AUS Blog

By Ryan Highland

Over the past 100 years, plastic has been integrated into our daily lives to the point it’s inescapable.  It can be found in all products we use from morning to night—from the soaps we use to wash our face to the pillows we sleep on.  However, the properties that make plastics so popular are the same that lead to serious consequences for humans and the environment, mainly the inability for plastic to biodegrade.  According to the BBC, 9.1 billion US tons of non-recycled plastic has been produced to date with 79 percent (5.5 billion US tons) accumulating in the landfills and natural environment.  By 2050, 13.2 billion US tons of plastic waste will litter Earth if our current behavior does not change. 

Topics: Earth Day, End Plastic Pollution, Sustainable World, Sustainability, Environmental Awareness, Environment

By Rose Armour

Did you know that if each student, faculty member and staff member used 15 fewer plastic bags a month, 1 million fewer plastic bags would end up in the landfill each year?  In honor of Environmental Day 2018 and Earth Day 2018, AUS Sustainability will be giving away reusable AUS-branded canvas bags to encourage everyone to end plastic pollution. We are challenging students, faculty and staff to refuse plastic bags at the grocery store and other shopping outlets. It is an easy action that everyone can do to reduce the number of plastic bags in the landfills. Let’s do our part.

Topics: Sustainability, Environmental Day, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Awareness, Earth Day, End Plastic Pollution, Sustainable World

By Sustainability Division in collaboration with Day Care Center

Understanding the importance of building a strong value-based education from a young age, the AUS Day Care Center (DCC) has integrated the theme of recycling in their KG2 program. Children enrolled in KG2 are taught to incorporate the 3 Rs– reduce, reuse and recycle – in their daily life. In order to instill sustainable behavior amongst the students, the importance of preserving our planet and reducing wastage of daily materials such as paper are highlighted at the DCC. Students are also educated to reuse food by using the waste as compost or as food for animals and birds.

Topics: Sustainability, Environmental Awareness, Energy Saving, AUS, American, American University, American University of Sharjah, Day Care Center

By Tayiba Ahmed

To help create a world that is sustainable, American University of Sharjah (AUS) strives to promote sustainability on campus. Students are encouraged to recycle through the university’s recycling campaign, as well as to think about how they can help reduce energy use and conserve water. These initiatives reflect the university’s mission to educate and transform the AUS community by encouraging collaborative relationships among students, staff, faculty and community members to explore and implement the required changes to create a sustainable campus.

Topics: Environment, Environmental Awareness, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, Sustainable World, Emirates Environment Group, American, American University, American University of Sharjah, Recycling, Environmental Day

By Ashwatha Mahesh

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

—Benjamin Franklin

This quote was reflected during the recent Recycling Art Event that AUS Sustainability conducted for children in the American University of Sharjah community. Not only did the children use their creative talents in creating artwork from waste materials, they learned an important lesson in sustainability.

Topics: Sustainability, Sustainable World, Environment, American University of Sharjah, American University, American

By Ashwatha Mahesh

A bright start awaits you as you arrive on campus for the new semester, refreshed from the holidays. AUS Sustainability warmly welcomes you, providing you with a few simple ways to make your semester enjoyable, productive and sustainable.

Topics: AUS, Sustainability, Sustainable World, Recycling

By Ashwatha Mahesh

Did you know that the food you choose to eat determines the level of impact you have on climate change?

The agricultural industry is notably the second largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. As global climate change effects are increasing, there is an urgent need for a change in food habits. You can play a crucial role in making informed and environmentally friendly food choices and encouraging others to do the same.

Topics: Sustainability, Carbon Footprints, American University, American University of Sharjah, Emissions, Carbon Emissions, Carbon Dioxide Emissions

By Ashwatha Mahesh

American University of Sharjah (AUS)’s Sustainability division organized a “Recycling is Rewarding” campaign this month to raise awareness about the environmental impact of single-use plastic bottles and to encourage the community to adopt more sustainable practices.

Topics: American, American University, American University of Sharjah, AUS, Recycling, Sustainability, Energy Saving, Energy, Environment, Emirates Environment Group

By Reem Deeb

As human beings, there are many things that we take for granted. Things that we don’t think much about. Things that we assume that no matter what, they will always be there for us. We get up in the morning, go about our daily businesses and come back at the end of the day, wrap the day and go to sleep just to wake up and start all over again. We live days, weeks, months and even years without paying attention for these things that we take for granted, thinks like the air we breathe, the environment around us and the energy we consume to mention a few.

Topics: American University of Sharjah, AUS, American University, America, Sustainability, Sustainable World, Energy Saving

By Vida Moradinasab

American University of Sharjah (AUS) is aiming to get an international environmental certification, ISO14001, to endorse the environmental management system and the sustainability progress the university has achieved so far.

Topics: American University of Sharjah, AUS, American University, Sustainability, Environment, Green Building, ISO14001