February 3^rd. Funded by the United States Consulate General in Jerusalem, An-Najah University, represented by Prof. Marwan Haddad, Director of the Water and Environmental Studies Institute (WESI) launched an environmental initiative for developing the resources of renewable energy in 14 Palestinian villages.

The University invited Dr. Thomas Culhane, American expert in environment and civil planning, to start the program in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Dr. Culhane spent five days visiting Palestinian cities and villages during which he presented many lectures about the application of natural gas reactors on the social and individual level.

Representatives from the WESI and other Palestinian co-partner institutions including the Palestinian Wildlife Society and Engineers Without Borders Institute, worked with Dr. Culhane to apply the new environmental techniques in the local communities and educate the public about the many advantages of this cost-effective and environmentally friendly technique.

Many students and teachers from different local universities and schools as well as environment activists worked closely with Dr. Culhane during his educational programs which he carried out in Atoof, Aqaba, Jifetlik and Al Rashaydeh villages. Regarding the objectives of the program, Dr. Culhane said that he wanted to share some of the echniques which were developed and applied in the USA which reflect the extent to which environmental policies and their application have expanded and progressed. This work not only shows how the USA responds to green techniques, it also shows how it interacts with other countries and what can be done to contribute to the sustainable development in these countries.

This visit to the West Bank and Jerusalem was just the beginning of much broader environmental educational multi-dimensional program promoted by Consulate General of the United States. The WESI at An-Najah University will hold a training course for the teachers at the Ministry of Education to develop their practical skills and experience regarding environmental issues in addition to practical training for students and the local communities.

To enhance the competency in solving the environmental problems that face the Palestinians, especially the problems related to water and management of sewage, the Consulate General presented seven scholarships for students enrolled in the Master degree program of WESI under the name “Fadya D’ebes and David Scott Smith “.

Dr. Culhane obtained his Master and PhD degrees from the University of California in Los Angeles in the United States in the field of urban planning and social and public policies programs.