A group of Zayed University students use the excess salt produced by water desalination process to minimize harmful impacts of brine discharge on water quality and marine life and make inventive use of salt in creative art.Oujaj, which means ‘Salt’ in English and a word taken from the Holy Quran, is the name of their virtual business they established on Instagram (Oujaj.UAE) to keep water fresh and clean from highly saline brine that is emitted into the sea and reduce serious negative impacts on ecosystems.The idea came as part of Injaz UAE Annual Company Program Competition, where students across the UAE compete to present entrepreneurial projects for the ‘Best Student Company of the Year’ award.The competition aims to support and open doors for young Emiratis to achieve their business goals and emphasizes that entrepreneurship is the shortest route to a bright future.
The idea was initiated at first by Noura Al Awadi, who studies at the College of Business in Zayed University, and Hessa Abdulla Alrais, a Zayed University undergraduate who studies psychology. Now they are experimenting more and more with new forms and materials, the latest being sea salt in collaboration with students from the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT).“When seawater is desalinated, the brine is returned to the sea. Therefore, threats and problems affecting species and their survival start to exist. Thus,Oujaj UAE established as a mean to save marine ecosystems and encourage innovation and creativity through salt art,” Hessa said.“Salt painting is so much fun. It is one of those art activities that you can do in so many different and creative ways,” she added.Oujaj UAE is now conducting several workshops at Zayed University to raise awareness for their causeand to teach students an innovative art using sea salt.The Oujaj art competition was also launched on Instagram, where customers can buy a box that contains art tools as well as salt, to create their drawings and win a grand reward.
About Zayed University
Zayed University is today the premier national university in the United Arab Emirates and a regional leader in educational innovation and change. It has created and implemented a skills-rich, outcome-based general education program that systemically develops student skills, knowledge, and values associated with liberal learning and provided a solid foundation for pursuit of disciplinary majors and future careers. Zayed University welcomes national and international students, and provides them with a high quality education, offered by seasoned teaching scholars to prepare them to shape the future of the United Arab Emirates.Zayed University offers Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in the following Colleges: College of Arts & Creative Enterprises (recognized as substantially equivalent by NASAD), College of Business (Accredited by AACSB), College of Communication & Media Sciences (Accredited by ACEJMC), College of Education (Accredited by NCATE), College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, and College of Technological Innovation (Accredited by ABET). For more information, visit www.zu.ac.ae