Dr Sumaya Yousif, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Institutional Communication Centre at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), participated in the first edition of the International Conference and Exhibition on Chemical Safety (ChemSafe 2025), recently hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain at the Gulf Convention Centre under the theme “Industrial Chemistry for a Safe and Sustainable Future”.

The event was organised by the Bahrain Chemists Society and Al Mashreq Training, in collaboration with the Ministry of Oil and Environment, and featured leading experts, decision-makers and specialists from across the world.

Dr Yousif took part as a keynote speaker in a session focused on chemistry and environmental sustainability, where she discussed the role of sustainable integrated management of resources and wastes, particularly toxic and hazardous chemicals, in ensuring and enhancing safety and security in workplace environments, especially in industrial settings. 

She underscored the importance of well-defined and precise emergency response plans to address potential pollution incidents and chemical or hazardous spills, highlighting the need for effective crisis management to minimise harm to people, property, and the environment.

Moreover, Dr Yousif further emphasised the pivotal role that academic, research, and educational institutions play in supporting development, capacity-building, and progress within the industrial sector, particularly in the management of resources and hazardous materials and wastes. She also pointed out the importance of establishing scientifically grounded plans for crisis management and emergency response in this critical field.

Dr Yousif stressed the need to adopt sustainable consumption patterns across all sectors and to embrace a sustainable lifestyle based on prevention and reduction of waste generation and its harmful impacts. She also underlined the significance of applying the principles of the circular economy, shifting away from resource-depleting linear production systems by using outputs as inputs for new production processes, thereby conserving natural resources, reducing production costs, and minimising waste and related risks from unsafe disposal.

The Arabian Gulf University continues to serve as a strategic partner to numerous leading industrial enterprises in the region, being recognised as a centre of expertise in management, environmental sciences, and sustainability studies. It is also regarded as a regional hub for research, education, and capacity-building across diverse environmental fields, including water resources management, waste and resource management, renewable energy, environmental sciences, and environmental biotechnology, while increasingly integrating artificial intelligence technologies to support these vital sectors.

The conference aimed to highlight the latest international standards and practices in the field of chemical safety and to promote a culture of prevention and protection in handling hazardous materials. Its programme included a series of scientific sessions and specialised workshops with the participation of more than 60 international experts representing global organisations and leading companies in the field. 

The event addressed key themes relevant to industry and safety in the region, such as safety leadership, chemical and process safety, risk management, emergency and major incident response, human and behavioural factors in safety management, environmental sustainability and resource protection in the chemical industries, as well as laboratory and facility security and safe handling of hazardous materials.

The accompanying exhibition featured participation from over 15 countries, represented by specialised institutions and companies showcasing the latest solutions, technologies, and services in chemical and industrial safety. The exhibition sought to highlight new innovations and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors to promote a culture of safety and the implementation of best global practices in this vital field..