“Sustainable World, Sustainable Kingdom” Discussion Series

UCF and Al-Bilad are pleased to announce the sponsorship of a 6-part “Sustainable World, Sustainable Kingdom” round-table discussion series which will run throughout 2019-2020.  Al Bilad is one of the oldest newspapers in Saudi Arabia, having first been established in 1932 – the same year the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was unified.

The series will feature expert panels, including UCF faculty members, outside experts affiliated with UCF and Saudi experts, who will speak about a wide range of environmental topics.  These include but are not limited to: coastal habitat preservation, smart city and smart growth development, solar energy use and development, sustainable food production, eco-tourism, urban ecology, managing sensitive eco-systems and water management. While detailed, these forums are designed to be accessible to audiences with limited expertise.

“UCF is honored to work with Al-Bilad, one of the oldest Saudi newspapers. We are excited to talk with Saudi audiences about these critical issues which will shape the Kingdom’s and world’s development in the coming decades. There have been a lot of positive moves undertaken by Saudi Arabia in recent years, and we hope to contribute to the ongoing national dialog about sustainable growth and development,” noted David Dumke, UCF Director of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives.

UCF has always enjoyed a strong reputation in engineering and science. One of the largest universities in the United States, UCF is located in a state with unique environmental concerns. UCF has special expertise in a variety of fields shaped by environmental and sustainability considerations. Many of the challenges faced by the Kingdom today are studied and researched by UCF faculty.

UCF has a longstanding interest in Saudi Arabia. In 2013, UCF – partnering with Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University – established the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Program for Strategic Research and Studies (PMBF). The PMBF Program has sponsored a wide range of activities focusing on the environment and sustainability. UCF also has hundreds of Saudi nationals studying at their Orlando campus. The Saudi chapter of the UCF Alumni Association was established in 2017.

The Al-Bilad/UCF roundtables will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but will be accessible via live stream. Please check back at the following link for exact dates and times and to access the link for the live streams.