul-

ture’s ecological footprint.

Secondly, crops can be developed that tolerate the saline water

produced by partial desalination or obtained directly from the sea.

There are naturally salt-tolerant plants, such as Salicornia (sea

asparagus; a vegetable that can be eaten and whose seeds can

be used for cooking oil or made into high-protein animal feed)

and Distichlis (saltgrass), both of which are known technically

as halophytes. Crop plants that do not normally tolerate salt can

be made more salt-tolerant through modern molecular modifica-

tion. Researchers at KAUST are developing a suite of precise and

efficient molecular genome modification tools to accelerate the

domestication of halophytes and the genetic modification of salt-

sensitive crop plants.

Researchers at KAUST are looking at many other ideas.

Aquaponics, a system that involves the integration of aquaculture

and hydroponic horticulture, is an effective system for maximiz-

ing the use of both water and minimizing the need for added plant

nutrients. Such integrated systems can be based on either fresh

water or saline water, producing fish and shellfish, as well as fruits,

vegetables and herbs.

HYDROGEOLOGIST and Visiting Professor Thomas Missimer has been “in water” for over 37 years

and is passionate about the use of natural systems for its filtration, purification, and storage. He

explains that Western Saudi Arabia consists primarily of Precambrian shield rocks of a crystalline

nature, containing only a few aquifers within wadi systems. The wadis contain loose sediment,

sand, and boulders and are the only locations where water can permeate the surface when rain

falls. Storms are often violent and extreme causing flash floods, which shake the ground and are

capable of moving half-meter diameter boulders in their wake. “Had Jeddah been able to store

the water that passed through the city in the 2009 flood, it could have supplied the population

for between five and ten years,” he explains. “As it was, most ended up in the Red Sea with some

standing in pools on the impenetrable surface for weeks.”

Prof. Missimer deems two systems adept to address the country’s growing needs: Aquifer

Recharge and Recovery (ARR) for the storage of treated wastewater and the more strategic Aquifer

Storage and Recovery (ASR) for the storage of treated potable water. This water would only be

used during emergencies (desalination plant failure) or extreme droughts. Placement of treated

wastewater and stormwater into wadi aquifer (ARR) allows the natural system to filter out con-

taminants so that the water can be used for unrestricted agricultural irrigation. Aquifers have the

added advantage over dams of low evaporation.

It is by using these wadis in a similar way to bank filtration (see diagrams) - that is, by

taking advantage of the percolation of water through existing geologic formations to fil-

ter it, removing pathogens and other organic materials - that Prof. Missimer sees hope

for a cost-effective way to recharge the aquifers. “The one water supply that is increasing

with the population is wastewater,” Prof. Missimer points out, “Moreover it is produced

at the very place where it is most needed and, if used locally, is more cost-effective than

piping it long distances.”

In Windhoek, Namibia, the driest country south of the Sahara, wastewater is treated

to drinking water standards and goes back into the drinking water supply. There are no

other viable options to produce drinking water.

One of the reasons the aquifers of Saudi Arabia have been so depleted is the recent

expansion of agriculture responding to demand, though wheat cultivation is no longer being

government subsidized and is planned to end by 2016. However, the replacement of wheat crops

with other crops has actually increased water use in many areas, thereby making the problem

worse. Prof. Missimer is adamant that storage techniques must go hand in hand with measures

to increase the water survey and reduce agricultural water wastage.

Prof. Missimer looks forward to the information that will be provided by a new NASA satellite

with a 1-2 km resolution that will help to locate underground water with greatly increased accuracy.

He has a paper accepted in the journal, Ground Water entitled Wadi Aquifer Systems: Restoration

and enhancement by aquifer recharge and recovery and his most recent of seven books, Arid Lands:

Water Evaluation and Management, will be published by Springer later this year.

Prof. Missimer considers that “Saudi Arabia is a natural laboratory that contains many

unresolved issues of a technical nature and corresponding water policy issues. KAUST,

with its experienced faculty and resources, provides a great opportunity for research-

ers to make significant contributions to help resolve regional and global research

management issues.”

ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY IN A PARCHED LAND

USING WADIS TO RECHARGE AQUIFERS

Provost Stefan Catsicas and Dean Pierre Magistretti

announced the appointment of Distinguished Professor Nina

Fedoroff as Acting Director of the Plant Stress Genomics Center.

Professor Fedoroff is a 2006 National Medal of Science laureate.

She recently completed her term as the President of the American

Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and has

just returned from Vancouver, Canada where she presided over

the Association’s 2012 annual meeting. She currently serves

as the Chair of the AAAS Board of Directors. According to the

Association’s media department, a quote from her Presidential

address was a “top tweet” during the annual meeting.

http://www.aaas.org/meetings/2012/program/plenaries/

Professor Fedoroff is a world-renowned geneticist and

molecular biologist and has done fundamental research on

the molecular biology of plant transposons and on the mecha-

nisms plants use to adapt to stressful environments.

She told The Beacon, "I am pleased to be a member of this

forward-looking university focused on the big issues of the 21st

century: water, food and energy for a world of 9bn people."

NEW CENTER DIRECTOR'S TOP TWEET“I am pleased to be a member of this forward-looking univer-sity focused on the big issues of the 21st century: water, food and energy for a world of 9 billion people."

Thomas Missimer Using aquifer water from a local well for agricultural irrigation

Nina Fedoroff

Using wadi beds to treat wastewater

Water Research: In House Collaborations 3March 2012www.kaust.edu.sa

“KAUST facilitates transdisciplinary research and we combine cli-mate science, meteorology, chemistry, material science, applied math

and numerical methods in this work.”

Surface Air Temperature Variability in the Central Arabian Peninsula (K)

Mazahirali Alidina

MANY wastewater purification techniques have been around

for decades but optimizing different approaches for maximum

effectiveness and water quality is an ongoing task. In areas of

water scarcity, recharging aquifers could prove to be a clever

way of producing drinking water.

Postdoctoral fellow Min Yoon, whose background is in ana-

lytical chemistry, is looking into the ways Aquifer Recharge and

Recovery (ARR) and ozonation can work together to make water

treatment more efficient, to remove contaminants from wastewa-

ter, and to provide bio-stable water.

ARR, used mainly in Germany and California, is also known as

riverbank filtration, soil aquifer treatment or Aquifer Storage and

Recovery (ASR). It is a natural process that can be either planned

or unplanned. As water filters through a soil passage, microbes

attenuate organic contaminants. No chemicals are needed but the

method is relatively slow.

Ozonation, the infusion of ozone gas into water, is rapid

and effective but more expensive as it requires chemi-

cals. The method is widely used in drinking water treatment

instead of chlorination.

In her research, Dr. Yoon uses columns of synthetic soil to

imitate the travel of water through soil. She compares the quali-

ties of water when ARR is either used alone or before or after

ozonation, using actual wastewater from Jeddah and KAUST.

“Water to us is very complicated as it comes down to the molec-

ular level,” she explains.

Dr. Yoon is also interested in the characterization of wastewater

to find out which factor is responsible for removing a particu-

lar pollutant. Organic micropollutants can be traced using liquid

chromatography and mass spectrometry.

While education increases the acceptability of waste-

water reuse, various contaminants such as medicines and

personal hygiene products require removal from recycled water.

Ozonation is one method for this but the process does have

potential disadvantages.

Dr. Yoon explains future challenges: “We may be able to

remove ibuprofen, for example, from the water but the chemi-

cal process may create a byproduct which is hard to identify and

and may have unknown health effects.”

NEW APPROACHES PROMOTE WASTEWATER RECLAMATION

“IT’s very dangerous to play with the real world,” explained Professor Georgiy Stenchikov, Chair

of the Earth Science program in the Division of Physical Science and Engineering when he spoke

to The Beacon, “that’s why we prefer to play with models!”

