Neglected Studies on the Shelves
12
Œńŀī
Academics Identify the Reasons and Suggest
Solutions
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Seasonal Edition Issued by oman Observer And SQU
Dr. Jumana Saleh:
Magnesium the Healing
Treasure
Study:
Children’s Overconfidence
Reasersh Project:
Documentation of Omani
Vernacular settlements
ŶōųōƿƳưƄƴƮưťűƳƬƹƮưƷƷƺƽƿƺƂƬǂƬƾǀƷŌ
H.M.’s visit constitutes
a turning point for research
SQU celebrates 16TH anniversary of H.M.’S visit
Postgraduate Studies: Oman’s window to the
future
A Research Device < A Nanocluster System >
A study assesses the economic feasibility of treated
wastewater
General Supervision
Dr. Rahma Al-Mahrooqi
Executive Supervision
Ali Al-Hadhrami
Managing Editor
Salim Rabia Al-Gheilani
Translated and Edited by
Dr. Hisham Jawad
Photography
Amur Khalfan Al-Khrusi
Proofreading by
Ayesha Heble
Design and Production
Ibtisam Said Al-Harthi
/tawasul.squ
/tawasul.squ
/tawasul-squ
/publicationsqu
Research Themes:
Key to the development of
the country
Research is a beacon to reach out to those communities which harness it. Through
conGucting research stuGies that bene¿t societ\ researchers can contribute to progress
anG prosperit\ anG ¿nG solutions to e[isting challenges.
6uch collaboration between research agencies anG societ\ can onl\ pa\ oII iI Yarious
research themes are geareG to serYing urgent societal issues contributing in a Girect
anG concrete wa\ to GeliYering t\picall\ practical solutions rather than inGulging in
mere theorizing.
Recognizing the paramount importance oI research in serYing societ\ 6ultan 4aboos
8niYersit\ has consiGereG the neeG Ior its researchers anG acaGemics to Iocus on
those research themes that seeN to ensure scienti¿c anG intellectual progress anG the
GeYelopment oI 2mani societ\. This has been translateG into nine research themes
incluGing enYironmental anG biological research energ\ anG non-renewable resources
research liIe anG health sciences research humanities research inIormation anG
communication s\stems materials anG IunGamental research anG inGustr\-relateG
research. These themes were aGGresseG b\ 648 researchers anG acaGemics in more
than 900 research studies conducted in the period 2009- 2015.
0arNing the 1th anniYersar\ oI +.0.¶s Yisit which gaYe a robust impetus to scienti¿c
research the 8niYersit\ understands that the enhancement oI scienti¿c eIIorts in Yarious
areas is onl\ possible through the support oI societ\ ± in addition to the important
support oI the goYernment. ,t is also necessar\ to see the priYate sector inYolYed in this
Yenture and establish serious partnerships that can direct scienti¿c research towards
enhancing the national econom\ and thus contribute to the progress and deYelopment
oI societ\.
Editor
Main news
SQU Fair 2015
SQU Celebrates 16TH Anniversary of H.M.’S Visit
Dr. Talal Al-Wahaibi: “This occasion is a source of pride”
6ultan 4aboos 8niYersit\
&enter with a speech giYen b\
and 2utreach. $ number oI
diYerse academic achieYements.
648 is celebrating toda\ the
'r. $li bin 6aud $l-%imani 648
distinguished
2n this occasion 'r. Talal
1th anniYersar\ oI the Ro\al
9ice-&hancellor
academics
and
$l-:ahaibi $ssistant 'ean oI
Yisit oI +is 0aMest\ 6ultan
b\ 'r. Rahma $l-0ahrouqi
students at 648 will be awarded
Research said ³The 8niYersit\ is
4aboos %in 6aid under the
648 'eput\ 9ice-&hancellor
Ior their achieYements.
Neen to celebrate the anniYersar\
auspices oI +.(. 'r. $li bin
Ior 3ostgraduate 6tudies and
$n e[hibition Ior research and
da\ as it is a source oI pride Ior
0asoud $l-6unaidi
0inister
and
another
researchers
emplo\ees
Research. There will be a ¿lm
scienti¿c actiYities oI all colleges
all
oI &ommerce and ,ndustr\. The
Ieaturing
and research centers will be
impetus has been giYen to
opening ceremon\ will be held at
produced b\ the 'epartment
inaugurated with a
displa\ oI
research at the 8niYersit\ with
the *rand +all oI 648 &ultural
oI
' technolog\. ,t will show
+.0.¶s grant allocated to Iunding
protot\pes oI scienti¿c
strategic research proMects which
proMects carried out b\
are oI paramount importance
the colleges and research
Ior the 6ultanate. 6uch Iunding
centers
has encouraged academics to
research
$cademic
at
648
3ublication
44
May 2016
with
&onsiderable
students¶
innoYations
undertaNe
with
intellectual
proMects that are oI immediate
propert\
University Day 2015 – Guest of Honour at the Fair
along
emplo\ees.
rights.
diYerse
research
1ew
releYance to societ\.´ +e added
booNs published b\ the
that the 8niYersit\ is marNing
$cademic
this annual eYent with a Yariet\
3ublication
%oard will be launched.
oI new programs and actiYities
0eanwhile all colleges
including a -da\ scienti¿c Iair
will marN this occasion b\
to be opened this \ear Ior the
organizing e[hibitions and
public to haYe a closer looN at the
seminars coYering their
output oI the 8niYersit\.
News
Innovative style designed by InnoTech
The University Day Fair
$ research Iair will be opened toda\
,nnoTech a compan\ specialized in
at the e[hibition hall 648 as part oI
deliYering high-tech serYices interactiYe
ongoing eYents marking the 8niYersit\
technologies will be in place to present
'a\. The Iunction will Ieature 21
a Yariet\ oI shows on the research
research proMects carried out b\ 648 in
proMects educational games and other
seYen scienti¿c areas. 2mani innoYators
scienti¿c Ieatures in an innoYatiYe and
will also show a selection oI inYentions
e[citing wa\. 6uch technologies include
and research works. There are also stalls
Yirtual realit\ augmented realit\ and
Ior scienti¿c books audioYisual shows
hologram screens.
3D design – University Day 2016
and children¶s entertainment. Run b\
Enabling Women and Engaging Them in Development Plans
A study fathoms Omani society’s attitudes towards desirable occupations for women
Dr. Munir Kardasheh - Humanities Research Center
&ontemporar\ societies
preIerences. The stud\ is Yer\
the
anal\zing
and on societ\ as a whole. The
are characterized b\ high-leYel
signi¿cant as it tries to uncoYer
its
underl\ing
research also seeks to increase
d\namism as well as rapid
the general attitudes towards
processes and understanding the
awareness oI the signi¿cance oI
changes oI economic social and
IaYorable
Ior
oYerlapping relations at great
women›s inYolYement in man\
cultural components. This calls
women as seen b\ that societ\. ,t
depth and detail. $ qualitatiYe
modern proIessions needed b\
Ior the need to monitor changes
also tries to probe the underl\ing
approach will also be applied
the communit\. This could be
in the stereot\pical thinNing oI
principles
through
done through the media to change
occupations
that
goYern
such
phenomenon
structure
and
in-depth
interYiews
societ\ about the occupations
the attitudes oI societ\ towards
desirable Ior women. This ma\
those proIessions which are
be because the social norms
belieYed to be male-dominated
traditions and Yalues preYailing
in the ¿rst place. The stud\ also
in societ\ pla\ a Ne\ role in
seeks to proYide solutions that
shaping the orientation oI its
would enable women to assume
members as to what proIessions
some
are suitable Ior women. ,n this
making positions including on
regard 'r. 0unir .ardasheh
e[ecutiYe boards. The stud\ will
Irom the +umanities Research
use a set oI statistical models to
&enter
e[amine the data uncoYer the
empirical
is
undertaNing
on
and
decision-
2mani
preIerences Ior speci¿c Mobs and
with some communit\ members
details and anal\ze the merits.
