Arava Institute alumni visit CSU

Two alumni of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, the premier environmental teaching and research institute in the Middle East, will visit Columbus State University. They will present a lecture and later take part in a panel discussion on trans-boundary water issues at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 in the CSU International House.

The two alumni are Rose Elisha and Ghadeer Khoury will be part of the panel along with retired Columbus Water Works president Billy Turner, who is now a CSU scholar-in-residence, and Troy Keller, CSU environmental science professor.

The institute is affiliated with Ben Gurion University on Kibbutz Ketura in Israel's Arava Valley. The institute prepares future Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders to cooperatively address the region's environmental challenges, including water and air quality and energy.

Students who attend the Arava Institute are from Israel, Jordan, Palestine and other countries. They live, study and work together. The objective is to develop trust, respect and understanding that not only advances environmental sustainability but can also serve as building blocks for peace.

It's free.

For more information, call 706-568-2061.