What would the impact on the Kingdom be if we could refashion the mountains, encourage a

volcano to erupt, or clear the air of dust? In fact, doubling the height of the Hejaz Mountains so

that the warm air coming from the Red Sea (which loses 2 meters of water depth annually through

evaporation) was forced to rise would almost certainly induce rainfall. Unfortunately because of the

way the water would drain along the wadis, this would cause severe flooding in low lands including

Jeddah and Thuwal. And if a volcano the size of Pinatubo erupted? The predicted outcome would

be for temperatures in the region to fall some 2-3 degrees because the fine particulates developed

in the stratosphere 25 km above the ground would reflect the sun’s rays as they did following its

eruption in 1991. The resulting bleaching of the corals was stark evidence of this particular envi-

ronmental trigger. And if we were able to clear the air of sand and dust so that the sun’s rays were

undeflected, the models show the increased downward solar radiation could warm the Red Sea by

several degrees with a significant effect on ecological systems.

Prof. Stenchikov and his international group of postdocs, PhD and master’s students work closely

with colleagues from the Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), the Mathematical and Computer

Sciences and Engineering Division, Shaheen Supercomputer Lab, KAUST IT Scientific Computing, and the

University Library to examine the dynamic and physical reasons for the local climate and to help predict

future climate change. With its particu-

lar strengths, the group is working closely

with collaborators including the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s

(NOAA) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

Laboratory on high-resolution global cli-

mate modeling, National Aeronautics and

Space Administration (NASA), and Imperial

College London on aerosol observations;

University of Texas (UT) in Austin on dust

storms; and are contributing to a

UN project looking at the impact of cli-

mate change on water resources in Arab countries.

Quite apart from the computational capacity

available to the researchers, the team’s access to

a 25 km resolution global simulation is unique.

Combined with satellite images updated every

15 minutes both in infrared and solar spectrum,

patterns of dust pollution can be detected and events recorded that will

ultimately lead to more robust predictions of strong dust outbreaks. By looking back to 1979 when

satellite observations began, the group is hoping to be able to forecast to 2050. There is evidence of

30-year oscillations in local warming and cooling over the Arabian Peninsula, currently stable after

a period of sharp increase since 1970s exacerbated by global warming.

Prof. Stenchikov hopes that by more accurately predicting severe precipitation, water could be

contained and used. “But water resources in Kingdom are not just about precipitation,” he explained.

“There are geological processes associated with groundwater depletion that could be irreversible. In

some cases, the loss of pressure leads to aquifers being filled with saltwater; in others, the morphol-

ogy is such that the aquifers could collapse and be lost forever.”

And what of those dust storms? Anecdotally, they are increasing in frequency affecting visibility

and human health; indeed there is dust in the atmosphere for up to five kilometers over the Kingdom.

However, that needn’t be all bad. In order to produce rain, much lower supersaturation is required in a

dusty atmosphere than in a clean one as aerosol particles affect the microphysics of cloud formation.

“KAUST is an ideal place to be,” Prof. Stenchikov remarked. “It facilitates transdisciplinary

research and we combine climate science, meteorology, chemistry, material science, applied math

and numerical methods in this work.”

CLIMATE MODEL SEES HAZARDS AHEAD

25-km resolution global simulations at KAUST

Along with other researchers at the Water Desalination

and Reuse Center, PhD candidate Mazahirali Alidina is try-

ing to maximize the removal of trace organic chemicals

from wastewater in Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) sys-

tems at low cost using soil filtration. Facing the challenges

of understanding conditions underground and the control

of natural systems, Alidina is particularly interested in the

role of biodegradable organic carbon, microbial adaptation

and the role of temperature in the process.

One of the KAUST’s founding class, Kenyan-born

Alidina arrived here from the University of Toronto where

he earned his BASc. Motivated by the top-notch research-

ers and facilities at WDRC, he hopes to continue his work

in the water sector.

“I am really passionate about this field and I see it

becoming increasingly important. I hope research will

uncover many of the uncertainties associated with waste-

water reuse and make the practice more acceptable in the

eyes of the public.”

WASTEWATER TREATMENT RESEARCH PEEKS UNDERGROUND

March 2012 The BeaconWater Research: In House Collaborations4

PHD student Craig Werner originally started at KAUST work-

ing as a center administrator for Professor Gary Amy in

August 2009, having deferred his enrolment as a PhD stu-

dent to the following semester. He officially transitioned into

the PhD program to begin his studies in the spring of 2010.

Building on his background in microbiology and biochemis-

try, as well as industry experience in the water sector, Werner

is focusing on the use of microbial fuel cells for energy recov-

ery as well as wastewater treatment and water reuse. The

technology has been shown to be exceptionally versatile as

it is possible to desalinate water, produce hydrogen and even

useful products such as caustic solutions by integrating dif-

ferent technologies. The integration of forward osmosis with a

microbial fuel cell is a recent application that he is investigat-

ing and though still at the lab-scale, the technology has great

promise. “I am excited for the future prospects of MFC tech-

nology and am optimistic that we will see some form of real

application in the coming years,” Werner told The Beacon.

“THE heart of any membrane system is the membrane,” Professor

Ingo Pinnau told The Beacon, “and like the chip in a computer, the

smaller and faster it is, the better.”

In fact water-related research is just one small part of the

Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM) Center’s work

in the fundamental science of membrane technology, but one that

encourages transdisciplinary collaboration and could contrib-

ute significantly to the Kingdom’s need for enhanced technology

around water.

The inauguration of the Advanced Membranes and Porous

Materials Center will take place on March 6–7, 2012 at KAUST. The

event, which is open to all KAUST staff and students, will include

a two-day technical symposium with invited world-class scientists

presenting some of their cutting-edge research.

Membranes are integral to seawater desalination, the treatment

of brackish water, and the removal of organic compounds as well

as water reclamation and reuse. The semi-permeable filter allows

only the passage of water while rejecting essentially all other

solutes from the feed water source. Groundbreaking advances in

membrane-based water treatment technology can be achieved in

two ways by: (1) allowing higher intrinsic water permeability of

the membrane and minimizing the thickness of the membrane’s

selective barrier layer material by applying fundamental materials

science or (2) improving the output of membranes by increasing

the packing density in a membrane module by the development

of optimized, high surface area hollow fibers.

In over 90% of current desalination and wastewater treatments

using reverse osmosis (RO), water under pressure is filtered through

a spiral-wound module made from layers of flat-sheet membrane.

The challenge for Prof. Pinnau’s team is to produce an alterna-

tive membrane that can compete with the current technology,

which has seen dramatic improvements in efficiency since 1980,

to increase water flux and address the challenges of fouling by

scaling, natural organic matter and biofilm formation on the mem-

brane surface. “Fouling-resistant membranes have great commercial

potential,” explained Prof. Pinnau, Director of the AMPM Center.

“The problem is that any solute adhering to a membrane surface

inevitably decreases the water flux.” The team is hoping to develop

an advanced hollow fiber membrane aiming for a 5-10 fold increase

in permeate productivity in water desalination in a market which

continues to expand significantly with increasing demand.

Large RO seawater desalination facilities have high-energy

demands and are often situated close to power plants to make use

of the waste heat produced, which in turn provides cooling for

the power plant. After completion of a two-stage reverse osmosis

process for production of potable water, the concentrated brine is

pumped back into the sea. Prof. Pinnau explained that the brine

so produced could be diluted before it is discharged into the sea

when used as a draw solution in a forward osmosis (FO) process

by removal of water from a low-salinity wastewater water source.

Similarly, diluting seawater with other low-salinity water sources

by FO can be used to generate green electricity. Capitalizing on the

significant salinity gradient between river water and seawater, pres-

sure-retarded osmosis could be used to generate electricity without

any harmful emissions.

MEMBRANES AT THE HEART OF WATER PROCESSING

WASTEWATER HOLDS POTENTIALDR. Pascal Saikaly, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science

and Engineering, has a background in microbial ecology and envi-

ronmental biotechnology. His current research focuses on integrating

cutting-edge -omic tools (genomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic)

with bioprocess engineering to optimize and create new biotechnol-

ogies for wastewater reclamation and reuse. Using microorganisms

to treat wastewater and generate energy, these technologies aim to

be robust, scalable, and capable of providing tailored water quality

while reducing both the current reliance on fossil fuels and the envi-

ronmental damage associated with the current processes. Wastewater

is rich in organic substrate, which is a source of food for bacteria.

