Twelve Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) students were recently invited to explore green projects in and around Doha in a week-long immersion program.
This program is tied into their class on “Water, Climate, and Urban Ecology,” taught by Dr. Raha Hakimdavar, Senior Advisor to the Deans of GU-Q and Georgetown University Earth Commons Institute.
The interdisciplinary course combines theory, case studies, and fieldwork with a global and regional focus, exploring how water resources, climate change, and urban ecosystems intersect and impact the resilience of modern cities.
For their final project, the students are designing an arid city of the future.
The immersion week included a water and sustainability tour of Education City, where the students explored a number of research projects, such as a green roof pilot project with Earthna, toured the Green Island with QF Sustainability Manager Dr. Nawal Al-Sulaiti, and learned about GU-Q’s environmental sustainability culture with Clare Wait, Chief Facilities Management Officer.
Students also engaged with the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), toured a solar-powered desalination farm, and visited Agrico to learn about organic farming and water conservation methods.
The week also saw the students participate in a restoration project at the Al Thakira mangrove forest, an ecosystem protecting Qatar’s water quality and coastal areas.