societ\¶s attitudes towards some
proYide Nnowledge about such
in order to understand the
The\ are based on the anal\sis
desirable occupations Ior women.
social phenomena. The research
implications oI this phenomenon.
oI Yariance $129$ which is
The stud\ aims to uncoYer the
worN is mainl\ based on a social
The stud\ seeNs to proYide a set
a collection oI statistical models
most IaYorable and unIaYorable
sample
methodolog\
oI recommendations in order to
used to anal\ze the diIIerences
proIessions Ior 2mani women
and strati¿ed sampling. The
empower women and integrate
among group means and their
as Yiewed Irom the perspectiYe
samples will be representatiYe oI
them
associated
oI
to
2mani societ\ in three regions
plans and to raise awareness in
identiI\ and e[plain the most
$l-'aNhili\\ah $l-6harqi\\ah
the societ\ oI the importance oI
6ciences 6366 will also be
important social economic and
and 'hoIar. This approach is
women›s work and its impact on
consulted.
cultural rationale behind these
appropriate
women themselYes their Iamilies
the
stud\
an
leading
communit\
and
surYe\
Ior
monitoring
into
the
deYelopment
procedures.
The
6tatistical 3ackage Ior 6ocial
May 2016
55
Interview
r to
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H.E. the Tawasul:
es
t
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t
s
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it co t for
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i
v
s
’
.
H.M rning poin
a tu esearch
r
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66
May 2016
with the latest technolog\
ize research at SQU on this
and
occasion,?
attracting
quali¿ed
proIessionals.
The
:e consider research as the
8niYersit\
main pillar and backbone
IoreIront oI regional public
oI uniYersit\ education in
uniYersities in terms oI the
is
at
the
addition to teaching and
Yolume oI scienti¿c papers
communit\ serYice. +ence
published
in
the goYernment has been
Mournals
which
keen on strengthening the
improYed the 8niYersit\¶s
reIereed
has
role oI scienti¿c research.
international ranking.
648 is at the IoreIront
How can research con-
oI institutions addressing
triEute to ¿ndinJ solu-
this Yital aspect being the
tions to the current eco-
premier academic institution
nomic problems?
in the 6ultanate. $s alwa\s it
The
has put in place all resources
recentl\
all support both moral and
launch oI research actiYities at the
8niYersit\ we consider research
Many successes have been achieved,
and more are yet to come
oI paramount importance both
in kind and degree despite
in supporting this Yital domain
¿nancial Irom +is 0aMest\.
the ongoing challenges. The
proYiding
%ecause the progress oI nations
8niYersit\ has sought oYer the
and laboratories and reaching
and
higher
\ears to establish a solid research
out to local regional and global
education can onl\ be measured
Ioundation in order to achieYe its
academic centers oI research
b\ the qualit\ oI their research
ambitions building laboratories
e[cellence. The historic Yisit oI
studies
and research centers equipped
+is 0aMest\ 6ultan 4aboos bin
sought to enhance this through
6aid to the 8niYersit\ in 2000
opening research programs and
was a turning point Ior scienti¿c
postgraduate studies. 1ow aIter
research which has receiYed
more than twent\ \ears since the
research
Iacilities
institutions
the
oI
8niYersit\
has
Interview
How would you character-
8niYersit\
carried
has
out
a
number oI studies aimed at
contributing
to
the
ongoing
eIIorts to diYersiI\ the sources
oI income in the 6ultanate. 648
researchers and academics are
working hard taking adYantage
oI all opportunities to achieYe
economic
bene¿ts
in
such
sectorsas tourism agriculture
¿sheries mining industr\ oil
We are collaborating with other
agencies of different sectors
and gas and renewable energ\.
, can sa\ that seYeral successes
haYe been made and we are
in direct contact with those
sectors to work together on
studies
that
will
contribute
directl\ or indirectl\ to the
promotion
and
deYelopment
oI the 2mani econom\ and to
reduce dependence on oil as a
source oI income. :e hope to
see scienti¿c research at the
8niYersit\ Iactoring in 2mani
economic deYelopment. This can
onl\ happen b\ strengthening
research capacit\ and rethinking
related policies.
‡:hat can the 'eanship oI
3ostJraduate Studies oIIer?
May 2016
77
Interview
The
8niYersit\
has
paid
much attention to promoting
8niYersit\ alwa\s ensures that
University¶s linNs with other
these &enters haYe the latest
research-related aJencies in
both
,n addition to these two 'ean-
equipment and technologies in
Oman?
in qualit\ and quantit\ to cope
ships, we have research cent-
their ¿elds oI specialization as
The
with the rapid deYelopments
ers. How do you evaluate their
well as the best researchers.
a
5esearch eIIorts need marNet-
research
inJ. How do you see academic
its cumulatiYe e[perience and
postgraduate
programs
8niYersit\
signi¿cant
has
become
academic
and
in Yarious ¿elds and the need
eIIorts?
Ior quali¿ed human resources
1o one can disagree on the
in the 6ultanate. &urrentl\ the
important role oI research centers
publishinJ at SQU?
8niYersit\ oIIers postgraduate
in supporting the deYelopment
$cademic
programs 3h' and 06c in
plans and proMects. That is
important Iactor that enhances
Yarious institutions both public
Yarious colleges and disciplines
wh\ the uniYersit\ has created
and markets research actiYities
and priYate are interested in
with
Irom
ten research centers and three
and the 8niYersit\ pla\s a
collaborating with it. $s Iar
Yarious walks oI liIe in order to
research chairs in collaboration
signi¿cant role in this area. *iYen
as research is concerned the
deYelop human resources to
with Yarious agencies. The
the current rapid deYelopments
8niYersit\ is keen to reach out to
H.M. wants the University to be
a distinguished institution
worldwide the 8niYersit\ is
the releYant authorities to inYest
working to take adYantage oI
in e[isting resources in order to
all new adYances and utilizing
upgrade scienti¿c proMects inside
&enters now serYe as a link
new technologies in order to
and outside the 6ultanate and in
the
between researchers inside and
disseminate scienti¿c research
order to oYercome the challenges
'eanship
outside the 8niYersit\ in the
¿ndings to the communit\ and
Iacing the research sector. The
is
6ultanate or in other countries
institutions. 2bserYers will ¿nd
8niYersit\
students
contribute
the
plans
6ultanate.
oI
coming
to
deYelopment
The
3ostgraduate
oYerall
in
6tudies
publishing
enYironment
giYen
continuous deYelopment since
is
an
its
inception.
That
is
collaborates
wh\
with
matters
who haYe an interest in doing
the 8niYersit\ highl\ Yisible in
other parties to establish a solid
postgraduate
research in the 6ultanate. 1ew
the press social media book
research base in the Sultanate;
programs and regulations and
research centers will alwa\s be
Iairs and reIereed Mournals.
it has also created a partnership
the door is open Ior 2manis and
an option when needed and the
Could you elaborate on the
with such parties on the basis
responsible
relating
88
non-2manis to appl\ Ior such
programs.