Bacteria clean the wastewater by converting organic matter directly

to electricity; electrodes capture the electrons generated in a novel

biotechnology called bio-electrochemical systems. This treated

wastewater could be used for different purposes, for example in

agriculture, irrigation, or cooling towers.

Prof Saikaly envisages decentralized systems so that wastewater

can be treated and reused where it is produced. The tailored uses of

treated sewage could include the irrigation of parks and golf courses.

As well as working with colleagues in the Visualization Core Lab,

Prof Saikaly’s group works closely with colleagues at the Bioscience

Core Lab by utilizing the next generation sequencing and proteomic

facilities. “Genetic tools can help us think like microorganisms,” he

explains, “so that we can better manage them to provide us with

services to society such as treatment of wastewater and generation

of energy.”

It is not just within the University that such collective activity is

happening. Prof. Saikaly and his team have productive relationships

with other academic institutions in the United States and Europe and

have a proposal under consideration for a new collaboration with a

large Saudi company.

Prof. Saikaly feels that KAUST offers him an unparalleled oppor-

tunity for fundamental and goal-oriented research and looks forward

to success in future wastewater treatment and desalination endeavors

that promise to minimize not only the use of finite resources but also

the carbon footprint of such activities.

WHEN Master’s student David Mantilla

decided to study science he broke the mold.

Coming from a family with four genera-

tions of architects, they were delighted

when he became a microbiology major

at Los Andes University in Colombia. But

later, working in a molecular biology lab

as a graduate, Mantilla felt there was something missing is his

chosen field; there seemed to be little room for creativity and he

was frustrated that much of the pure science was never trans-

lated into anything practical. Seeking to “bridge his two passions:

biology and architecture”, he saw an opportunity in sustainable

urban development and applied to KAUST to study Environmental

Science. He is realizing his dream as he works with Professor Gary

Amy to develop a modular system of photo-bioreactors to treat

wastewater in large buildings so that it can be reused. Dedicated

glass panels in a building’s façade housing populations of algae

would be fed “grey” water; these simple photosynthetic organ-

isms would use the nutrients in the water combined with the light

and warmth to grow removing the microbiological pollutants and

in the process, cleaning the water. An added bonus would be the

capacity of the algae to create different natural pigments so that

the color of the panels would never be static!.

BREAKING THE MOLD!JORDANIAN PhD Student Ahmed Alhamadat is looking at the concept

of “Constructed Wetlands” technology for his thesis in Environmental

Science and Engineering under the supervision of Professor Gary Amy.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer a simple, natural, cost-effective

and efficient way to treat wastewater. These systems of artificially cre-

ated shallow lined basins (< 1m deep) filled with plants, are designed

to treat wastewater - both primary and secondary effluents. The basin

size would be determined by the need, which could be as small as just

one household.

CWs use only natural biological processes; performance assessments

indicate that these integrated treatment systems have the potential to

remove nutrients and organic matter, as well as bacteria and viruses.

A growing problem is the number of emerging organic micropol-

lutants (OMPs) including pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs)

released into wastewater that are eventually found in surface and

ground water; the increased, widespread use of drugs is exacerbating

this environmental problem. Initial work suggests that CWs can effi-

ciently reduce concentrations of OMPs. Alhamadat is looking closely

at the potential of one particular plant, the reed phragmites australis,

to remove PhACs.

Alhamadat is delighted to have been chosen to present a paper

discussing the removal of PhACs using constructed wetlands

at the 9th International Conference on Constructed Wetlands

(INTECOL 9) in the USA in June.

CONSTRUCTING WETLANDS MICROBES FUEL CELLS

Professor Saikaly with his team.

Above: a hollow fiber bundle produced by the

AMPM center. Right: Professor Pinnau

Ahmed Alhamadat

March 2012www.kaust.edu.sa 5Water Research: In House Collaborations

PROFESSOR Walid Abderrahman, Chairman of the Miahona

Company, is delighted to be in a relationship with KAUST’s

WDRC and sees its role as both pioneering and global. He told

The Beacon that the company, engineering consultants in

water and wastewater, welcomes the opportunity to work with

the WDRC and its “outstanding research capabilities including

eminent researchers and state-of-the-art facilities conducive to

development of sanitary drainage water treatment and process-

ing and reuse of desalinated water.”

Miahona contributes as a member of the KAUST Industrial

Collaboration Program (KICP) by providing water-related projects

The Beacon asked Dr. Ilham Kadri, Commercial Director, Dow Water

and Process Solutions (DW&PS) Europe, Middle East and Africa,

about the company’s relationship with KAUST around water.

Q: Can you tell us a little more about Dow as a company and its role in the Middle East?A: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) is one of the world’s

leading chemical companies, present in 36 countries, employing

52,000 people worldwide. We are committed to developing solu-

tions that address the world’s most pressing challenges including

the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and con-

servation, and increasing agricultural productivity.

The Middle East is experiencing tremendous social and eco-

nomic growth, and we are particularly active in the building and

construction sector, as well as infrastructure, including water. We

are committed to offering products with the best sustainability

profile, even if the related legislation remains in its infancy in the

region. Innovation is a cornerstone of Dow’s success anywhere

in the world, which is why we’re especially proud to partner with

KAUST to open Dow’s first Research and Development (R&D)

Center in the region, starting with water.

Q: Apart from the work in desalination and the commis-sioning of the pilot desalination plant, how are Dow and

KAUST currently working together to address the needs of the Middle East?A: Having research facilities that are dedicated to water

based right here in the region is critical to addressing the

future needs of the Middle East. There are unique condi-

tions in our region that are unlike any in the world. Being

on the ground and understanding the conditions that impact

the quality of life in the region is essential. Our ultrafiltra-

tion and reverse osmosis (RO) pilot plant at KAUST is a great

example that ties together both our R&D and commercial

ambitions in the region, in support of regional needs. There

is no one-size-fits-all solution in our business. The plant will

be used for application development on the waters of the Red

Sea and Arabian Sea, which are the source of desalinated

water for most of the Kingdom.

With KAUST, we are proud to have agreed to three chal-

lenging areas of research collaboration, namely ultrafiltration

pre-treatment, RO system integration and wastewater reuse.

Each of these projects is aligned with Dow’s commitment to

reduce its own water footprint. We are also aiming to drive

a 35% reduction in the cost of water reuse and desalina-

tion through component technology advances, an objective

that we believe is aligned with regional governments’ own

infrastructure plans.

Q: What do you hope Dow offers the University, and what does the University offer Dow as they move forward in partnership? A: Dow has a long and proud history of innovation. It is in our

DNA. More than 100 years ago, our founder, Herbert H. Dow, said:

“If you can’t do it better, why do it at all?” That is a philosophy

that our talented employees and scientists apply daily.

Dow has one of the largest R&D investment programs in the

industry with combined spending of nearly USD 2 billion. But it’s

not just about how much you commit to financially. You need

the right people. Dow R&D has an elite, global team of research-

ers concentrating on over 500 major projects at any given time,

projects that are aimed at addressing human needs. I believe that

KAUST can gain from Dow’s vast global R&D resources.

For Dow, when we look at Saudi Arabia and, more broadly the

Middle East, we see a wealth of opportunities ahead. One of Dow’s

best practices is to locate industrial R&D facilities at the heart of

each application. Dow’s partnership with KAUST is a commitment

to support the Kingdom’s scientific and economic aspirations for

generations to come. We can benefit not only from having our

state-of-the-art R&D facilities located at KAUST, but the univer-

sity’s regional focus, and its educated and passionate talent pool

as well.

Ultimately, KAUST was the first significant Dow footprint in the

Kingdom. KAUST helped put Saudi Arabia on the Dow map, and

DR. Adil Bushnak, President of the Bushnak Group and the

Bushnak Academy, former President of the International Desalination

Association and founder and Chairman of the Saudi Water & Power

Forum (SWPF), sees KAUST as a catalyst for change that will facili-

tate sustainable, equitable and balanced economic development and

encourage economic diversity through the growth of the knowledge

economy in the Kingdom.

