SDG 14 : Life Below Water

SDG 14 calls for protecting and sustainably using oceans and marine resources. Phoenicia University supports this goal through faculty research and institutional safeguards against water pollution

Faculty Spotlight – Dr. Hamdan Zuheir Hamdan

Dr. Hamdan Zuheir Hamdan has been a faculty member at Phoenicia University's College of Engineering since October 2019. His academic background brings direct expertise in marine ecosystem pollution and bioremediation to the university. Prior to joining PU, his graduate and doctoral research examined the bioremediation of recalcitrant organic pollutants in marine sediments, such as petroleum hydrocarbons, using bio-electrochemical systems, specifically Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells (SMFCs). He has also contributed to water quality initiatives across Lebanon through monitoring programs for the Litani River basin and Lake Qaraoun. At Phoenicia University, Dr. Hamdan teaches core environmental engineering and water resource courses, including Environmental Engineering and Science, Water Supply and Wastewater Management, Fundamentals in Environmental Health, and Hydraulics and Hydrology, bringing his research background directly into the classroom.

Dr. Hamdan's research on marine sediment contamination across the Eastern Mediterranean shoreline has been presented at several international conferences, most recently at the 14th International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, hosted by the Battelle Memorial Institute in Denver, USA, in 2024. His work examined microbial community responses to petroleum contamination in coastal marine sediment, contributing to the broader scientific understanding of bioremediation approaches for polluted marine environments and directly supporting SDG 14’s goal of protecting and restoring marine ecosystems from pollution.

Preventing Waterway Contamination from Laboratory Activities

Phoenicia University's Environmental, Health and Safety Policy include spill response procedures for laboratory operations, requiring that any hazardous substance spill be contained to prevent it from spreading to drains, waterways, or other sensitive environments. This procedure reflects an institutional awareness of the risk laboratory activities can pose to local water systems and reinforces PU's broader commitment to preventing pollution from reaching aquatic environments.