Ior
to
May 2016
all
The
alwa\s
areas. :e haYe worked with
innoYation and entrepreneurship
this Yital area. There are S48
sought to recruit high-caliber
a 'utch medical center on
to
research
on
researchers. $nnuall\ we haYe
h\pertension research and with
implement their ideas and turn
research proMects Iunded b\
Yisiting researchers in Yarious
other institutions on diabetes
them into proMects as well as
some authorities such as The
applied or social sciences which
blood diseases and cancer.
protecting intellectual propert\
Research &ouncil TR&; there
we consider an important Iactor
,nnovation is Ney to Iuture
rights b\ seeking patents with
are Moint committees between the
in enhancing the educational
success. How do you see the
the agencies concerned inside
8niYersit\ and some goYernment
process in general and research
successes oI our students at
and outside the Sultanate.
and priYate institutions in the
in particular. There haYe been
reJional
Finally, what are your research
industrial and production areas
man\
which haYe been established to
proMects in the +umanities about
:e are satis¿ed with such
,
promote cooperation and the
the Sultanate such as studies
achieYements being a source
8niYersit\¶s research eIIorts will
application oI research results.
on local dialects oI +im\arite
oI pride Ior all oI us at the
come up with concrete results
,n the ne[t stage we will be
and .umzari and the social and
8niYersit\. ,t is testimon\ to the
that bene¿t the societ\ and its
doubling eIIorts to promote
demographic deYelopment oI the
Iact that we are moYing in the
institutions with solutions that
scienti¿c inYestment to serYe the
Sultanate in the light oI
right direction and that the
address current problems. ,t is
teams
working
8niYersit\
has
accomplished
goals set b\ the countr\›s leader
research
levels?
and
international
Innovations are testament to
our sound approach
+.0. Sultan 4aboos bin Said
Ior the adYancement oI scienti¿c
help
uniYersit\
students
expectations?
sincerel\
hope
that
the
also hoped that the 8niYersit\
will assume a position among
the best research institutions in
research and the deYelopment
signi¿cant global changes. :e
educational process has achieYed
the world. To reiterate what +.0.
oI methods and tools in line
also haYe leading researchers in
its obMectiYes mainl\ to prepare
said ³:e want this 8niYersit\ to
with national needs and global
the (arth Sciences with students
a generation oI students able to
be distinguished´.
changes.
coming Irom *&& uniYersities to
take adYantage oI their creatiYe
HavinJ distinJuished research-
stud\ the geological Iormations
potentials and conYert them
ers is one Iactor oI consolidat-
in 2man. The 8niYersit\ has
into innoYations that bene¿t the
inJ universities in the world. 7o
also collaborated with man\
communit\ and serYe humanit\.
what extent has the University
uniYersities on Moint scienti¿c
+ence we haYe the creation oI
manaJed to attract such aca-
research
engineering
a department Ior innoYation and
medicine agriculture and other
entrepreneurship and a group oI
demics?
in
Interview
oI common goals to deYelop
May 2016
99
Research Themes
Sultan Qaboos University
Major Research Themes
Sultan 4aboos 8niYersit\
and mineral resources are also
S48 has paid considerable
an important area oI stud\. There
attention to research in diIIer-
were 5 studies produced at S4U
ent areas as a result oI its con-
during the period 2009-2015.
Yiction oI the important role
2ne important research paper
research pla\s in deliYering
dealt with the ³,n-situ anal\tic
solutions to challenges Iacing
upgrading oI 2mani heaY\ crude
societ\. Research at S48 can
oil during steam inMection´ and
broadl\ be grouped under nine
was aimed at inYestigating the
themes which cut across dis-
Ieasibilit\ oI in-situ upgrading
ciplines colleges and research
oI 2mani heaY\ oil b\ the use oI
centers. Such themes were coY-
orgametallic catal\sts. $nother
ered in 902 research proMects and
stud\ concerned solar power
studies produced at S48 during
generation and solar cooling
the period 2009-2015. The UniYersit\ has deYeloped its tools in
order to enhance such research
themes and come up with practical ¿ndings that could be used
to oYercome diYerse problems
in the countr\. Such results ma\
be seen in the oil industr\ sector
Ior e[ample whereb\ researchers haYe deYeloped Yarious techniques to solYe diIIerent problems apart Irom signi¿cant
studies in other ¿elds.
(nvironmental and bioloJical research
The studies include the ¿elds
oI agriculture ¿sheries water
and biodiYersit\. ,mportant subthemes are optimizing the productiYit\ oI agriculture and ¿sheries conserYation oI biological
resources and Iresh water and
enYironmental
management
with emphasis on sustainable
deYelopment. &limate change
deserti¿cation disposal oI oilproduction water production oI
brine Irom desalination industries pollution earthquake mon-
10
0
101
May 2016
itoring water resource manage-
cantl\ improYing the qualit\ oI
ment protection oI endangered
the rose water. Farmers were
species and enYironmental resto-
also adYised to use gas instead
ration are also ke\ issues.
oI ¿rewood in the processing
This theme requires cross-dis-
oI rose petals into rose water²
ciplinar\ approaches to enYi-
this is because gas processing is
ronmental problem solYing and
more eI¿cient economical and
inYolYes scientists
Irom agri-
eco-Iriendl\ than ¿rewood pro-
cultural and ¿sheries biologists
cessing. $nother proMect was to
climatologists
h\drologists
do with ³0ango :ilt 'isease in
ecologists enYironmental engi-
2man Resistance 0echanisms
neers and economists ph\si-
and (nYironmental ,nteractions´
cal geographers s\stem ana-
which sought to combine direct
l\sts and remote sensing and
technolog\ transIer to the Iarm-
*,S specialists. There were 10
ing communit\ and scienti¿c
studies in this ¿eld produced
research to backstop a reinYigor-
b\ S4U researchers during the
ated production sector.
proMect was about -abal $khdar
(nerJy and non-renewable
resources research
rose water production which was
This theme Iocuses on the oil
aimed at improYing rose water
and gas industr\ in 2man. The
processing. Farmers were sup-
emphasis is on improYing our
plied with paper ¿lters and Iun-
understanding oI the location
nels based on a technolog\ that
and nature oI reserYes enhanced
was simple and eas\ Ior them to
oil recoYer\ and the deYelop-
adopt. Tests showed that the ¿l-
ment oI alternate energ\ sources
ters remoYed more than 9 per-
including solar and other renew-
cent oI the impurities signi¿-
able energ\ Iorms. *eosciences
period 2009-2015. 2ne research
cogeneration. $n organic rankine c\cle was built and integrated
with a cooling s\stem. The heat
discharged Irom the c\cle¶s condenser was Ied into an absorption
c\cle while most oI the generated electricit\ k: could be
proYided to a mechanical Yaporcompression chiller.
/iIe and health sciences
research
This includes ph\siolog\ biotechnolog\ human nutrition and
dietetics medicine and nursing. +uman health is a maMor
sub-theme and there is great
emphasis on clinical research.