Dr. Bushnak addressed the three-year collaboration between the

Bushnak Group and KAUST in an interview with The Beacon, a part-

nership based on mutual interests moving in three parallel streams.

Firstly, the group is helping KAUST to cooperate with the concerned

agencies to facilitate and expedite reclaimed water reuse mechanisms

and programs following the recommendations made by KAUST in

2011; secondly it is helping KAUST to establish a water and food

security institute in collaboration with Professor Walid Abdurrahman,

CEO of Miahona Co., to serve as a global hub; thirdly there is col-

lective work with both businesses and research centers around water

technologies, renewable energy and desert farming.

Initiatives in progress include the construction of a demonstration

experimental farm using salt water and wind and solar energy in col-

laboration with water engineer and inventor Nassar El Madhoun (see

following article), and joint programs with the annual SWPF and the

Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) Initiative to consolidate

the desalination research efforts in KSA.

Dr. Bushnak hopes that KAUST, with its robust links to both local

and international research centers, will play a pioneering role in the

establishment of electronic portals. These aim to enhance knowl-

edge and creativity in specialized fields, including water desalination

technologies and agriculture, to facilitate open communication, col-

lective enterprises, creativity and remote learning.

Dr. Bushnak shared his concerns that there is much focus on

increasing water desalination using conventional fuel sources rather

than on managing the demand for water, promoting water reuse and

recovery, and minimizing agricultural water use.

Dr. Bushnak believes that specific national policies defining objec-

tives and encouraging pragmatic programs are required both for the

welfare of the Saudi people and for water security in the region. He

lauds the plans of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology

(KACST) to build a solar powered advanced membrane desalination

plant in Al-Khafji jointly with the Saline Water Conversion Corporation

(SWCC), as well as its efforts to increase local capacity nationally for

the production of cells and membranes. He is hopeful that by assuming

leadership, SWCC can build further complementary programs in col-

laboration with other government and private organizations.

SHARING WISDOM IN THE KINGDOM....

...TO RESOLVE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS

DOW AND KAUST ALIGN TO SEEK SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Dr. Adil Bushnak and Professor Walid Abdurrahman speak of their organizations’ collaboration with the Water Desalination Research Center.

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with the necessary local expertise to ensure their smooth imple-

mentation, as well as by contributing to student development with

high-caliber hands-on training.

Professor Walid is confident that the research undertaken by the

WDRC will have a significant impact on confronting the challenges

involved in water treatment problems in the Kingdom, the Gulf

region and other arid areas internationally. He has no doubt that

such research will be instrumental in reducing water treatment costs

and boosting efficiency, both factors in helping to mitigate the water

deficit in the Kingdom and meeting the drinking, industrial and agri-

cultural demands for water. He highlighted KAUST’s involvement in

one particular project on the treatment and reuse of sanitary drain-

age water in Jeddah.

Professor Walid is heartened by the positive spirit he sees

among the KAUST research community and its willingness to

work alonside local companies and research centers to seek

solutions together. He has visited the WDRC several times and

recently gave a talk about water security in the Kingdom and

there have already been meetings to discuss future work in desert

agriculture.

Professor Walid comments that KAUST promises to serve as a

focal point for scientific and policy communication around the

growing challenges of water scarcity in the 21st century. “With the

projected population increase, such scientific programs must be

established to seek vital practical solutions for water and food secu-

rity for future generations,” he remarked.

Dr. Adil Bushnak

Water Research: Partnering With Industry6 March 2012 The Beacon

THE city of Jeddah is known for the sculptures along its roads,

especially on the roundabouts. But did you know that some of

them reveal actual history, like the rusty metal condensers on

Al-Tahlia Street?

Condensation was Jeddah’s first technology for purify-

ing saltwater. Two British-built condensers provided drinking

water for the residents of the city during the first half of the

20th century. The roar of the ‘Lancashire boilers’ was con-

siderable as is evident in a local poet’s wish: “Save us from

the clamour of the kindasah.” The technique was

eventually replaced by a pipeline from the wells

of Wadi Fatimah.

The condenser sculptures are constructed

from scrap metal from the original units. They

are the creation of the Spanish artist Julio

Lafuente who is also the person behind the

Mameluke Mosque Lanterns, the Verse Boat,

the Illuminated Globe, and various other art-

works throughout Jeddah.

Other features associated with water technol-

ogy include the Desalination Pipes by Mustafa

Senbel. The form of Desalination Pipes I is

inspired by the minarets of the great mosque

of Samarra in Iraq. Today, there are more than

thirty desalination plants in the Kingdom.

PROFESSOR Suzana Nunes’ enthusiasm for her research area was

evident when she spoke to The Beacon last month. The Associate

Professor of Chemical and Life Science and Engineering is work-

ing on new polymers and organic-inorganic hybrid materials for

membranes aiming at applications such as high performance

and high stability polymeric membranes for membrane distilla-

tion and catalysis, nanofiltration and desalination.

At the University since 2009, Prof. Nunes is typical of the

“world citizen” attracted to KAUST. Of Portuguese/Spanish fam-

ily, she was born and raised in Brazil, completing her studies

there before going to Germany as a Humboldt fellow, where she

spent many years working. She combines an active teaching

role with her research, is co-editor of several books, and cur-

rently has a dozen patent applications.

Prof. Nunes develops new polymeric materials using self-

assembly in solution to tune nanoporous structures. Her work is

accelerated by the core laboratory support, which distinguishes

the University. New membranes are imaged in the Imaging and

Characterization Lab while in the Visualization Core Lab, new

materials can be seen layer by layer in three dimensions in differ-

ent scales allowing, for example, their porosity to be quantified.

Membranes feature large in work with water where they

have been used for the filtration of organic pollutants and

Prof. Nunes is particularly interested in the growing need to

filter out endocrine disruptors. These are synthetic chemicals

that can potentially interfere with the hormone system, rang-

ing from those used in fertilizers and in the plastics industry to

the growth hormones common in beef and dairy farming and

the oral contraceptive pill-taken by over 100 million women

worldwide. Current membranes are unable to separate such sub-

stances and Prof. Nunes looks to nanofiltration technology as

a future solution.

Prof. Nunes has another fast-moving desa-

linization project with colleagues of the WDRC

to produce a hydrophobic membrane to cover

large areas of very concentrated saltwater. The

membrane is similar to the Gore-Tex coats worn

by walkers, which is waterproof, but allows

sweat to evaporate through its pores. As the sun

heats the brine, water would evaporate through

the membrane, to be condensed and collected

using minimal energy. Prof. Nunes sees this as

an adjunct process to reverse osmosis.

Prof. Nunes is delighted to have begun work

on a new KAUST research project funded jointly

by IBM, which focuses on fundamental research

around molecular modeling where they have

particular expertise. This is just one of several

ongoing external collaborations; others include

Cornell University and Texas A&M.

IBM PARTNERSHIPS COME ONLINE

TITLE KAUST PI IBM PI

Earthquake Rupture Dynamics using SeisSol and SORD: A

Comparative StudyMartin Mai Kirk Jordan

Parallel Multiscale Simulation of Multicomponent Multiphase

Flow: From Darcy Scale to Molecular ScaleShuyu Sun Kirk Jordan

Smart Heterogeneous Cloud (SHCloud): The case of Graph

Mining as a Service (GMaaS)Panos Kalnis Hani Jamjoom

LIQUIDx-An Elasticity Framework for High Performance

Computing CloudsXiangliang Zhang Hani Jamjoom

TTI RTM on Shaheen Gerard Schuster Michael Perrone

Real-Time Visualization of Interfacial Reactions in

Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices Using Liquid Cell

Microscopy

Husam Alshareef Frances Ross

Simulation of Pore Formation in Membranes by Self-Assembly Suzana Nunes Jed Pitera

Advanced Spintronics Nanomaterials and Devices Aurelien Manchon Stuart Parkin

Novel Silicon-based SoP Incorporating RFICs with Integrated

Antennas for mmWave and THz ApplicationsAtif Shamim Duixian Liu

Sensing and modeling complex surfaces and subsurfaces of

nanoscale systemsUdo Schwingenschlogl Barbara Jones

KAUST-IBM APPROVED PROJECTS (2012-2013)

KAUST is now a part of Dow’s global R&D footprint. Instead of intro-

ducing technologies from Europe and US into the Middle East, now

we will innovate together according to real local market needs and

future unmet needs.

