Water Scarcity Makeathon, Dubai
Due to their geographic locations and lack of natural freshwater sources, both the UAE and Israel face a natural shortage of freshwater. In the absence of alternative solutions and global warming, the issue is increasingly critical to the existence of the two countries.
The UAE is in one of the most desiccated places in the world and the over-consumption of well water has depleted reservoirs. Today, the country relies on desalination of seawater which is very expensive.
In Israel, 80% of drinking water consumption comes from desalination of seawater. While in the near term this is a reasonable solution, in the long term there are many implications related to this process, such as health, environmental, economic and security.
The need to find sustainable solutions for the water crisis is necessary, and we believe that creative and innovative thinking can lead to surprising outcomes and solutions.
The four challenges teams will work on:
1.Sanitation: refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and adequate treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage.
2.Consumption:
Water consumption is defined as the freshwater taken from ground or surface water sources, either permanently or temporarily, and conveyed to the place of use.
3.Purification:
Water purification means the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water. The goal is to produce water that is fit for specific purposes.
4.Agriculture:
Sustainable Agriculture is agriculture which maintains land and water sources, plants and animals and includes principles for reducing environmental harm, economic viability and social consensus.
As part of the PICO Kids Ambassador program, students from Israel along with students from the Taaleem school will collaborate and spend the day co- creating innovative solutions through multi-cultural teamwork.
The Dubai Future Foundation will provide an inspirational setting for this unique session, as we will ignite the students with hopes and aspirations for our common future. Through this unique program, we aim to nurture new global friendships, and encourage participants to become the next generation of change makers.