The Institute Of Applied Research – Galilee Society held its annual scientific conference for the year 2024 on Thursday, December 12, 2024, via Zoom and in person at the Galilee Association in Shfaram. The aim of this conference was to present the latest updates and results of the ongoing scientific research at the institute.
The conference opened with welcoming words from the conference director, Dr. Manal Haj Zaroubi, who greeted the attendees and said: “I welcome you all to this distinguished scientific event, where we gather today for the annual scientific conference of 2024. This conference, which was postponed due to the current security situation less than a month ago, is now taking place, and it serves as a unique platform bringing together researchers and academics from various disciplines to exchange knowledge and science.” She added: “I will begin by presenting the Applied Research Institute, which was established in 1995, with funding from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and under the auspices of the University of Haifa. The institute includes twelve researchers from diverse backgrounds, including chemical and environmental engineering, biotechnology, microbiology, chemistry, education, epidemiology, and public health, along with a team of research assistants, interns, and graduate students. The institute’s research covers a wide range of scientific and engineering fields, addressing both global and local challenges, including: water and wastewater treatment with energy and resource production for reuse, waste study and management in the context of the circular economy, designing solutions to mitigate climate change, health, environment, and education in the context of enhancing community resilience.” She added: “As the conference director, I am confident that this conference will serve as a platform to showcase the research activities at the institute and provide direct communication with researchers, research assistants, and students. This distinguished event represents an opportunity to develop research collaborations and broaden horizons in advanced applied academic research.”
As Mr. Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad, the General Director of the Galilee Society, said, he welcomed the esteemed attendees and said: “I welcome you to this scientific conference. This conference is not just a scientific gathering; it is a clear invitation to open new horizons and build bridges of communication between creative and ambitious minds. It is a real opportunity to explore solutions to current challenges and invest in knowledge to build a sustainable future based on science.”
Dr. Nidal Masalha, the Scientific Director of the Galilee Society, added: “Science and knowledge have been and remain the driving force for progress and development in various fields. From here, our role as researchers and contributors in the scientific field is to support and encourage research, provide the ideal environment for creativity, and direct energies towards serving humanity.”
The conference also featured an opening lecture titled “Exploiting Wild Plants and Agricultural Waste to Increase Food Value,” presented by Dr. Louay Bashir from the Academic College – Tel Hai.
The conference also featured presentations in three different sessions:
The first session, titled “Circular Economy in the Context of Waste, Water, and Energy,” included the following lectures:
- Professor Issam Sabah, a researcher in chemical/environmental engineering and one of the founders of the Applied Research Institute at the Galilee Association, presented a lecture titled: “A Physical-Chemical Process Inspired by Nature for Removing Nanoplastic Materials Based on a Substance Extracted from Jellyfish.”
- Dr. Kiti Bransi-Karkabi, a researcher in environmental engineering, presented a lecture titled: “Methane Production in the Anaerobic Treatment of Wastewater with Olive Oil Mill Wastewater.”
- Dr. Keren Yenouka-Golub, a researcher in microbiology, presented a lecture titled: “Enhancing Biogas Production from Waste Using Microbial Group Engineering.”
The second session was titled “Community Resilience in the Arab Society: Health, Environment, and Education”, and included the following lectures:
Dr. Mohammed Khatib, a researcher in public health, presented a lecture titled: “Digital Health Services in the Arab Community in Israel: Opportunities and Challenges – Preliminary Qualitative Results.”
Professor Mohammed Hujirat, a researcher at the Center for Scientific Education, presented a lecture on: “Education for Sustainability: What? How? Why? When? Who? Where?”
Lawyer Amira Araar, Director of the Environmental Justice Center at the Galilee Association, presented a lecture titled: “Factors Influencing Waste Disposal Behavior in the Public Space in Arab Towns in Israel.”
Alaa Ubaid, Coordinator of the “Building Local Capacities for Climate Change Resilience” project at the Galilee Association, and Alex Fahut, a researcher and PhD student at the University of Haifa, presented a lecture titled: “The Readiness of the Arab Community in Israel to Adopt Adaptation Measures for Climate Change.”
The third and final session of the conference was titled “Advanced Degree Students,” and included the following presentations:
Dr. Manal Haj Zaroubi presented on behalf of her second-year master’s student Nariman Matir Dbeit, who gave a lecture titled: “Extracts of Willow Leaves and Twigs (Salix acmophylla) to Prevent the Development of Coccidia (Eimeria spp) in Goats.”
Julia Gantos, a second-year master’s student, presented a lecture titled: “Study of Microbial Group Activity in Green Ponds to Develop a Model for Regulating Methane Emissions.”
Research Assistant Ranya Hammoudi, with the guidance of her supervisor Dr. Nidal Masalha, presented a lecture titled: “Attachment of Micropollutants to Organic Particles in Aerobic Sludge and Biochar Produced from It.”
This conference was distinguished by the diversity of topics, as it included research in various fields, such as water and wastewater treatment, including energy production and essential materials for reuse, waste management in the context of the circular economy, medicinal plants, climate change mitigation, as well as health, environment, and education in the context of enhancing community resilience.
The conference was chaired by: Dr. Manal Haj Zaroubi.
The scientific committee of the conference: Professor Issam Sabah, Dr. Inas Kial-Tarbiyeh, Dr. Keren Yenouka-Golub, and lawyer Amira Araar.
The organizing committee of the conference: Nora Sabah-Adawi, Claire Toafshi, Nariman Matir-Dbeit, Amir Ouda, Abeer Shahada, Nimarq Hamdan-Khatib, and Inji Amri-Zoubi.