Q: How are Dow employees settling in to the working envi-ronment and the community at KAUST?A: Dow and KAUST have been partners for three years now, and

our growing team feels right at home, thanks to the welcoming

community environment fostered by the university. Dow was one

of the first industrial partners to place people at KAUST, and ensur-

ing that current and future Dow people feel welcome on campus

is essential for success. The university’s values of diversity and

inclusion are also aligned with Dow’s. It’s wonderful to see a mix

of Saudi and international students, male and female, fresh gradu-

ates and experienced professors, on campus.

We are committed to identifying and connecting with young

men and women who are equally committed to supporting the

Kingdom’s scientific and economic aspirations. Since we partnered

with KAUST, we’ve identified talented new employees who’ve

joined the Dow family, both in the Kingdom and abroad. We also

firmly believe that Dow’s success in Saudi Arabia is tied to the

development of the young people of Saudi Arabia, and that’s part

of the reason that we decided to invest in KAUST. Developing local

talent in cooperation with academia is not just about being good

citizens, but it is about maximizing our success over the long-term,

and educating future regional leaders.

Q: What are Dow’s hopes and aspirations for economic development in the Kingdom?A: From our perspective, Saudi Arabia is a significant market for

Dow solutions. From desalination to construction to home and per-

sonal care, we see tremendous business opportunity in the Kingdom.

In terms of the business opportunities for DW&PS, Saudi Arabia is

the largest desalination market in the world. We see an attractive

market for our complete solutions portfolio, be it seawater desali-

nation or water reuse.

In the past year, Dow has made several strategic investments

in Saudi Arabia. As I mentioned earlier, we just opened an office

in Saudi Arabia. And we recently announced a joint venture with

Saudi Aramco to form the Sadara Chemical Company. It is set to be

the largest petrochemical facility ever built in one single phase. The

performance products will serve multiple industries, including the

building blocks of the building and construction sector.

We also announced our intention to invest in an RO facility in

Saudi Arabia. The site is expected to be operational by 2015. Not

only is it first Dow RO membrane manufacturing facility planned

outside the United States, it is also the first ever such facility in the

entire Middle East region. It is a testament to our confidence in Saudi

Arabia’s growth plans, in particular the Kingdom’s move to shift

towards sustainable downstream applications. The facility will serve

the local market, as well as export markets worldwide. We will also

offer Saudi nationals access to specialized manufacturing jobs, as

well as the latest training offerings.

Q: If you could look ahead to 2025, how do you hope that KAUST and Dow together will successfully increase the provision of water in the Kingdom?A: Success should be measured in what we have accomplished

together, in line with the aspirations of the Kingdom. One key

measure will be to deliver commercial success through innovation

in the sustainability arena in the Kingdom by shifting to cleaner

energy and water treatment technologies. We envision that in the

future, resources like water will be readily available to anyone in a

sustainable manner. Waterborne coatings will become a standard

in the building and construction industry, and solar will become a

real source of energy for the Kingdom.

Sustainability is at the heart of Dow’s mission and vision. We have

set ourselves a stringent set of 2015 sustainability goals. Sustainability

is not an abstract concept, but derives real meaning from a complex

combination of breakthroughs and incremental improvements with

the contribution of many different disciplines. The approaches we

have taken, combining collaborative innovation and a challenge-

based approach, in concert with the outstanding combination of

interdisciplinary skills coming together at KAUST provide ideal con-

ditions for long-term sustainable growth.

Professor Nunes’ is one of ten new KAUST research projects (see

table on left) that were launched in January 2012 jointly with IBM

under the Office of Competitive Research Funds (OCRF). The oppor-

tunity aims to support KAUST faculty to engage with counterparts

from one of the University’s key industrial partners while building

on KAUST’s three-year partnership with IBM.

These projects facilitate the sharing of resources toward a common

research goal, fostering the exchange of knowledge and expertise

between IBM and KAUST faculty, research scientists, students and post-

doctoral fellows. The opportunity will help build sustained engagement

through critical access to complementary research resources, including

laboratory facilities and training programs, fostering growth in spe-

cific fields, to support and strengthen ongoing industrial-university

partnerships in computational and non-computational applications.

The projects are made possible through a combination of fund-

ing from KAUST OCRF, KAUST faculty and IBM PIs.

JEDDAH ARTWORK ILLUSTRATES WATER PRODUCTION HISTORY

“It is very special to live and teach at a multicultural university like KAUST. Particularly

attractive is to be able to explore interdisciplinarity of research and to develop materials, which could

contribute to solving issues related to water scarcity and reuse,” Prof. Nunes told The Beacon.

Water Research: Partnering With Industry March 2012 7www.kaust.edu.sa

MASTER’S student Luis Luján took this photo at Discovery

Square, awed by the early morning rays of sunlight calling

attention to the sometimes unseen work that keeps our campus

as beautiful as it is.

About 75 percent of the production of KAUST’s desalination

plant is used for irrigation while the rest goes to domestic use.

The plants “drink” the same water as we community members,

except for the golf course that is irri-

gated by treated wastewater.

Would you like to see your photo

published in The Beacon? Every month we

carefully review submissions and choose the one that best

captures our attention. Keep them coming! Email your photos to

thebeacon@kaust.edu.sa.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER

STUDENTS at The KAUST School celebrated the diversity of

the community for a whole week in February. With over 90

nationalities represented in the school, the children enjoyed

traditional dances, food and music, studied each other’s cul-

tural background, and wore their national dress and colors. The

week culminated with a parade where the young KAUSTians

along with other community members waved their flags under

the Saudi sun.

The children’s natural attitude towards international mind-

edness was put into words by student speaker Abril Rivera,

age 11:

“I was born in the USA. My mom is Mexican. And my dad

is Indonesian.

My friends are from Egypt, Indonesia, Bangladesh, France,

Pakistan, and on and on.

I appreciate food from all parts of the world and I like to try

new things.

I respect all cultures, traditions and beliefs, because I am

open-minded.”

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THE importance of water and its sources has held a special place in

Islam since the faith’s founding over 14 centuries ago, and there are

a number of references to it in the Holy Quran as well in the tradi-

tions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Water is regarded as a basic element in Islamic Shari’ah, especially

where it relates to purity, cleanliness and ablution; water is tanta-

mount to a life-giving artery, which must therefore be conserved.

Recycled wastewater fulfills all the requirements of tahoor water as

confirned by religious scholars over 30 years ago. It is not accept-

able for a Muslim to misuse water in any way. The Prophet exhorts

Muslims “Don’t waste water even if you are standing on the bank

of a running river”. This call not to squander this resource, crucial

for nourishing all living things, is part of the Islamic teaching aimed

at sustainability.

“I drink the water right out of the faucet,”

states Professor Gary Amy, Director of

the Water Desalination and Reuse Center.

According to him, there is no need for

people at KAUST to purchase water bot-

tles from the store as the quality of the

tap water is the same. In fact, he thinks

water bottles should be surcharged or

even banned as they already are in the

city of San Francisco and on numer-

ous university campuses, particularly in

North America.

“I drink the water right out of the faucet”

- Professor Gary Amy

The Green Group at KAUST, a self-

directed group promoting eco-friendly

living, feels the same way. According

to them, 60,000 single-use disposable

drinking bottles are used monthly at the

Campus Diner alone. In addition to the

bottle manufacturing process requiring a

lot of oil, the plastic items take thousands

of years to biodegrade with some end-

ing up in the sea where they kill marine

animals and sea birds. The group stresses

the importance of regular and detailed

public water reports of KAUST tap water.

“People want to be reassured of the qual-

ity of the water,” says Rachel Weitzman

Yeh, the founder and president of the group.

