During the week of October 7, 2024, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability – Bethlehem University (PIBS) organized a series of educational activities aimed at raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainability within the community.
The week commenced on Wednesday, 9 October 2024, with a collaborative training workshop organized in partnership with the Women’s Development and Media Association (TAM) and the Nahalin Municipality. This workshop was part of an ongoing initiative to establish a women’s environmental center in Nahalin. Its main objective was to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage the center and deliver environmental programs targeting women, children, and the wider community. The day included a tour of the Ethnography Exhibit, where participants explored traditional agricultural tools and practices, followed by a visit to the botanical garden to observe eco-friendly farming models. This hands-on experience offered practical insights into sustainable agriculture, providing valuable knowledge that the women could apply in their daily lives.
On Thursday, 10 October 2024, PIBS hosted an online workshop titled “The Dilemma of Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Emission: Scientific & Engineering Challenges of Its Mitigation,” led by Dr. Hamdallah Bearat who is a specialized Materials Engineer. This event is part of an ongoing series of workshops, held nearly every week, and open to a broad audience of biodiversity advocates. The session, promoted via email invitations, provided a comprehensive exploration of the scientific and engineering challenges related to reducing human-induced carbon emissions, deepening participants’ understanding of this critical environmental issue.
The last activity of the week was on Friday, 11 October 2024, with a field trip organized by PIBS in collaboration with the Cremisan Salesian Monastery for the Terra Sancta Scout Troop from Bethlehem. This immersive experience allowed children to explore the forest, discover a variety of plants, and observe local wildlife. The tour also featured discussions on the importance of preserving natural habitats, followed by an interactive activity where the children applied what they had learned. This engaging approach helped instill a sense of environmental stewardship among the young participants.
Through these diverse initiatives, PIBS continues to advance its mission of fostering environmental awareness and encouraging active community involvement in conservation efforts, contributing to a more sustainable and ecologically responsible future.
