The GYA’s Science and Education for Youth Working Group (WG) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) WGÂ have launched a series of talks and training sessions aiming to put SDGs into practice and raise awareness about them within higher education institutions, targeting both students and lecturers.
As part of this collaboration, GYA Science and Education for Youth WG Co-Lead Reem Abou Assi (Al-Kitab University, Iraq) and GYA SDGs WG Co-Lead Wilson Alavia Medina (Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile) worked together to design the content for the talks. Information material prepared by Stella Tsani (University of Ioannina, Greece) and Jane Yao (Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, Germany) was consulted in the making.
Reem opened the 21 September session at the College of Pharmacy by introducing the audience to the GYA, its core values, and the work of its members, before delving into the ongoing health issues resulting from escalating climate change. This talk was particularly significant, as Iraq is ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country globally to the effects of the climate crisis. Despite these challenges, Reem emphasized that science and proactive steps can offer hope for reversing some of these impacts.
Reem also presented statistical evidence showing that lung cancer ranks first among males and second among females in Iraq, largely due to air pollution. In 2022, Iraq was ranked the second-worst out of 118 countries in terms of air quality, making it a critical public health issue. For instance, recent reports indicated that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Baghdad was 151, categorized as poor, with PM2.5 levels significantly exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended limits. Additionally, the talk highlighted the effects of climate change on skin health, with rising incidences of vector-borne and waterborne diseases, many of which manifest with skin symptoms (e.g., Leptospirosis, Schistosomiasis, Dengue, Chikungunya, West Nile Virus, Ross River Virus, Leishmaniasis).
Reem emphasized the vital role of science, academics, and pharmacists in responding to these pressing challenges. Specifically, community pharmacists can play a significant role in raising awareness about recycling and taking proactive measures. The talk also covered the importance of lifestyle adjustments, dietary supplements, and skin care, particularly promoting the use of sunscreen and proper selection of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) levels to protect against ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which are primarily responsible for sunburn and skin cancer.
Various GYA working groups plan to conduct similar training and outreach activities across several institutions. This includes collaborative efforts between the GYA and the SDGs WG, which will deliver talks in partnership with the Generation Youth Energy Network (GY Energy) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece, under the coordination of working group co-lead Stella Tsani.
Furthermore, the GYA Science Education for Youth group is organizing an online symposium on 18–19 November 2024. This event, a joint initiative with the Women in Science working group, will present a collective effort by GYA members and alumni, focusing on enhancing science communication skills.