Sub-themes
include
genetics
clinical research and patient
centres
health\
enYironment
and societ\ health inIormatics
and epidemiolog\ ps\cholog\
genomics and drug discoYer\
occupational health sanitation
immunit\ and inIection oncolog\ metabolic disorders and
other clinical areas. There were
15 studies produced at S4U in
this ¿eld during the period 2009-
women in 2man.
ture econom\ business and man-
There were 143 studies in these
&an-
$nother stud\ ³(Yaluation oI
agement models societ\ geogra-
¿elds produced at S4U during
cer $wareness among 2mani
Risk Factors Ior Strokes in the
ph\ and law as well as histor\
the period 2009-2015. ³Social
:omen´ sought to obtain base-
2mani &ommunit\´ was aimed
archaeolog\ language and lit-
participation oI 2mani women´
line inIormation on the current
at identiI\ing and quantiI\ing the
erature. ,t is concerned with
was one important stud\ which
status oI breast cancer awareness
degree and e[tent oI the associa-
educational ps\cholog\ earl\
e[amined the realit\ oI social
among women in 2man with the
tion between Yarious risk Iactors
childhood education language
participation oI 2mani women at
ultimate goal oI de¿ning strate-
and their interaction in the deYel-
planning and policies language
Yarious deYelopmental cultural
gies that can be implemented to
opment oI strokes in terms oI risk
acquisition
accredi-
and political leYels the chal-
increase this in order to Iacili-
ratios. ,t resulted in the establish-
tation and qualit\ assurance
lenges Iaced and the prospects
tate earl\ detection. 0ore impor-
ment oI a biochemical pro¿le
assessment and eYaluation edu-
Ior increasing this participation.
tantl\ ensuring that the correct
and liIest\le characteristics base-
cational technolog\ Yocational
$nother stud\ ³The impact oI
inIormation reaches the societ\
line data Ior earl\ diagnosis and
guidance and counseling special
1ew 0edia on Socialization´
2ne
stud\
³%reast
ma\ help eradicate some oI the
common m\ths about breast cancer and Iacilitate treatment oI
patients diagnosed with it. The
testing
Over 900 research projects in 5
years
stud\ was built on the e[perience
Research Themes
2015.
sought to identiI\ patterns oI use
oI the new means oI communication among 2mani Iamilies
e[plored the cultural impact oI
the new media on the \ounger
oI a multidisciplinar\ team in the
screening oI high-risk indiYidu-
needs human resources deYelop-
generation and e[amined the
area oI breast cancer research. ,t
als using a risk scoring s\stem
ment and leadership. Research in
inÀuence oI such demographic
led to a larger scale randomized
Ior prediction oI strokes among
these areas is critical to an under-
Yariables as Iamil\ size and leYel
control trial that was dissemi-
the 2mani population.
standing oI the economic politi-
oI education on the socialization
nated with the support oI the
Humanities research
cal historical educational legal
process. $n attempt was made to
2mani 1ational &ancer $ssoci-
+umanities social sciences and
social and global conte[t within
set criteria that can direct the new
ation to a diYerse population oI
education research coYers cul-
which 2mani societ\ operates.
media to pla\ a more positiYe
May 2016
11
1
11
Research Themes
role in the socialization process.
interests. $nother paper deYel-
¿ed oYer 200 2mani meteorites
ment and e-commerce; and hard
,nIormation and communication systems research
oped a theoretical Iramework to
through a detailed geochemical
aspects such as construction bio-
eYaluate e-learning acceptance in
mineralogical and petrological
technolog\ and manuIacturing.
This includes telecommunica-
higher education institutions in
anal\sis. $nother stud\ ³3repa-
There were 109 studies produced
tions digital technolog\ com-
2man.
ration and &haracterization oI
at S4U during the period 2009-
puter science e-commerce electrical and computer engineering
ph\sics inIormatics and mathematics.
0aMor
sub-themes
include computer engineering
Nine themes cutting across colleges
and research centers
computer science inIormation
technolog\ management inIormation s\stems soItware engi-
1212
2015.
2ne research proMect is ³Secondar\ &hromite 'eposits in
2man Source $reas ([ploration Targets and &r 3ollution oI Fresh :ater´. ,t sought
Materials and Fundamental
research
neering communication and net-
This area includes stud-
*as Separation and 3uri¿ca-
to identiI\ primar\ chromite-
tion 0embranes´ inYestigated
rich zones within the ophiolite
working technolog\ embedded
ies on the deYelopment
s\stems electronics instrumen-
characteristics
tation and control. There were 65
and properties ph\sical
studies produced at S4U during
and chemical oI natural
the period 2009-2015.
and s\nthetic materials.
³:ebsite structural properties´ is
,t is concerned with the
an important research proMect that
adYancement oI knowl-
embodied scienti¿c practical
edge in Iundamental areas
and e[perimental merits. ,t pro-
oI science and humani-
posed an original modi¿cation
ties including philosoph\
to improYe the engineering oI a
linguistics
mathematics
well-known accepted and tested
statistics
econometrics
procedure to discoYer popular
theoretical
ph\sics
spots in a website. 0ore speci¿-
geoph\sics ph\sical chemistr\
suitable preparation methods oI
sequence oI 2man that act as
structure
and
call\ it attempted to identiI\ hot
and mathematical biolog\/ecol-
thermal and chemicall\ stable
source areas Ior potential sec-
spots such as candidate pages
og\. There were 194 studies pro-
membranes using diIIerent inor-
ondar\ placer deposits in adMa-
within the conte[t oI the oYerall
duced at S4U during the period
ganic materials as well as the
cent wadis locate and e[amine
site determine popular site com-
2009-2015.
preparation oI adequate low cost
such placer deposits identiI\
ponents which should be restruc-
2ne
³&haracterization
supports that can proYide high
local processes oIten microbial
tured and predict Iuture user
oI 2mani 0eteorites´ classi-
perIormance in gas separation
leading to chromium pollution
processes under eleYated
oI drinking waters and deYelop
pressure and temperature
concepts to remediate polluted
conditions.
waters. $nother stud\ ³&22-
May 2016
stud\
Industry-related
research
2il 0inimum 0iscibilit\ 3res-
This area includes stud-
adopted a methodolog\ based on
ies in industrial and
two parts an e[perimental stud\
engineering technolog\
based on slim-tube rising bubble
Iood saIet\ securit\ and
and Yanishing interIacial tension
processing
com-
e[periments to measure &22-
mercial aspects. 0aMor
oil 003 Ior selected 2mani
sub-themes include soIt
oils Irom diIIerent reserYoirs in
aspects such as goYern-
2man and the mathematical cal-
ance ¿nancial markets
culation oI the pressure oI &22-
human resource manage-
oil 003.
and
sure (stimation Ior 2mani 2ils´
News
Efficient water use in agriculture
Dr. Baby Shaharoona - Agricultural and Marine Sciences College
Fresh water scarcit\ is a
mount importance that the small
Irom the &ollege oI $gricultural
root growth signi¿cantl\. The
global issue which is e[acerbat-
amounts oI water aYailable Ior
and 0arine Sciences has carried
production oI eth\lene under
ing the situation in arid regions
agriculture should be used wisel\
out a proMect aimed at improY-
water stress conditions can help
in man\ countries including the
to get ma[imum bene¿ts. ,n this
ing water use eI¿cienc\ in the
eliminate to some e[tent the
agricultural sector and
eIIects oI water stress on plan
deYeloping new methods
growth.
to increase crop \ield
+e added that organic compost
water use eI¿cienc\ and
is one oI the tools that could be
Sultanate. ,t is thereIore oI para-
regard 'r. %ab\ Shaharoona
enrichment oI compost.
used to improYe water use eI¿-
$ccording to the aca-
cienc\ b\ enabling the soil to
demic there are diIIerent
retain water which can be useIul
strategies to oYercome
Ior the ph\sical and biological
the reduction oI plant
properties oI the soil.
growth due to lack oI
The proMect will hopeIull\ come
water and dr\ soil. The\
up with some important ¿ndings
include promoting root
to deYelop organic Iertilizers to
growth to better absorb
increase crop production and
water through the plant
the use oI water on a sustainable
hormone eth\lene which
basis under water stress condi-
contributes to the inhibition oI
tions in the Sultanate oI 2man.
