Biography:

Dr. Anwar Battikhi, BSc in 1967, and MSc in 1969, in Soils and Irrigation, from the American University of Beirut; PhD in 1977, in Soil Physics from Iowa State University. Currently, he is Professor of Soil Physics at The University of Jordan; and is President of the Jordan Society for Scientific Research. Previous positions included: 1. President, Hashemite University, Jordan. 2. Secretary General, Higher Council for Science and Technology, Jordan. 3. Vice-President, Jordan University for Science and Technology, Jordan. 4. Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, The University of Jordan. 5. Dean, Academic Research, The University of Jordan. 6. Visiting Professor, University of Florida. 7. Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tafila Technical University, Jordan. 8. Board of Trustees member, Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan. 9. Director, The Center for Consultations, The University of Jordan. 10. Director, King Abdullah Canal Project, Jordan. Medals and Awards: -Independence Medal of Excellence for Science and Research Achievements, His Majesty King Abdullah ibn Al-Hussein, Jordan, 2015. -The Medal of Excellence in Education, His Majesty King Abdullah Ⅱ, Jordan, 2005. -The Arab Creativity Award in Water and Soil Physics Sciences, Dubai, 2011. -Distinguished Alumni Award, Iowa State University, 2009. - Scopus Scientific Database Award in Education, Jordan, 2009. - Agriculture Scientist of the Year, The University of Jordan, 2009. -Distinguished Alumni Award in Agriculture and Education, the American University in Beirut, 2011. -Distinguished Scientist Award, Agricultural Engineers Association, Jordan, 2011. Major Professor and Co-Advisor of 25 MSc graduate students, and a committee member of 35 graduate students at The University of Jordan. Taught seven courses in soil physics, drainage, basic soils, and soil?water?plant relationships. Participated in more than 100 boards, councils and committees. Member of a number of honorary and scientific societies. Published about 130 papers, books, and studies, both regional and international journals.

Abstract:

Presentation title: Water Resources in the Arab World: Old and Now Abstract: Water consumption in the Arab region was estimated by 3430 m3/person/year in 1960. Currently, the poverty line in the world is considered to be 1000 m3/person/year. In Arab countries, it ranges is between 100?1500 m3/person/year, and is expected to go down to 667 m3/person/year in 2025. In Iraq and Syria it was 875 m3 and 1433 m3, respectively, per person per year. Both countries used to get 38bm3 from Euphrates, and 25 bm3 from Tigris for Iraq. These amounts were decreased to 15 bm3 from the Euphrates for Syria and Iraq, and 6.9bm3 from Tigris for Iraq. The per capita in Iraq became 555 m3/year, and in Syria became 303 m3/year. Egypt is receiving now about 55 bm3, and Sudan about 18.5 bm3 from the Nile, which means that the Egyptian person is receiving 667 m3/year, and the Sudanese is receiving 554 m3/year. The future, because of proposed Renaissance Dam, is not clear, it all will depend on the negotiations between Egypt and Ethiopia. As for Jordan, the latest census resulted in a population of about 9 million people, and considering that the available water is about one bm3, the average per person for available water per year is about 110 m3, which is a very gloomy situation. Jordan was supposed to get 720 MCM from Yarmouk River and side valleys, the actual amount that is received now does not exceed 150 MCM; because of the dams and pumps installed on the Syrian side. Besides no water is conveyed to the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Beside the countries mentioned above, these are the allocated amounts of water (m3/person/year), 1996?to present, for the remaining Arab countries: Algeria (458?329); Bahrain (400?208); Kuwait (233?314); Lebanon (1150?1628); Libya (113?131); Morocco (1032?994); Oman (1260?879); Qatar (446?153); Saudi Arabia (321?228); Tunisia (455?485); UAE (510?190) and Yemen (181?141). The causes of water poverty are: misuse and pollution; which resulted in desertification and soil degradation; nutrition gap; poor investment and efficiencies in water projects; bad effects on animals projects; energy defects and losses; and poor management. Egypt participated in the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, as well as Kyoto Protocol, and created institutional entities to follow up on the climate change activities, nationally and internationally, in the Ministry of Environment.