The Department of Biology organizes educational field trips for its students to the wastewater treatment plant in Tabuk.

The Department of Biology at the College of Science, University of Tabuk, organized a series of educational field trips for its students to the wastewater treatment plant in Tabuk, from Sunday, November 2, 2025, to Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
These visits were part of the department's efforts to develop students' scientific and professional skills, prepare them for the job market, and enhance their awareness of the importance of sustainable management of environmental resources and environmental conservation. The visits were conducted under the supervision and coordination of a few faculty members from the Department of Biology. The program included 137 students who during their field trip, learned about the stages and methods of wastewater treatment, the modern biological and chemical technologies used, and their role in protecting the environment and conserving water resources. The visits contributed to strengthening the link between theoretical aspects and practical applications, raising the students' environmental awareness, and introducing them to the efforts made by the National Water Company in operating and managing treatment plants and providing laboratory services and environmental testing.
The visits were held according to the approved schedule as follows:
27 female students on Sunday
23 male students on Monday
54 female students on Tuesday
33 female students on Thursday
The visits commenced with the completion of the entry procedures according to industrial safety standards and organizing students movement within the plant. Students then attended a comprehensive presentation by the plant's team outlining the various stages of wastewater treatment, starting from initial reception and preliminary screening, followed by sedimentation and biological aeration processes, and concluding with the final treatment and water reuse. The tours also included a detailed explanation of the operation and maintenance mechanisms, sludge management, and laboratory experiments conducted at the plant. Academic supervision was provided by faculty members teaching the Environmental Pollution course, who clarified scientific aspects related to treatment processes and their environmental impacts. These faculty members were:
Dr. Bedour Albalawi (Course Coordinator), Dr. Atif Oyouni, Dr. Fouad Al-Atawi, Ms. Latifah Al-Huwaiti and Ms. Iman Jamal.
The field supervision was provided by a specialized team from the National Water Company. The team provided students with a detailed explanation of the operational workflows, treatment mechanisms, wastewater management, and the technologies used in wastewater treatment within the plant. The team members were:
Eng. Sultan Al-Anzi (Supervisor of Environmental Services Stations), Mr. Ahmed Al-Atawi (Supervisor of Operations and Maintenance), Eng. Mohamed Rashid (Site Manager at Tabuk Plant) and Eng. Abdulrahman Mohammed (Director of Tabuk Laboratory).
At the end of the visits, Dr. Ra'fat Affan, Head of the Biology Department, expressed his sincere gratitude to the National Water Company team and the faculty members who supervised and coordinated the visits. He also presented certificates of appreciation to the company’s team in recognition of their outstanding efforts in organizing the visit and providing students with comprehensive scientific explanations.
Dr. Affan commended the faculty members for their active participation and valuable contributions to supervision and coordination, emphasizing the importance of such programs in refining students’ skills and enhancing their scientific knowledge. Students were satisfied and expressed that they greatly benefited from the experience, which deepened their understanding of water treatment processes, pollution concepts, environmental management, and the importance of conserving natural resources.
These field trips reflect the commitment of the Department of Biology to enrich students’ educational experiences and enhance their understanding of modern environmental practices in alignment with national sustainability efforts.