Effects of Prolactin on Liver Tissue
Dr. Fahad Al Zadjali - College of Medicine and Health Sciences
3rolactin is a pro-
¿cult to determine the hormone
,n this regard 'r. Fahad $l =ad-
human bod\ as there should be
tein hormone secreted mainl\
leYels in Yitro because oI the
Mali Irom the &ollege oI 0edi-
no d\namic diIIerences that hin-
Irom the anterior pituitar\ gland
d\namic Yital diIIerences in its
cine and +ealth Sciences has
der the diagnosis oI diseases
which pla\s an important role in
leYels in the blood. Such changes
conducted a stud\ on the eIIects
which are connected to the hor-
the processes oI growth and the
occur in normal indiYiduals due
oI prolactin on liYer tissue. The
mone.
composition oI breast milk dur-
to Iactors related to the diIIer-
research seeks to deYelop new
The proMect is e[pected to come
ing pregnanc\ and aIter birth.
ences between night and da\ eat-
biological tests to determine
up with preliminar\ results about
The hormone controls a Yariet\
ing and aIter se[ual intercourse.
the Iunctions oI prolactin in the
the impact oI prolactin on the
oI behaYiors and also balances
liYer. The liYer tissue will be
metabolism; thereIore a blood
stimulated with prolactin and its
test Ior the hormone is done clin-
secretions will be isolated Irom
icall\ to e[clude cases oI breast
the liYer and then puri¿ed. The
milk suppl\.
proteins will also be identi¿ed
,n some cases dopamine is
with the aYailable technolog\ in
e[amined to oYercome the prob-
the UniYersit\. +opeIull\ the
lem oI d\namic changes in pro-
stud\ will suggest useIul meth-
lactin in the blood possibl\ due
ods in the diagnosis oI diseases.
to inaccurate diagnosis. ,t is diI-
May 2016
13
3
13
Study
A PhD Student Probes Groundwater and
Aflaj Water in Northern Oman
Researchers Irom the
had started at a conIerence held
a 24-hour mission was initiated
sen the Sharqia Sands being an
:ater Research &enter and &ol-
in the U.S. and attended b\ del-
in /.$. then pursued in 0uscat
ideal region Ior the proMect as it
lege oI $gricultural and 0arine
egates Irom some $rab coun-
and ¿nall\ in Rabat.
is characterized with a h\per-arid
Sciences at S4U are undertak-
tries which haYe the potential
+e carried on ³This is a Yer\
enYironment and minimal rain-
ing a proMect aimed at deYelop-
to detect groundwater such as
important proMect. :e are able
Iall rates. This makes the area
ing technolog\ to probe ground-
2man. The participants agreed
to map with our technolog\ the
eas\ Ior radar mapping and sub-
water b\ radar in 2man. The
to e[plore radar capabilit\ Ior
ground deIormation associated
sequent detection oI aquiIers and
U.S.-Iunded Yenture is in collaboration with the &aliIornia ,nstitute oI Technolog\
&altech and the -et 3ropulsion /aborator\ -3/ in 3asadena.
Essam Heggy: Oman has geological
formations similar to those on Mars
The scientist pointed out that
the proMect was launched
two \ears ago. The team has
alread\ done the ground mapping but is \et to do the aerial
,n his remarks to Tawasul 'r.
this purpose he added. 0uscat
with the water table at depth Yari-
imaging aIter coordinating with
(ssam +egg\ a 1$S$ scien-
Rabat and /.$. were chosen as
ations ranging between 20-60m.´
the competent authorities in the
tist said the idea oI the proMect
the sites oI the proMect whereb\
+e added that the team had cho-
Sultanate he stated.
Researchers conduct an experiment in the Sharqiya Sands
14
4
141
their reserYoirs.
May 2016
Research is a Profitable
Investment
Visions
Dr. Rahma Al-Mahrouqi - Deputy ViceChancellor for Postgraduate Studies & Research
Essam Heggy conducting an experiment
$s Ior the maMor ¿ndings he said the team managed
to map the aquiIer in the Sharqia Sands at 40-50m
deep. This was Yeri¿ed in the ¿eld as well.
$ccording to 'r. +egg\ the radar mapping oI a
small area in the Sharqia Sands has shown that the
segment has the same Ieatures as those oI a site on
0ars that 1$S$ had alread\ inYestigated. 2man¶s
desert is rich in geological Iormations which are
similar to those on 0ars he remarked. Such results
will help the team in deYeloping technical standards
such as Irequencies and radiation Iorces Ior designing the technolog\ required Ior mapping and detecting water on 0ars b\ satellite imaging he said.
³:hat we are doing in 2man is a simulation oI satellite mapping oI the (arth and 0ars.´
+e underlined the signi¿cance oI such a proMect Ior
the people in the region since the current equipment
oI water mapping is not eI¿cient. +ence the team is
working to improYe water mapping b\ using better
and more recent technolog\.
+egg\ concluded his statement b\ praising S4U
collaboration ³S4U 'r. $li $l-0aktoumi the team
head and the 0inistr\ oI Regional 0unicipalities
and :ater Resources haYe made important scienti¿c contributions speci¿call\ in data anal\sis and
water mapping. , would like to e[press m\ utmost
gratitude to the UniYersit\ and the 0inistr\ Ior their
huge support Ior the proMect and Ior the scienti¿c
and practical eIIorts the\ haYe made during all the
stages oI the proMect. , should sa\ here that S4U and
other releYant agencies in 2man are reall\ passionate about scienti¿c research.´
+umanit\ has had a long and eYentIul histor\. :hen we look closel\ at the literature across the centuries we realize that people would haYe had no chance Ior
surYiYal had the\ not utilized what *od had endowed them with. The\ were giYen
sensor\ mental intellectual and cognitiYe abilities to perceiYe the uniYerse and
interpret its diYerse natural and disparate phenomena in an inIormed conscious
and meticulous wa\. The\ haYe managed to understand and deduce patterns oI
eYents goYerned b\ laws which were used to deYelop principles enabling them to
Ioresee the Iuture. $ccordingl\ the\ were able to surYiYe and their communities
Àourished. Those qualities oI obserYation induction and deduction are the Ioundations oI scienti¿c thinking in its most Iundamental sense. Scienti¿c thinking began
to take shape and Iollow a s\stematic approach with the deYelopment oI social and
philosophical thought when 3lato Socrates and $ristotle laid the Ioundations oI
western philosoph\ and science with schools oI thought that encouraged ideal
pragmatic and realistic wa\s oI thinking.
Then came the 0uslim scholars who built on the knowledge produced b\ the
*reeks Romans and 3ersians. ,t was during the ,slamic era that science-based logical thinking and methodolog\ started to take an unprecedented Iorm. That era witnessed the great deYelopment oI empirical and scienti¿c approaches which became
prominent in those scholars¶ e[periments manuscripts schools and mosques that
were a beacon oI knowledge Ior the whole world. Thus it was knowledge based on
scienti¿c methodolog\ that made ,slamic ciYilization the predecessor oI later deYelopments; it was 0uslim knowledge and scienti¿c discoYeries that helped build
(urope¶s ciYilization during the Renaissance and later the ,ndustrial ReYolution
thereb\ allowing (uropeans to leaYe behind the ignorance and poYert\ oI the past..
$s the (uropeans realized the importance oI scienti¿c methodolog\ in the stud\ oI
phenomena and the economic social and industrial challenges Iacing their societies the\ Iocused on scienti¿c research b\ establishing research laboratories Iacilities centers and uniYersities. 1ow because oI the ¿ndings and applications oI such
research the\ made tremendous adYances across Yarious industries which enabled
them to deYelop into adYanced industrial societies thus becoming the world¶s richest countries. /ater the United States went on to become a technological and industrial superpower with considerable impact on the course oI eYents in the world.
&apitalizing on research is alwa\s pro¿table. ,I research was merel\ some kind oI
lu[ur\ the adYanced nations would not continue to spend Iortunes on science. Take
Ior e[ample countries like 0ala\sia South .orea &hina and Singapore which
haYe spent billions oI dollars on research and are subsequentl\ no longer considered
part oI the 'eYeloping :orld. The\ haYe now gained global recognition in industrial and technological ¿elds and enMo\ their share oI the wealth oI nations.
