INSA holds international conference on climate change

Students from a host of international and national universities, including American University of Sharjah (AUS), presented their papers on climate change at the “Climate Change: Challenges and Responses” conference held recently at AUS. 

The conference attracted a number of eminent figures in the field of climate change including Qais Al Suwaidi from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Dr. Michael Mason, Director of the Middle East Center at the London School of Economics (LSE).

This was the third student-led conference organized by the International Studies Student Association (INSA) at AUS. It was supported by the LSE Middle East Center as part of the Academic Collaboration with Arab Universities Program. One of the aims of the program is to support academic excellence at Arab universities.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jeffrey King, Assistant Professor of International Studies and INSA Faculty Advisor, said:

“This conference provided students in the UAE and around the region with an opportunity to discuss and address one of the most pressing concerns in the world: that of climate change. It also allowed students to interact with some notable figures in the field and acquire more information from them. It was an exciting and enlightening conference for all involved.”

As the student organization of the Department of International Studies (INS), INSA consists of eight international studies students tasked with carrying out the student-related functions of the department. It is also affiliated with the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

The association provides three functions within the INS department. First, it acts as a liaison between the INS students and the faculty, opening up channels of communication in which any issues from students can be addressed in a timely manner. Second, it promotes the visibility of INS on campus by taking part in the wider campus life and through the organization of a wide variety of events on campus. These range from hosting major conferences to holding the annual senior gala for graduating INS seniors. Through these two functions, INSA fulfills its third function, which is to improve the morale within the INS department as it creates a more positive environment for student and faculty interaction.

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