Some have noticed an occasional hint of

chlorine in the water and others wonder if

the water quality is the same in all parts of

the distribution system.

“The six parameters monitored in the

potable water network are quite close to

the plant’s output product,” states chem-

ical engineer Paterno Victorino from

KAUST Utilities. “Chlorine is checked

every two hours and adjusted if needed.”

The tap water comes from KAUST’s very

own desalination plant situated in the

Central Utility Plants area. Piped in from

about 1.5 km offshore, the raw sea water

goes through two purification stages before

being desalinated using reverse osmosis.

The sea water reverse osmosis allows 40

percent of the water to be used while the

remaining 60 percent is returned to the

sea. With the less salty brackish water the

recovery percentage is as high as 90.

The average domestic water use in the

KAUST community is about 190 liters (50

gallons) per person per day. That includes

water used for bathing, washing, cook-

ing, and drinking. It is a little less than the

municipal water withdrawal per capita in

Saudi Arabia in general.

Saudi Arabia is among the top consum-

ing countries of bottled water, with 95 liters

per person per year used in 2010. The Green

Group encourages people to use their own

reusable bottles and mugs.

See the documentary film Tapped on

Monday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at the Student

Center. Free admission!

www.tappedthemovie.com

Check out the latest Health and Safety

bulletin about drinking water quality:

http://thelens.kaust.edu.sa/?p=533

ISLAM AND THE BLESSINGS OF WATER

TAP THE TAP WATER!

March 2012 The BeaconCommunity8

www.kaust.edu.sa

March 2012 / Rabi Al-Thani 1433 Volume 2, Issue No.7

King Abdullah University of Science and Technologyat Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

املنارةقبل العام 1932، كان السكان البدو يف رقعة األرض

اليت أصبحت فيما بعد اململكة العربية السعودية يتنقلون حبثا عن الطعام واملاء.

تظل اململكة واحدة من أكثر دول العامل جفافا فيما تضاعف عدد سكانها ومن يتوقع ان يصل إىل 40

مليون يف العام 2025 وإىل 60 مليون يف العام 2060.واعتماد اململكة على حتلية املياه يظهر بوضوح

تام يف طاقة إنتاجها اإلستثنائية البالغة ٪30 من اإلنتاج العاملي علما أنها باهضة التكاليف .

والالفت للنظر أن املياه غري املحالة تشكل 6٪ فقط من إمجاىل إستهالك املياه السنوي و80٪

منها يأيت من مكامن جوفية و٪14 من موارد مائية متجددة مثل املياه السطحية .ومعظم األمطار

السنوية تقريبا تهطل يف جبال املنطقة اجلنوبية وتقل يف باقي املناطق . ويف الوقت احلاضر ال يتم إعادة

إستخدام سوى ٪9 من مياه الصرف الصحي البلدية ومن املتوقع أن يرتفع هذا املعدل بنحو 800٪

عندم تصبح اململكة ثالث أكرب دولة يف سوق إعادة إستخدام املياه بعد الصني والواليات املتحدة حبلول

العام 2016.وبسبب النمو املضطرد يف عدد السكان إرتفعت مياه الصرف الصحي إىل 6.67 مليون مرت مكعب، يف

اليوم يتم معاجلة ٪33 منها ويتم إعادة إستخدام ٪21 من تلك املياه املعاجلة مما جيعل فرصة إعادة

اإلستخدام يف املستقبل هائلة. ويف العام 2008، أنشئت شركة املياه الوطنية مبوجب مرسوم ملكي بهدف إعادة هيكلة خدمات مياه الشرب والصرف

الصحي وفقا للمقاييس العاملية من خالل شراكات مع القطاع اخلاص على مستوى العامل.

ومن خالل استخدام املنشآت اليت تعمل آليا مع املفاعالت احليوية اليت تستخدم األنسجة اهلجني،

ميكن حتسني ورفع جودة املاء املنتج. وتشمل مرافق التخزين وعمليات املعاجلة البديلة نظم إعادة تعبئة املياه املعاجلة واستخالصها اليت

ميكن دجمها يف األودية يف أو بالقرب من املدن، ففي مدينة الرياض جيرى إستخدام 450000 مرت مكعب من مياه الصرف الصحي املعاجلة يوميا يف مشروع

األرض الرطبة يف وادي حنيفة الذي حصل على اجلائزة الدولية للعمارة اإلسالمية. ويستخدم الوادي األخضر الناتج عن إستخدام املياه املعاجلة ألغراض الرتفيه،

مبا يف ذلك صيد األمساك والرحالت، كما جيتذب املشروع الطيور املهاجرة وزيادة إنتاج املزارعني املحليني من إنتاج التمور. وإضافة إىل ذلك تساعد

o .تلك املياه يف ري احلدائق العامة

يرى الربوفسور جيورجي ستينجيكوف، أستاذ كرسي برنامج علوم األرض يف قسم علوم الفيزياء واهلندسة يف جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية ، يف حديث لصحيفة “املنارة” أن

العمل مع العامل احلقيقي يف غاية الصعوبة ولذلك يتم تفضيل العمل مع النماذج.وقال بأن إرتفاع جبال احلجاز تسمح للتيارات اهلوائية الدافئة واليت تأيت من البحر األمحر سيؤدي

بصورة شبه مؤكدة إىل سقوط األمطار غري أن ذلك الوضع سيؤدي لألسف، وبسبب طريقة تصريف املياه عرب الوديان، إىل حدوث فيضانات وسيول جارفة يف األراضي املنخفضة أما يف حالة إنفجار بركان حبجم بركان بيناتوبو فهو يتوقع أن درجات احلرارة يف املنطقة ستنخفض بنحو درجتني إىل ثالث درجات ألن

اجلزيئيات الدقيقة الناجتة يف الغالف اجلوي على إرتفاع 25 كيلومرتا فوق سطح األرض ستعكس أشعة الشمس كما حدث عند إنفجار الربكان يف عام 1991. ويرى الربوفيسور ستينجيكوف ان النماذج توضح أن اإلشعاع الشمسي اهلابط قد يؤدي إىل رفع دفء

البحر األمحر بعدة درجات مع التأثري اهلائل الناتج على األنظمة البيئية.

أمن املياه: جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم

والتقنية تدعم املسعىباحللول املستدامة

أمن املياه: جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم

والتقنية تدعم املسعىباحللول املستدامة

تاريخ تطور إنتاج املياه يف اململكة

دراسات املناخ تساعد على التنبؤ بالكوارث الطبيعية

مبا أن املاء ضرورة من ضرورات احلياة، فان مركز حتلية املياه وإعادة

إستخدامها التابع للجامعة ال يكمن نشاطه فقط يف حتلية املياه وإعادة

استخدامها ولكن يسهم أيضا يف املجاالت احليوية الثالثة األخرى وهي الطاقة والغذاء

والبيئة.إن إنتاج املياه بإستخدام أساليب التحلية اليت تستهلك الطاقة بشراهة هي

عملية باهظة التكاليف إذ تصل تكلفة حتلية املرت املكعب من مياه البحر إىل دوالر أمريكي واحد وتستهلك طاقة تتجاوز تكلفة اإلنتاج من مشاريع

املياه اجلوفية بأكثر من مثانية أضعاف.والطبقات احلاملة للمياه اجلوفية اليت توفر حاليا ٪80 من إمدادات املياه

يف اململكة مت إستهالكها بسرعة جراء النمو املضطرد يف عدد السكان والتوسع احلضري. ويتوقع أن تستمر ملدة 15-20 عاما. وبالتزامن مع أحباث

املركز الشاملة حول عمليات التحلية منخفضة التكاليف واملقبولة بيئيا، يركز مدير املركز قاري آمي على تقنيات املياه املبتكرة املتنوعة ملساندة اإلدارة املتكاملة واملستدامة للثروات املائية يف اململكة باسلوب يتناغم

مع رؤية اجلامعة.وقد نشرت مطبوعة “املنارة” مؤخرا العديد من املقاالت اليت تطرقت إىل

موضوع حتلية املياه وستربز يف هذا العدد اخلاص كيفية املحافظة على املياه. واملواضيع املنشورة حول تقنية األغشية )اليت تعترب جزءا جوهريا يف العديد من

العمليات( والزراعة الصحراوية وعمل النماذج املناخية واهلندسة اجليولوجية تعكس األسلوب متعدد التخصصات الذي تنتهجه اجلامعة يف أحباثها.