Research remains a pro¿table inYestment eYen in times oI economic crises; indeed
research is eYen more important during these times because it oIIers a wa\ out oI
those crises. $ccordingl\ research eIIorts should be intensi¿ed to identiI\ inYestment opportunities and a sustainable path Ior deYelopment that sets Iuture plans
built on solid Ioundations that incorporate preYious knowledge and current obserYations in order to moYe Iorward. 'uring economic crises diIIerent communit\
organizations in both the public and priYate sectors should Moin Iorces to support
research in institutions oI higher education Ior the common interests oI companies the labor market and other educational ciYil and industrial sectors. Through
this integration between sectors it becomes possible to identiI\ research priorities
as de¿ned b\ stakeholder needs. Such needs can then be addressed b\ s\stematic
stud\ and research in order to achieYe results that lead to eIIectiYe solutions.
May 2016
15
5
15
Feature
The
Gap Between
Theory
and
Practice
Neglected Studies on the Shelves
Academics identify the reasons
and suggest solutions
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1616
May 2016
do with the reluctance among
eral problems in the educational
some academics to conduct Moint
sector. There is little awareness
to document education-Iocused
'ean Ior 3ostgraduate Studies
research proMects.´
among educators about research
studies.´
and Research at the &ollege oI
+e went on to suggest ³$ ke\
results and a lack oI cooperation
$l-Rab¶ani clari¿ed ³$ll par-
ing and the lack oI a database
(ducation reÀected on the obsta-
solution is to consolidate links
between researchers and educa-
ties are responsible Ior this situ-
cles preYenting the implementa-
between
e[ecutiYe
tional institutions as well as the
ation speci¿call\ those in charge
tion oI educational studies ³2ne
authorities and decision-makers
concerns oI those in the educa-
oI decision-making. The applica-
oI the maMor Iactors is the com-
b\ creating specialized centers
mon belieI oI man\ people that
Ior strategic research that inter-
research is a matter oI µlu[ur\¶
link diIIerent agencies to address
which is not important Ior social
educational issues and submit
deYelopment. $lso there is little
releYant recommendations. This
collaboration or communication
is the case in deYeloped coun-
between academics and educa-
tries.´
tors in the ¿eld. For e[ample it is
rare to see ministries or compa-
7he researcher or concerned
parties?
tion sector that the latter might
tion oI research results requires
nies proYiding Iunding to applied
'r. $hmed $l-Rab¶ani $ssoci-
become a ¿eld Ior e[perimenta-
reaching out to researchers in
tion without the required num-
order to bene¿t more Irom their
ber oI workshops to e[plain how
work. ,t is not diI¿cult to estab-
to make use oI research ¿nd-
lish such links among diIIerent
ings.´
parties in the educational sector
+e Iurther went on ³There are
and academic institutions.´
seYeral reasons behind such
$s Ior the solutions he sug-
academia
Dr. Al-Rab’ani:
Funding should be geared
to research that offers
innovative solutions
Feature
/acN oI Ioundation
'r. 2man +amad $ssistant
Dr. Hamad:
Better collaboration should
exist between academia,
executive authorities and
decision-makers
problems. Some oI them haYe to
gested ³Research proMects on
do with the diIIerences oI opin-
education which are Iunded b\
studies or taking adYantage oI
ate 3roIessor in the 'epartment
ion between researchers and edu-
S4U or The Research &oun-
research ¿ndings or recommen-
oI &urriculum and ,nstruction
cators in the ¿eld on how to solYe
cil TR& should be oriented
dations. $nother Iactor has to
had this to sa\ ³There are seY-
such problems insuI¿cient Iund-
towards a speci¿c goal namel\
May 2016
17
17
Feature
to deYelop innoYatiYe and prac-
'r.
tical solutions. Unlike descrip-
ate 3roIessor in the 3s\chol-
tiYe studies which are more
og\ 'epartment obserYed that
concerned with the theoretical
³The bulk oI research studies
aspects innoYatiYe research is
are based on isolated indiYidual
what is needed these da\s. Fur-
eIIorts rather than well inIormed
ther researchers need to know
strategies in this regard. ,t is Yer\
what kind oI studies should be
oIten then that the main pur-
prioritized in the educational
pose oI such research is merel\
no coordination between the two
bridge the gap between academ-
sector. :orkshops and semi-
publication in a Mournal rather
sides; researchers ma\ not be
ics and educational organiza-
nars should be held in coordina-
than the application oI its results
aware oI such needs and deci-
tions.´
tion with researchers and educa-
Ior practical proMects. , can also
sion-makers ma\ not trust the
+e carried on ³$ possible wa\
tional organizations to e[pand
assume that research conducted
abilities oI academics to address
to take on such challenges is to
the scope oI the application oI
b\ academic institutions does not
real issues.´
raise awareness oI the signi¿-
research ¿ndings.´
meet the needs oI the educational
,n order to oYercome this situ-
cance oI research and its role in
sector simpl\ because there is
ation he suggested that ³The
deYeloping the countr\. *ener-
solutions lie in deYeloping a
all\ there is little attention giYen
national strateg\ Ior research
to research in our societ\ at Yar-
superYised b\ TR& so that the
ious leYels and in diIIerent sec-
studies will mainl\ address the
tors including among some top
needs oI public institutions b\
decision-makers who ma\ not
suggesting solutions to oYer-
take into account the ¿ndings
come problems. :e should also
reached b\ diIIerent research
aYoid replication oI research and
studies. ThereIore it is oI para-
$ppreciatinJ research
Dr. Al-Mousawi:
Researchers should be
conscious of implementing
research findings in the
educational field
1818
May 2016
Said $l-'haIri $ssoci-
Dr. Al-Dhafri:
We need a national
strategy for research
and other oI¿cials haYe no idea
Iocus the signi¿cance oI research
about such results or ma\be
proMects Ior the progress and
the\ don¶t eYaluate them highl\
deYelopment oI the countr\.´
enough. 2ther reasons haYe to
'r. $l-'haIri pointed out that
do with the rigid rules and regu-
there was one strategic research
lations that block the translation
Feature
mount importance to bring to
Dr. Amer:
There should be agencies
specialized in marketing
research results
proMect which was oI national
oI research results into concrete
importance as it was designed
actions. 2ne incident is worth
to address a speci¿c problem
mentioning here. ,n 1992 a num-
was a case oI too little too late.´
research
budgets
should
be
in coordination with a speci¿c
ber oI scienti¿c studies includ-
+e attributed the reasons wh\
increased in order to ensure posi-
stakeholder. +e also reIerred to
ing an M.Sc. thesis submitted
some research ¿ndings are inap-
tiYe social and economic reY-
the social obserYator\ adding
at the &ollege oI Science at $l
plicable to the nature oI some
enues to compete with other
that such proMects are part oI the
$zhar UniYersit\ predicted an
studies in terms oI themes rel-
regional and global institutions.
strategic research programs run
earthquake and identi¿ed its epi-
eYance signi¿cance and appli-
Specialized agencies should be
b\ a committee headed b\ +.(.
center. +oweYer the thesis like
cabilit\ oI their conclusions.
in place to market research ¿nd-
'r. <ah\a $l-0a¶wali Under-
other such manuscripts was put
2ther Iactors ma\ be related to
ings and awareness should be
secretar\ oI Social 'eYelopment.
on the shelYes. 2n 12th 2ctober
the researcher¶s choice oI topic
raised in both public and pri-
E-solutions
1992 a disastrous quake struck
and Iunding. Some researchers
Yate sectors about the short- and
'r. $li $l-0ousawi $ssociate
and the dissertation¶s recommen-
ma\ not make the eIIort and seek
long-term strategic signi¿cance
3roIessor in the 'epartment oI
dations made headlines in the
sources oI Iunding.
oI scienti¿c applications Ior the
,nstructional and /earning Tech-
press which took to task those
'r. $mer concluded his remarks
progress and deYelopment oI the
nologies
complained
oI¿cials who had Must ignored
b\ putting Iorward some solu-
Sultanate.´
that the problem lies in the Iact
the whole thing. UnIortunatel\ it
tions ³, belieYe the allocated
',/T
that some studies are either
inaccessible Ior researchers
or their ¿ndings cannot be
applied due to the lack oI competence oI some practitioners. +e called on researchers
to haYe a better understanding oI the education conte[t
in which certain recommendations might be applied. +e
reIerred to a recent initiatiYe
taken at the &ollege oI (ducation whereb\ the librar\
uploads ke\ sections oI some
studies online so that the\ are
accessible to eYer\one.
