Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announcedit organized a two-day course on the growing waste problem in the UAE and other trans-developing societies under its outreach initiative the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program.

Titled ‘Waste Management and Waste to Energy Course’, the course from 16-17 April was led by DrIsamJanajreh of Mechanical Engineering program at Masdar Institute. The first day’s program comprised lectures, while the second day focused more on various subject-related experiments conducted at the Masdar Institute laboratory, keeping in line with YFEL’s objective to provide theory-cum-practical experience sessions to members.

DrLamyaFawwaz, Executive Director-Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “As an initiative that is mandated to inspire, educate and empower students and young professionals, the YFEL program organizes various courses throughout the year to ensure the overall development of the members. The course on waste management was the first in a series of activities we are hosting this year for the YFEL members. We believe YFEL members significantly benefited from this course.We thank the country’s wise leadership for supporting the overall YFEL program as well as the year-long annual schedule set for 2012.”

The first day was taken up by four sessions including‘Overview of the waste problem, magnitude, conventional land filling, traditional three Rs impact, and review of current policy for waste management’; ‘Overview of the conversion technologies with some examples: incineration &co-firing, gasification, pyrolysis and transesterification’;‘Introduction on power plant design for energy recovery’; and‘Land fill: from Dry Tom to Bioreactor concept’.

DrJanajrehwas joined by two research students from Masdar Instituteon the second day that was dedicated to conducting experiments. The day gave participants an opportunity to run the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ‘Flash Elemental’ analyzer, and ‘Bomb Calorimetry’ in addition to biodiesel production utilizing biodiesel reactor.

DrIsamJanajrehsaid: “The average daily per capita generations of waste in developed world is about 1.5kg and vary between 250g to 6kg in the trans-developing world.As this waste is a mixture of several components, the participants looked at its pie chart distribution in key countries, including the UAE,to assess its energy potential. The course also reviewed the traditional land-filling practice and the new emerging trend of municipalities moving away from “dry tomb” landfill into a bioreactor based technology.”

Zainab Al Ali, Senior Outreach Officer and Coordinator of the YFEL Program,said: “The course wasopen to all interested YFEL members and we witnessed an enthusiastic participation. In addition, this was the first course that marked the beginning of the YFEL’sannual courses that offer members key insights into becoming consummate professionals in their areas of expertise. As anticipated, the course on waste management set the tonethis year for a productive and informative annual calendar of events.”

Through organizing various specialized workshops and events, the YFEL program helps students and young professionals to develop professional and work-related skills. The YFEL 2012 program has 167 members. The YFEL 2011 program had a total of 150 students and young professionals. They included 60 UAE National students from key universities as well as 20 young professionals from various companies.

Led by Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the pre-eminent YFEL program aims to nurture future leaders capable of solving the world’s most pressing challenges in advanced energy and sustainability. 

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