By Maryam Alchami<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH \u2014 Many American University of Sharjah students learned about the impact of plastic pollution on marine life by taking part in the mid-January \u201cSea of Plastic\u201d event organized by the Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was held in the CHM building lobby and was done in partnership with Greenpeace MENA and the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, with contribution from Goumbook, a UAE-based sustainability-awareness organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geared toward students traveling between classes, it included an EPAA installation and various activities meant to raise awareness of plastic\u2019s impact on aquatic life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BCE faculty Dr. Sandra Knuteson, Dr. Fatin Samara, and Dr. Sofian Kanan led discussions alongside demonstrations. These included a \u201cpin test\u201d that gathered data on marine debris, contributing to ProjectCollect, a global database aimed at tracking and addressing plastic waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The effort also involved BCE students, and an AUS alumnus who led the EPAA exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attendees viewed a documentary created by Greenpeace, titled \u201cA Sea of Plastic,\u201d which explores the issue from an academic perspective across the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This documentary is available on YouTube under the same title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n