Letting Biodiversity Work for You

Participating students

Cactus, carob, and bay plants captured the imagination of everyone on campus when International Biodiversity Day (IBDAA) was held at AUB's Green Oval on May 22, where the students had organized an informative poster exhibition showing some interesting products that were both marketable and eco-friendly.

Organized by the Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures (IBSAR), the event was sponsored by the Al-Waleed bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation. "We wanted to think about biodiversity as a source of income and a benefit to them," said Naja Saliba, a professor of chemistry and a leading member of the IBDAA organizing committee. She noted that people often think that preserving nature and biodiversity should come at the expense of economic development. "We are part of this planet and want to make use of it, but we want to do that more responsibly," she said.

Business and marketing students also participated in IBDAA this year. They proposed marketing plans for one of last year's projects, which had created an insect repellent from sage and olive oil. More than 250 students from ten classes in several different AUB departments participated with projects, essays, marketing plans, or artistic designs.

Among the products described by the students were a bay and carob oil-based shampoo that fights hair loss and split ends; anti-diabetic ice cream made with cactus; a cactus-dipping solution that acts as a moisture-barrier to preserve fruits and vegetables; cactus for fresh breath, for getting rid of a hangover, or for filtering water; carob as a substitute for gelatin or sugar; an adhesive from carob; tanning solution from carob; and a biodegradable planting pot from carob.

Salma Talhouk, the director and the main driving force behind IBDAA, was pleased with the turnout, saying that participation had almost doubled this year compared to last year. "I am really glad we kept the event going, despite the unpredictable situation in the country," she remarked.