ويؤكد الربوفسور آمي بأنه يتعذر تطبيق التقنيات والسياسات واإلسرتاتيجيات الفعالة من أجل حتقيق األهداف املطلوبة لسد الطلب املستقبلي على املياه

يف اململكة بدون تبين نظرة شاملة.والآلفت لإلنتباه أن ٪90 من مياه الصرف الصحي ال تستخدم يف هذه األرض

الصحراوية على الرغم من أن كثري من اجلهات تسعى اىل التوسع يف إعادة إستخدام املياه حبلول العام 2025.

ويرى الربوفسور آمي ضرورة إدارة مياه الصرف الصحي حمليا يف منشآت وحمطات املعاجلة يف املناطق القروية واملدن الصغرية واستخدامها لتلبية

إحتياجات خمتلف القطاعات.ومع إدراكها التام ملسؤليتها جتاه منطقة الشرق األوسط، ستشارك اجلامعة

يف ورشة عمل يف مدينة مسقط، سلطنة عمان، بتاريخ 12 أبريل حتت عنوان “دفع إستخدام املاء يف منطقة دول جملس التعاون اخلليجي إىل األمام”.

وستتوج ورشة العمل بنقاش حول التشكيل املحتمل لفريق يتوىل البحث يف o .إعادة إستخدام املياه

ويتعاون الربوفسور ستينجيكوف وفريقه الدوىل مع بقية األقسام باجلامعة وأقسام دولية ذات عالقة لتقصي األسباب العضوية للمناخ املحلي واملساعدة يف التنبؤ

بالتغيريات املناخية املستقبلية من أجل إنتاج مناذج عالية الوضوح للمناخ حيث يأمل الفريق يف أن يتمكن من التنبؤ باألوضاع املناخية حىت العام 2050.

والربوفسور ستينجيكوف يتمىن يف حتقيق إمكانية إحتواء املياه وإستخدامها من خالل التنبؤ األكثر دقة مبعدالت هطول األمطار األكثر شدة، ويرى أن مشاكل موارد املياه يف اململكة ال تتعلق فقط مبعدالت سقوط األمطار ولكن أيضا بوجود ظواهر

جيولوجية تتصل بنضوب املياه اجلوفية. ويقول أن معدالت العواصف الرملية يف إرتفاع متواصل مما يؤثر على الرؤية وصحة

البشر حيث يوجد الغبار يف الغالف اجلوي على إرتفاع يصل إىل 5 كيلومرتات فوق اململكة وذلك ال يعد سيئا بالضرورة إذ أنه من أجل سقوط األمطار يلزم كمية أقل

بكثري من التشبع يف اجلو املغرب مما هو يف اجلو النظيف ليساعد على تشكل السحب. ويؤكد الربوفسور ستينجيكوف أن جامعة امللك عبداهلل هي املكان األمثل للعمل بتشجيعها وتسهيلها لألحباث متعددة التخصصات وميكن فيها اجلمع بني عدة علوم

o .إلجناح هذا املجهود

فريق األحباث يف جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية مع خارطة العامل موضحًة البلد األم لكل منهم.

عادل بشناق ووليد عبدالرمحن يتحدثان عن تعاون شركتيهما معمركز أحباث حتلية املياه

جامعة امللك عبداهلل جسر جمتمع اململكة

إلنتاج املعرفة بدل استهالكها

أبدى الدكتور عادل بشناق، رئيس جمموعة وأكادميية البشناق، سعادته الغامرة بربامج جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية ومبادراتها الرائدة داعيا اهلل أن يوفق

خرجييها والعاملني فيها والقائمني عليها لتظل اجلسر العريض لعبور جمتمع اململكة إىل اقتصاد املعرفة

واملساهمة الفاعلة ىف إعمار االرض وحتقيق االزدهار والتنمية املستدامة. جاء ذلك يف لقاء أجرته معه

“املنارة” وحتدث فيه عن التعاون بني جمموعة البشناق وبني اجلامعة

اإلبداع املفتوح

وقال بشناق إن التعاون القائم حاليًا بني الطرفني يركز على ثالثة حماور هي: أواًل الربط بني اجلامعة واجلهات املعنية لتيسسر وتسريع آليات وبرامج إعادة استخدام

املياه املعاجلة حسب توصيات الدراسة الىت قامت بها اجلامعة ىف عام 2011 ىف هذا الصدد، مث مساعدة

اجلامعة لتأسيس معهد أمن املاء والغذاء ليكون مركزا عامليا للدراسات االسرتاتيجية بشان استدامة املصادر

الطبيعية للمياه وإنتاج الغذاء الالزم حمليا بالتعاون مع د. وليد عبدالرمحن، والبدء ببناء مزرعة جتارب

منوذجية ىف اجلامعة باستخدام املياه املاحلة وطاقة الرياح والشمس بالتعاون مع املهندس نصار مدهون،

وثالث هذه املحاور هو تيسري التواصل والعمل اجلماعى مع رجال األعمال ومراكز البحوث املهتمني بتقنيات

املياه والطاقة املتجددة والزراعة الصحراوية من خالل برامج مشرتكة عرب املنتدى السعودى للمياه والطاقة

الذى يعقد سنويا ومبادرة مؤسسة التحلية لتوحيد اجلهود البحثية وغري ذلك.

وأكد د.بشناق أن هناك أيضا اهتمامًا مشرتكًا بإنشاء بوابات الكرتونية للمعرفة واإلبداع ىف جماالت متخصصة مثل حتلية املياه وتقنيات املاء والغذاء لتيسري التعاون

واإلبداع وطلب العلم عن بعد وهذا اليزال ىف مرحلة التاسيس.

ووصف بشناق جتربة مركز أحباث حتلية املياه يف جامعة امللك عبداهلل بأنها جتربة جيدة وجهود حثيثة

لربط املركز مع مراكز البحوث العاملية املماثلة ومراكز البحوث السعودية والتواجد الفعال ىف املحافل

العاملية.

السياسات الصحيحة

ويرى بشناق بأن وضع املياه يف العامل من أصعب األوضاع اليت متس حياة البشر ألن احللول والسياسات

احلالية غري مستدامة وتركز على زيادة اإلنتاج باستخدام مصادر الوقود التقليدية ىف حمطات التحلية وليس على

ماجيب أن يكون من إدارة الطلب على املياه. ويصف بأن احباث حتديات التحلية باالهداف الوطنية لتنقل اململكة إىل الريادة العاملية ىف إنتاج املعرفة ىف هذا املجال االسرتاتيجى ألمن ورفاهية املجتمع وليس

فقط ىف اإلستهالك وأرجو أن حتمل مؤسسة التحلية الريادة الوطنية ىف هذا الصدد.

حل املشاكل الصناعية

من جهته أشاد الربوفيسور وليد عبدالرمحن رئيس جملس إدارة شركة )مياهنا( بالتعاون القائم بني جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية والقطاع اخلاص بصورة

عامة والذي يتمثل يف برنامج التعاون الصناعي الذي يعىن باألنشطة الصناعية العلمية يف اجلامعة.

وقال الربوفيسور وليد إن شركته تستفيد من اإلمكانيات البحثية الكبرية للجامعة واليت تساعد يف تطوير معاجلة

الصرف الصحي وصناعة مياه التحلية وإعادة استخدامها من خالل )مركز أحباث التحلية وإعادة استخدام املياه (

الذي يضم كفاءات بشرية متميزة وعلماء دوليني يتمتعون خبربات عالية وهلم مكانتهم فضال عن املعدات التقنية

احلديثة املستخدمة يف معامل املركز. وأوضح أن العضوية اليت تتمتع بها شركة )مياهنا(

يف برنامج التعاون الصناعي مع جامعة امللك عبداهلل تساعد إىل جانب اخلربات املتوفرة يف حل املشاكل الصناعية اليت قد تعيق إجناز مشاريع املياه، وكذلك

اإلسهام يف تدريب الطالب عمليا كي يكون هناك خمرجات ذات كفاءات عالية ومتمكنة من الباحثني.

