Message from  Sonia Ziyad, Environment Chair, AIWA Rabat (Morocco)

Friday, June 5 was our World Environment Day activities at the University. It was a beautiful sunny day, just right for the demonstration of the solar ovens made by some students in the Energy and Material Science section of the Physics Department.  The 5 ovens, ranging from a converted Pizza Box to one entirely lined in mirrors, and housing a cooking surface in black metal was used for an American classic of "Smores."  Using Henry's biscuits and some dark chocolate (no marshmellows I'm afraid,) we saw which oven had the fastest cooking rate and attained the highest temperature.  We even heated water to close to 60°C, which is the recommended temperature to kill e-coli bacteria in drinking water.  In addition, over 60 students did poster projects, DVD's and reports all on environment themes. 
 
The Faculty of Science Vice Dean for student affairs Prof. Amzazi worked with us and organized a planting project in support of this event. The grounds got olive and lemon trees as well as numerous rose bushes and hibiscus plants.   He also gave participants some sun hats and totes to commemorate the event. The Dean, Dr. Benjelloun, the Vice Dean of Research and several department heads joined the celebration by spearheading the planting project in different parts of the campus.  All of us equipped with shovels in hand planted a tree or shrub!  Fun, and in particular a chance to get involved in a long lasting project.
 
The Environment group gave all participants AIWA notepads and in turn got dozens of happy students expressing their thanks to our association. 
 
Thanks again to you, the members of AIWA and to the many participants from the university for World Environment Day.