InsuI¿cient IundinJ
'r. Talal $mer $ssistant 3roIessor in the ',/T raised the
issue oI lack oI resources allocated Ior research ³,n $rab
countries researchers Iace a
lot oI challenges related to the
lack oI inYestment in research
¿ndings. For e[amples some
decision-makers
planners
May 2016
19
19
News
The Harat Project: Documentation of Omani Vernacular settlements
Dr. Naima Benkari - College of Engineering
2mani Yernacular set-
adopted dur-
tigation were presented in a
tlements locall\ called Harat
ing the ¿eld-
report dedicated to each settle-
(sing. Harah are the material
work
ment. %esides the detailed docu-
witnesses oI the social histor\
a *eo-loca-
mentation oI the settlements and
oI this countr\ and the saYoir-
tion
their buildings and other com-
Iaire oI its people. These settle-
settlement¶s
ponents the report included a
ments are highl\ endangered due
components
proposal Ior an adequate saIe-
to their rapid desertion since the
and comple-
guard and management plan Ior
190›s. Recentl\ the abandoned
tion
its
the Harat. These eIIorts were
dwellings haYe been occupied
detailed la\-
designed in accordance with
out and leYels using theodolites
local regulations (+eritage /aw
and total stations.
and the international legislation
b $rchitectural surYe\s through
managing the protection oI and
measured sketches oI ortho-
interYention in the built heritage
graphic proMections (plans and
through the U1(S&2 and the
sections using measuring tape
,nternational &ouncil on Monu-
and laser meters.
ments and Sites (,&2M2S. ,n
b\ populations oI $sian workers. This has dramaticall\ accelerated the destruction and alteration oI these settlements. ,n order
to ensure the urgent documentation oI these sites beIore the\ all
Yanish the Ministr\ oI +eritage
and &ulture (M+& has initiated
the operation oI documenting the
most important and threatened
among these +arat.
This proMect was an opportunit\ Ior Sultan 4aboos UniYersit\ (S4U to cooperate with the
Ministr\ Ior the 3reserYation and
Re-use oI the 2mani 9ernacular +eritage. $ team Irom the
'epartment oI &iYil and $rchi-
tectural (ngineering ('&$(
&ollege oI (ngineering headed
b\ 'r. 1aima %enkari has documented Iour settlements +arat
$l-.habt and its Iort (:ila\at
$l-.haboora
+arat
4asra
(:ila\ah oI Rustaq +uMrat
Musalmat (:adi $l-Ma›awil
and +arat SaiMa (:ila\ah oI
Sama¶il.
The team which also included
'&$( students has concentrated
primaril\ on identiI\ing the main
structures oI interest establishing a documentation conYention in accordance with national
and international guidelines and
procedures. The Iollowing ke\
documentation approaches were
oI
oI
the
Semi-structured interYiews
2015 the +arat documentation
with owners residents and other
proMect won the 3rince Sultan
stakeholders in the settlements
%in Salman $ward Ior research
which were recorded using audio
on the built heritage. ,t was also
and Yideo recorders.
Ieatured in a poster during the
d $n e[tensiYe photographic
,&2M2S *eneral $ssembl\ and
documentation oI each dwell-
50th anniYersar\ celebrations in
ing included its general Yiews
Fukuoka -apan. Three students
as well as the signi¿cant details
among the team members were
and obMects it contains.
recruited b\ the M+& aIter their
The results oI this detailed inYes-
graduation.
c
A Research Device < A Nanocluster System >
20
0
202
Sultan 4aboos UniYersit\ has
ultra¿ne particles are oIten reIerred
dedicated all resources to haYe research
to as nanocr\stals. 1anopowders are
equipment in place which contribute to
agglomerates oI ultra¿ne particles nan-
the adYancement oI research and stream-
oparticles or nanoclusters. There are
lining oI scienti¿c actiYities. 2ne oI the
man\ potential applications oI this in the
important deYices is a nanocluster s\s-
¿elds oI bio-medicine optics and elec-
tem which has at least one dimension
tronics. The s\stem can produce nano-
between 1 and 10 nanometers and a
clusters oI Yarious sizes ranging Irom
narrow size distribution. 1anometer-
10 atoms to 100000 atoms oI diIIerent
sized single cr\stals or single-domain
materials.
May 2016
Nanocluster system received from the Mantis Deposition Company
The :ater Research
some 30 papers Ior publication in
resources
&enter at S4U recentl\ organ-
reIereed Mournals another 40 to
Iacing
ized an international conIer-
60 to appear in a book and 300
tion which is
ence on :ater Resources in $rid
abstracts to be published b\ S4U
attributed
areas The :a\ Forward under
in a book oI abstracts.
low
the auspices oI +.(. $hmed bin
The conIerence included nine
tion and high
$bdullah $l-Shihhi Minister
scienti¿c sessions entitled :ater
eYaporation
oI Regional Municipalities and
Management and +\drological
rates. The water
:ater Resources.
S\stems Flash Flood and (ro-
budget
The conIerence discussed water
sion in high-risk $reas :ater
in arid regions
resources in arid areas and their
,nYestment in Rural $reas ,rri-
the high cost oI
problems wa\s to tackle water
gation Management Technolog\
water
pollution
goYernance
and &ost Rain :ater Manage-
the
economic and social aspects oI
ment ,rrigation Management
need Ior Iood
water drought policies inno-
&limate and +\drolog\ :ater
and associated energ\ Yalues
Yation and technolog\ to cope
4ualit\ and $griculture and
among other challenges all need
with water scarcit\ and drought
:ater &onserYation and $gricul-
to be scienti¿call\ addressed
water resource management Ior
ture. ,n his opening speech 'r.
to ¿nd solutions to the world¶s
the control oI drought integrated
2sman $bdalla 'irector oI the
current and Iuture water prob-
management oI water resources
:ater Research &entre said the
lems´ he said. 'eliYering his
in arid and semi-arid areas and
rising demand Ior water asso-
ke\note address on ³:ater &hal-
the conserYation oI water.
ciated with population growth
lenges and Unintended &onse-
Some 320 abstracts and oYer 200
water intensiYe diets and rising
quences oI 'eYelopment in $rid
research papers were submitted
liYing standards are increasing
Regions´ 'r. .aYeh Madani
at the conIerence. $ scienti¿c
the pressure on water resources.
Senior /ecturer in (nYironmen-
committee reYiewed the papers
³The situation is much worse
tal Management at the ,mperial
and an editorial board considered
in arid regions where natural
&ollege /ondon stressed the
water
Research Centers
Water Research Center holds international conference
are
depleto
precipita-
de¿cit
suppl\
essential
WRC Director addresses the conference
need Ior a holistic understanding oI water resource s\stems as
a Yital prerequisite Ior strategic
decision making in water management. +e argued that promoting regional Iarming cooperatiYes and water management
institutions and increasing water
and energ\ prices together with
technological improYements to
preYent socioeconomic pressure
on rural and Iarmer communities would help meet water challenges in the world.
