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Boffins from Britain and Bahrain will be joining together in the kingdom today to discuss drinking water in a meeting of minds from arguably the wettest and driest places on the planet.
The Science Collaboration Symposium - which is on water, energy and food - will for two days be focussing on recent advances in desalination and water reuse technologies.
It will draw in researchers at all career levels, 10 from the UK, 15 from Bahrain and 20 from the other Gulf countries, and will take place at the University of Bahrain’s Sakhir Campus.
Suzanne Jones, the programme director, said: “International collaboration in scientific research plays a crucial role in promoting prosperity and sustainable growth in this region. “Water, energy and food security are a particular concern in the Gulf, and we hope to see a number of long-term research projects established in partnership between the UK and Gulf research institutions as a result of this Symposium.”
The UK Government is working in partnership with the British Council to launch a series of science events, which allow researchers to come together and tackle some of the challenges both countries face.
Although the UK is renowned for its miserable weather it still suffers droughts during occasional hot spells which analysts fear will increase as a result of global warming … but the summers are nothing compared to Bahrain’s stifling conditions.
The move forms part of a broader strategic commitment to strengthen partnerships with research bodies and higher education institutions in Bahrain and the Gulf region through a new programme called the ‘Gulf Science Innovation and Knowledge Economy Programme’.
The Middle East is home to 70 per cent of the world’s desalination plants, most of which are located in the Gulf. However, the more water they process, the less economically sustainable they become. The process is not only costly it could also result in a situation known to researchers as ‘peak salt’.
The more water they process, the more concentrated wastewater, brine, is pumped back into the sea and as the Gulf becomes saltier, desalination becomes more expensive and fish stocks and other marine life will be decimated.
In time, it’s going to become impossible to use desalination in a way that makes economic sense. The water will become so saline that it will be too expensive to desalinate. These workshops will bring researchers together to tackle key challenges like these, helping to accelerate new thinking in the region.
Prof Riyad Hamzah, the President of the University of Bahrain said: “The British Council is a key partner of the university in developing our research in science. “We hope that this relationship will go from strength-to-strength as we look to develop solutions for the regional issues of water, food security and renewable energy, which are the signature research areas for the UOB. In addition the support offered through capacity building is key to developing our young researchers which we hope will go on to develop a breakthrough solution.”
Alan Rutt, Country Director Bahrain added: “A nation with a strong research base will not only benefit from the progress created by cutting-edge research, it will develop a new generation of researchers and attract talented thinkers from abroad, further strengthening its ability to drive innovation and economic development. “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to connect UK and Bahraini researchers to help them boost scientific ties between the two countries and encourage innovation around the social and economic challenges that we both share.”
