In a Joint Lecture Between UOB and Sultan Qaboos University

In a Joint Lecture
Between UOB and Sultan Qaboos University, Prof. Abed Confirms:

Marine Organisms
Contribute to the Degradation of Plastics and the Production of Biofuels

18/10/2020

The Professor of Environmental
Sciences and Marine Microorganisms at Sultan Qaboos University, Prof. Raed
Mohammed Abed, emphasized the vital role that marine microorganisms play in the
sustainability of the ecosystem in the seas and oceans, through their participation
in completing the cycles of the elements, the breakdown of organic materials
and the reduction of the emission of carbon dioxide, thus reducing global
warming. Stressing the importance of employing the distinct biological system
in these microorganisms to serve humanity through multiple fields such as
plastic decomposition and biofuel production.

Also, Prof. Abed indicated the
nature of the microorganisms that have adapted and coexisted over time in
saline sedimentary layers below the surface of marine waters, in an environment
where there is almost no oxygen, relatively high temperatures, and surrounded
by a very salty environment, the percentage of which may reach more than (20%)
compared to the usual marine waters where the percentage of salts ranges
between (3.5% – 5%).

Prof. Abed lecture was held
remotely to professors and students from the University of Bahrain (UOB),
Sultan Qaboos University and a number of Gulf universities, in a lecture titled
“How Can Microorganisms Live in Saline Sedimentary Layers Under the Surface of
Water?” under the sponsorship of the Dean of the College of Science at UOB
Prof. Mustafa Mohammed Al-Hilo and in the presence of the Head of the Life
Sciences Department at UOB, Dr. Salwa Mutlaq Al-Thawadi.

The organizer and director of the
lecture, Assistant Professor of Environment and Molecular Biotechnology at the
Department of Life Sciences at UOB, Dr. Mayson Nidham Awadh, pointed to the
lecture’s contribution to promoting the sustainable development goals of the United
Nations Development Program in Arab countries, stating that “The lecture
is jointly organized by the UOB and the University of Sultan Qaboos in the
Sultanate of Oman, and it opened the way for research and scientific
supervision for postgraduate students from the master’s and doctoral programs
between the two universities.” Pointing out to the great interaction of
the participants in the lecture and their praise of the scientific information
presented, which opened horizons for conducting joint scientific research in
the field of life sciences.

Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality education

14 Life Below Water

17 Partnerships for the goals

Key words

Environmental Sciences and Marine Microorganisms,
Sustainability of the Ecosystem in the Seas and Oceans, College of Science,
University of Bahrain