وشدد الربوفيسور وليد عبدالرمحن على الدور الريادي والقيادي جلامعة امللك عبداهلل على مستوى العامل

ملا تقوم به من أحباث ودراسات بتقنيات متطورة جدًا يف جمال معاجلة املياه يف جو أكادميي مثايل وفريد من نوعه، مؤكدًا أنه اّطلع على عدد من األحباث، ومتفائل بنتائجها األولية املطمئنة واليت سوف يكون هلا األثر الكبري ملواجهة حتديات معاجلة مشكالت املياه يف

اململكة واخلليج ويف مجيع املناطق اجلافة يف العامل كذلك، مبا سيساعد بفعالية على خفض نفقات معاجلة

مياه الصرف الصحي وزيادة كفاءة االستخدام.

األمن املائي والغذائي

وأثىن الربوفيسور وليد عبدالرمحن على إدارة اجلامعة وتعاونها املرن حيث سبق وأن زار جامعة امللك عبداهلل

عدة مرات والتقى خالل تلك الزيارات باملسؤولني والباحثني يف مركز أحباث حتلية وإعادة إستخدام املياه،

وألقى حماضرة علمية عن األمن املائي يف اململكة وتناول فيها حتديات املياه من النواحي التقنية والعلمية وما الذي

ممكن أن يواجهنا يف اململكة ومنطقة اخلليج.كما تطرق إىل التعاون القائم مع جامعة امللك عبداهلل بشأن معاجلة مياه الصرف الصحي وإعادة استخدامها يف حمافظة جدة إضافة إىل اإلجتماعات اليت متت من أجل

اإلسهام يف الدور الذي يقوم به مركز ) الزراعة امللحية ( باجلامعة على أساس أن تتم مساعدتهم يف التعرف على ما هو موجود من حبوث ودراسات يف خمتلف مناطق اململكة

يف هذا اخلصوص .ولفت الربوفيسور وليد النظر إىل أن جامعة امللك

عبداهلل أسست جللب اخلربات العاملية والتواصل مع العلماء يف خمتلف دول العامل لتكون نقطة انطالق

وتواصل مع العامل، والعمل على وضع احللول للتحدي املائي والغذائي وأن التحدي الذي يواجهنا يزداد مع

ازدياد عدد السكان خالل السنوات القادمة، ولذلك ال بد من وضع الربامج العلمية ذات احللول الفاعلة لتحقيق

o .األمن املائي والغذائي لألجيال القادمة

مشكلة األمن الغذائي يف األراضي اجلافة

األراضي الرطبة املشيدة وإعادة شحن تعبيئة األحواض اجلوفية للطالب محادات

األعمال الفنية يفجدة تسرد تاريخ إنتاج

املياه يف اململكة

يشكل األمن الغذائي يف العامل الذي يعاين من زيادة يف عدد السكان وندرة متنامية يف املوارد مصدرا رئيسيا للقلق.

وتتضافر جهود العلوم املختلفة لصد التحدي الثنائي املتمثل يف زيادة االنتاج الزراعي والتطوير املزدوج يف البيئات الصحراوية. وجتد جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية نفسها يف وضع يتيح هلا أن

تكون العبا رئيسيا يف جمال أحباث املاء والغذاء.وبفضل إستثماراتها الضخمة يف تقنيات الطاقة البديلة واألغشية والتحلية والبيولوجيا احلاسوبية

وفيزيولوجية إجهاد النبات، تقوم اجلامعة بتسخري مواردها متعددة التخصصات لتلبية ليس فقط حاجة اململكة بل إحتياجات املجتمع العاملي ككل يف عامل تأخذ فيه درجات احلرارة واجلفاف باإلرتفاع

مقرونة باإلزدحام بالسكان. وهناك عدة طرق ملعاجلة صعوبات الزراعة الصحراوية، أحدها األرض اليت ال تعترب صاحلة للزراعة

ميكن إستصالحها لتصبح منتجة من خالل نشر أساليب التحلية منخفضة التكاليف ونظم الري احلكيمة، والطريقة األخرى هي إن املحاصيل اليت تنمو يف تلك األرض ميكن تهيئتها حبيث تتحمل املياه املاحلة

الناجتة عن عملية التحلية اجلزئية. وسعيا وراء اإلستفادة من تهيئة بعض النباتات يقوم الباحثون يف جامعة امللك عبد اهلل بتطوير سلسلة

من األدوات الدقيقة والفعالة لتحوير اجلينات اجلزيئية تناسب كال من املحاصيل احلالية واملحاصيل أليفة امللح باإلضافة إىل البحث يف العديد من األفكار األخرى لدعم النباتات اليت تتحمل امللوحة من أجل

o .احلصول على اإلنتاج األمثل واملستدام للغذاء

يتناول طالب الدكتوراه األردين أمحد محادات يف أحباثه مفهومي “األرض الرطبة املشيدة” و”إعادة شحن وتعبئة األحواض اجلوفية”.

واألراضي املشيدة هي يف الواقع نظام بيئي صغري يتألف من أحواض ضحلة )عمقها مرت واحد( ويتم حتديد حجمها تبعا إلحتياجات األشخاص الذين ختدمهم. وميكن تعبئة هذه األحواض باحلصى والرتبة لزيادة مساحتها السطحية بهدف املساعدة يف منو الكائنات الدقيقة الضرورية إلزالة خمتلف امللوثات

وتزرع حواف األحواض بالنباتات املناسبة أونباتات طافية بهدف التحسني األمثل لعملية املعاجلة. وتسمح األحواض بتسرب املياه وتغلغلها إىل داخل الرتبة املحيطة. وهذه النظم اليت تتميز باخنفاض

حاجتها من الطاقة وخلوها من املواد الكيميائية ملعاجلة مياه الصرف الصحي إضافة إىل قدرتها التنافسية وطبيعتها املستدامة. وفضال عن ذلك تسهل إدارتها كما أنها حتد من املخاطر البيئية الناجتة عن

التسرب يف الطرق األكثر تقليدية. ويشعر محادات بالفخر الشديد الختياره لتقدمي ورقة تتناول أحباثه يف املؤمتر الدويل التاسع لألراضي

o .الرطبة املشيدة الذي سيعقد يف الواليات املتحدة يف شهر يونيو القادم

تشتهر مدينة جدة بوفرة املجسمات واملنحوتات على إمتداد طرقها وشوارعها وال سيما يف امليادين املنظمة حلركة السيارات. ولكن هل كنت تعرف أن بعض هذه

املجسمات، مثل مكثفات املاء املعدنية الصدئة يف شارع التحلية، تعكس التاريخ الفعلي لتطور حتلية املياه يف اململكة؟

تعترب عملية التكثيف هذه أول تقنية يف جدة ملعاجلة املياه املاحلة. ومت تأمني جهاز تكثيف مياه الشرب لسكان املدينة من بريطانيا خالل النصف األول من

القرن العشرين. وكان صوت هذه املراجل املصنوعة يف النكشري مصدر إزعاج للناس حيث مت إستبدال تلك التقنية خبط أنابيب وادي فاطمة.

وقد مت تصنيع املجسمات من احلديد اخلردة املأخوذ من الوحدات األصلية وقام بعملها الفنان األسباين خوليو الفوينت وهو أيضا الفنان وراء جمسمات” فوانيس املسجد اململوكي” و” قارب اآلية القرآنية” و” الكرة األرضية املضاءة” وغريها

من األعمال الفنية يف مجيع أحناء مدينة جدة. واملظاهر األخرى املتعلقة بتقنية املياه تشمل جمسم خطوط أنابيب التحلية

من عمل الفنان مصطفى سنبل الذي إستوحاه من املسجد الكبري يف مسارا يف o .العراق. وتوجد اليوم أكثر من ثالثني منشأة لتحلية املياه يف اململكة

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