An Invitation to Attend the Virtual Symposium titled "Forming a Specialized Network to Address Emerging Environmental Pollutants in the Arab region: Towards a Collective Initiative"
The Arab Science and Technology Foundation invites all Arab specialists and those interested in environmental topics to participate in the virtual symposium:
"Forming a specialized network to address emerging environmental pollutants in the Arab region: Towards a collective initiative"
The symposium will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 4 pm (UAE)
Topic and purpose:
Arab countries and societies are facing a silent, but growing, environmental and public health crisis resulting from the widespread presence of chemicals known as perfluorinated substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and microplastics (MPs) in the environment. These persistent and toxic pollutants, often called "forever chemicals" or emerging pollutants, have infiltrated water sources, agricultural lands, sensitive marine ecosystems, and even the air. Their ubiquitous presence in the environment poses a major and growing threat to human health, biodiversity, economic stability, and the general well-being of current and future generations.
In this regard, ASTF, in partnership with crcCARE (Australia), decided to build an initiative to address emerging pollutants in the Arab region. The initiative includes implementing a wide range of activities and events directed primarily at the public and private sectors. To take a practical step, we aim through this symposium to form a network of scientists, researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers, industries and community leaders to cooperate in implementing the initiative.
As part of the Foundation's commitment to our Arab scientists and specialists, we invite you to participate and enrich the discussion, and then benefit from the opportunities provided by the initiative that will be introduced.
The symposium will last for 4 hours starting at 4 pm UAE time.
Symposium program:
Opening
Keynote speech: Emerging pollutants; perfluorinated substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and microplastic particles (MPs): definition, impacts and risks.
Introduction to the initiative: The Middle East and North Africa (MiPE) initiative to eliminate PFAS, PPCPs, and MPs
Participants' interventions: The reality of emerging pollutants in the Arab region, and ways to address them.
Discussion: Ways to engage companies, research centers and policy makers, and build a network of specialists and interested parties to cooperate in implementing the initiative.
Conclusion.
To participate, please register on the link:
https://forms.gle/j1WtQKHmAyfhG4pk8