Within the context of the SWaTH project, training on Sustainability Assessment Tools, Water Measurements, and Circular Economy was conducted in Finland between 4 and 10 June 2023. This mobility attracted many faculty members from various Lebanese and European partner institutions, namely: Makram El BACHAWATI, Henri EL ZAKHEM, and Wael HAMD from the University of Balamand – Lebanon; Joyce KHEIR and Tamara AL BITTAR from the Lebanese University – Lebanon; Darine GEARA, Walid HARB, and Roger MATTA from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik – Lebanon and Claudette HAJJ and Jacques HARBfrom Notre Dame University, Louaize – Lebanon.
The local organizers, Mika HUUHTANEN and Satu OJALA from the University of Oulu and other members from the institution, welcomed the Lebanese and European partners. This journey in Oulu was diverse and educational, including technical presentations on Sustainability Tools, Circular Economy, Environmental toxicology, Water measurements, and its treatment processes and technologies. Moreover, a field visit to the Oulu Waterworks was scheduled. In addition, the SWaTH team visited the university's numerous laboratories, facilities, and departments.
This mobility started with Virpi VÄISÄNEN, a university teacher at the Environmental and Chemical Engineering Department addressing global sustainability and Sustainability assessment exercises. Afterward, Prof. Pekka ROSSI, from the Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering department, presented a lecture about water measurements. Timo POHJOISENPERÄ also gave a Sustainability and Circular Economy presentation. In addition, a circular economy actor network workshop was organized to highlight that, despite the diversity of regions and challenges, the circular economy appears to be an adequate response throughout Europe. European policies have evolved considerably in recent years, both at the strategic and technical levels, impacting the development of the circular economy within European countries. The last presentation tackled Environmental Toxicology, presented by Prof. Arja RAUTIO, a professor of Arctic Research at the Thule Institute at the university, in which she explained the harmful effects of various chemical, biological, and physical agents on living organisms. The SWaTH team had a chance to visit the Oulu water plant, where they attended a presentation and a guided tour in the vicinity of the plant.
