A delegation from the Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (WtERT)_ an international academic network founded by the Earth Engineering Center at Columbia University, with a mission to advance the recovery of energy and materials from residual, non-recyclable waste_ visited the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB), where they met university President, Dr. Bradley Cook, and members of AUIB’s academic and administrative cadre, joined in a virtual meeting by WtERT President, Prof. Qunxing Huang, and leading members of the global academic network.
Following deliberations, AUIB’s Center for Climate Change, Water Resources, and Environmental Sustainability (CWE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WtERT, affirming “the willingness of both parties to engage in efforts to promote the recovery of energy and materials from residual non-recyclable wastes in Iraq instead of landfilling them.” To this end, as per the signed document, AUIB will host the WtERT-Iraq branch at its campus and represent WtERT in Iraq.
By signing this Memorandum, the two parties have laid the basis for cooperation in the exchange of knowledge and in conducting joint research projects, where AUIB researchers may contribute to the Research Working Groups within WtERT, thus supporting the publication of papers in international peer-reviewed journals. Collaboration would also extend to organizing conferences, seminars, and webinars, and to contributing to online courses through WtERT Academy for students, private sector managers, and policymakers. The two parties would also foster industry-academia relationships to advance research and policy issues related to Waste-to-Energy technologies in Iraq.
There will also be a page on AUIB’s website, titled “WtERT-Iraq”, presenting the objective and mission of WtERT, and crucially, providing reliable and science-based facts on sustainable waste management to the public and policymakers in Iraq.
