​As part of the second day of the Honorary Professors’ Forum, the School of Engineering at the University of Jordan (UJ) hosted a specialized seminar titled “Water Desalination and Wastewater Treatment: Design and Operation.” The event brought together faculty from diverse engineering fields, professionals working in the desalination sector, and students from the Department of Chemical Engineering.

The seminar was led by Prof. Iqbal Mujtaba from Bradford University, and Honorary Professor at UJ's School of Engineering. He highlighted the key challenges Jordan faces amid a growing water scarcity crisis and emphasized the increasingly vital role of desalination as a strategic solution for ensuring sustainable water supplies.

Mujtaba highlighted that, despite its strategic importance, water desalination remains a highly energy-intensive process, underscoring the urgent need to develop advanced, sustainable energy solutions to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs. He further emphasized the critical role of collaborative research between academic institutions and industry in addressing the interconnected challenges of water scarcity and energy consumption.

The seminar also featured an in-depth discussion on prospects for academic collaboration between the UJ and Bradford University including a proposal to establish a joint master’s program in Renewable and Sustainable Energy.

Professor Iqbal also highlighted his research collaborations with several Jordanian companies, most notably the Arab Potash Company, dating back to 2018. These partnerships have played a key role in advancing applied research in the field of water desalination.

In closing, participants underscored the critical importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling Jordan’s environmental and water security challenges. They affirmed that such forums not only foster academic exchange but also contribute to shaping innovative and sustainable solutions for the future.