Ruaa Centre Holds Awareness Lecture at the Faculty of Media, University of Aden on Marine Turtle Conservation in the Gulf of Aden

Aden – Centre Media

Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consultancy and Training organized an environmental awareness lecture on Wednesday at the Faculty of Media, University of Aden. The event comes within the framework of the “Save Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Aden” project, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Small Grants Programme (SGP), and aims at enhancing students’ environmental awareness and empowering them to play an active role in communicating environmental messages and safeguarding marine life.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Jaklin Mansour Al-Batani, head of the Ruaa Centre, expressed her gratitude to the faculty leadership and participating students. She emphasized that strengthening environmental awareness in academic institutions constitutes a fundamental pillar for the success of conservation efforts in the Gulf of Aden, particularly given the significant influence of media in shaping public perception and promoting positive environmental behaviour.

Dr. Al-Batani highlighted that the “Save Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Aden” project serves as a model of cooperation between research institutions, the community and government bodies, aimed at minimizing risks facing sea turtles—including marine pollution and harmful fishing activities. She urged media students to integrate environmental topics into their media content and communications agenda.

She further underscored the importance of engaging youth in environmental action, stressing that raising awareness among upcoming generations represents the most reliable guarantee for achieving sustainable protection and preserving biodiversity in the Gulf of Aden.

For his part, Dr. Waheeb Azeeban, Dean of the Faculty of Media, expressed his appreciation to the Ruaa Centre for bridging academic knowledge with practical application, noting that such lectures open new horizons for students to better understand environmental issues and acquire specialized skills in reporting on marine life.

Dr. Azeeban affirmed the Faculty’s readiness to collaborate with all entities committed to raising awareness among students, noting that media remains the most powerful tool for promoting an environmental culture and addressing behaviours that threaten coastlines and nesting sites.

Following the speeches, Dr. Abdullah Al-Hindi, Dean of the Faculty of Science and a specialist in marine life, delivered a scientific presentation covering the biological behaviour of sea turtles, key nesting sites within the Gulf of Aden, and the major threats affecting them, along with recommendations to mitigate these challenges. He emphasized the pivotal role of scientific research in supporting conservation initiatives.

The event was attended by Dr. Ali Baqityan, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Yasser Baazab, Vice Dean for Practical Training and Community Service. The lecture witnessed strong interaction from students who raised questions and comments on transforming environmental information into impactful media content, the importance of community media in protecting marine ecosystems, and the key challenges hindering conservation efforts for sea turtles and nesting habitats along the southern shores.