Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management
Organization name
Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management
Parent OrgUnit
Description
Dean’s Welcome Message Welcome to the webpages of the Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management. The Faculty currently includes two academic entities – the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, and the Department of Environmental Science and Technology. In terms of both education and research, our Faculty deals with topics that are at the heart of modern societal challenges. The agricultural and food sectors are increasingly important for providing adequate food supplies to a growing global population, while trying to avoid causing irreversible damage to human health and ecosystems. Besides its role for primary production and food security, agriculture can also be particularly beneficial for the environment by preventing the occurrence of problems such as soil erosion and land desertification. We also address a range of fields related to the protection of natural resources and the environment – air, water and soil pollution, waste management, sustainable energy use. Especially at a period of climate change, which is closely related to our living standards, these topics call for interdisciplinary approaches. Our Faculty offers education on natural and technological sciences like chemistry, physics, microbiology, toxicology and biotechnology, with a focus on their environmental and agronomical aspects. Agricultural and environmental economics and management for policy support are also important parts of our curriculum and research output. Our academic staff is heavily involved in international cooperation. Participating in research projects and organising international conferences and workshops, we try to provide intellectual stimulation to our students and keep them up-to-date with international activities in our disciplines. We have also developed close links with the private sector and NGOs in Cyprus, and several Faculty members serve as advisors to national and local authorities for the formulation of appropriate agricultural and environmental policies. It is clear that the focus of our Faculty is on very topical scientific fields with considerable employment prospects. According to national and EU-wide employment authorities, ‘green jobs’ are projected to be among the most flourishing sectors in the near future. For this purpose, our undergraduate and postgraduate education aims at offering a wide spectrum of fundamental knowledge as well as critical skills for learning and analysing complex problems. Irrespective of how outdated technologies and practical tools become over the years, the ability of critical thinking and the desire for continuous learning and improving one’s knowledge and skills are crucial for our prosperity. We hope that we successfully convey this message to both our graduates and the general public. Theodoros Zachariadis Dean of the Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management