Enhancing a poultry farm sewage station
The $l SaIa poultr\ Iarm in
priate s\stem Ior treating waste-
UnIortunatel\ the cost oI haYing
wise. ThereIore the researcher
Thumrait has recentl\ witnessed
water which is generated on the
a wastewater treatment sludge
is working on what he calls ³an
e[pansion plans which are likel\
Iarm and reusing it in an enYi-
stimulant plant is relatiYel\ high
innoYatiYe and cheap solution´
to haYe a negatiYe impact on
ronmentall\
although an ideal solution other-
Iriendl\
manner.
Ior the problem oI drainage and
the sewage station there and
gra\ water treatment on the Iarm.
thus requires urgent action to
,t is worth mentioning that Sul-
update its inIrastructure. For this
tan 4aboos UniYersit\ has con-
purpose 'r. Mushtaq $hmad
ducted seYeral e[periments using
Irom the (nYironmental Stud-
alternatiYe s\stems oI sewage
ies and Research &enter is cur-
and gra\ water treatment includ-
rentl\ embarking on a proMect to
ing chemical ph\sical and bio-
deYelop the station. Speci¿call\
logical ones some oI which can
he is seeking to recommend an
be applied with a little adMust-
economicall\ Ieasible and appro-
ment to solYe this problem.
May 2016
21
1
21
Study
A study assesses the economic feasibility of treated
wastewater
Dr. Ali Khamis Al-Maktoumi - College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences
:ater scarcit\ is a big chal-
United States Singapore -ordan
time to e[pand the use oI treated
$ccording to the action plan
lenge Ior man\ countries that
haYe put in place appropriate leg-
water ± especiall\ since most oI
three studies were carried out to
haYe low rainIall rates. The Sul-
islations Ior classiI\ing possi-
the treatment operations in 2man
inYestigate the qualit\ oI ground-
tanate Ior e[ample has an esti-
ble uses oI treated water which
are three-phase processes ± Irom
water. The team has come up
mated annual water de¿cit oI 316
requires diIIerent leYels oI treat-
onl\ landscape irrigation and
with important ¿ndings said 'r.
million cubic meters which is
ment processes. The\ haYe made
aIIorestation oI cities to other
$l-Maktoumi. Modeling results
e[pected to increase due to pop-
potential risk assessments and
uses in agriculture construction
oI $l $nsab :etland aquiIers
ulation growth increased eco-
established appropriate checks
saline groundwater reserYoirs
showed that managed aquiIer
nomic and agricultural actiYities
and regulations. ,n reYiewing
ciYil deIense and other areas.¶
recharge (M$R using treated
and depletion oI natural water
the e[perience oI other coun-
The researcher pointed out that
water could act as a h\draulic
barrier against seawater intrusion in a
deYeloped
coastal
aquiIer (Samail lower
catchment i.e. S/&
characterized b\ oYerpumping
oI
Iresh
groundwater.
M$R
along the coastline oI
S/& helped to determine Ieasibilit\ and
increase the abstraction Yolume oI pristine
Researchers at the Zarqa river basin in Jordan
groundwater
3-Iold
compared to the current abstraction.
22
2
222
resources especiall\ non-renew-
tries it was Iound that the\ haYe
the proMect launched in 2014
The anal\sis oI the results has
able ones.
achieYed great success in the re-
lasted Ior 1 months according
shown that the designed man-
,n this regard an S4U research
use oI treated wastewater as bot-
to the agreement with the Iunding
agement oI the aquiIer would
team has conducted a new stud\
tled drinking water as in Sin-
sources. The work concentrated
produce an annual net bene¿t
on water treatment applications
gapore or being inMected into
on seYeral issues including anal-
ranging Irom R2 10-12 million
and management and risk assess-
underground reserYoirs that are
\ses oI groundwater d\namics oI
iI 4000-5000 m3 oI wastewa-
ment. The group was headed b\
used Ior the drinking water sup-
the inMected treated water in diI-
ter was inMected on a dail\ basis
'r. $li .hamis $l-Maktoumi
pl\ and Ior agricultural produc-
Ierent the groundwater s\stems
which is a Yer\ small amount oI
Irom the Soil :ater and $gri-
tion as in $ustralia or Ior use in
using both anal\tical and numer-
water. This anal\sis was based
cultural
'epart-
manuIacturing as in Singapore
ical modeling approaches along
on h\drogeological modeling
ment &$MS. The stud\ has
apart Irom the wide uses in agri-
with ¿eld measurements oI both
and demonstrated that M$R
been Iunded b\ the US goYern-
culture in man\ other countries.´
groundwater and surIace water
using treated water is a Ieasible
ment and is in partnership with
+e added µThe Sultanate has
characteristics critical Ior deYel-
solution Ior the deYelopment oI
the UniYersit\ oI -ordan and the
recentl\ built the inIrastructure
opment oI concepts models
water resources in arid regions.
UniYersit\ oI 1ebraska.
oI a drainage s\stem through
anal\ses oI Yarious management
,t was Iound that M$R could
ReÀecting on his research 'r.
large inYestments in order to
scenarios and recommendations
signi¿cantl\ help in managing
$l-Maktoumi
³Man\
proYide water resources and
oI the conMunctiYe use oI water
stressed aquiIer s\stems in arid
countries such as $ustralia the
preserYe the enYironment. ,t is
resources in arid catchments.
zones to ma[imize the bene¿t oI
(ngineering
May 2016
said
Microscope
using water Ior domestic purposes and minimize
damage to the aquiIer resources and water qualit\.
'r. $l-Maktoumi also talked about the part oI
research conducted in -ordan. +e said that the
groundwater Àow model Ior the =arqa RiYer basin
Magnesium: The Healing
Treasure on the Omani
Coastline
'r. -umana Saleh - %iochemistry 'epartment
was deYeloped and used to predict changes in
aquiIers and streams under a set oI diIIerent sce-
Throughout histor\ human beings haYe liYed around oceans and riYers where the
narios oI the conMunctiYe use oI surIace water and
soil is rich in magnesium. Sea water has three times more magnesium than calcium.
groundwater. These scenarios inYestigated pro-
,n modern times the magnesium content oI plant and animal meat has become lower
gressiYe changes in treated water discharge rates.
due to depleted soil conditions and water puri¿cation b\ chemicals (such as chlorine
Such scenarios sought to understand the aquiIer
that bind magnesium. &aIIeine and sugar intake and stress also deplete magnesium
response to increased treated water discharge into
in the human bod\.
the =arqa RiYer increased groundwater e[trac-
Magnesium de¿cienc\ has become a worldwide problem which is largel\ oYerlooked.
tion Irom irrigation wells and potential reduction
More than 0 oI human beings are magnesium de¿cient. Magnesium is an essential
oI groundwater e[traction in case oI water qualit\
maMor mineral inYolYed in more than 300 regulator\ enz\me s\stems responsible Ior
deterioration. The work started in the =arqa RiYer
a wide arra\ oI biological Iunctions that control muscles nerYes genes and energ\
Yalle\. :hen 110 million m3 oI treated water was
production. &alcium is also an essential mineral; howeYer calcium is e[cessiYel\
discharged into the riYer the aquiIer water leYel
consumed through dair\ products processed Ioods and supplements. Scientists sug-
recoYered with about 29 m. This is an important
gest that the calcium magnesium consumption ratio should be kept at an ideal leYel
achieYement which was welcomed b\ e[perts
oI 11 (00 milligrams oI each dail\. ,ncreased calcium leYels compromise this bal-
and could be replicated in the Sultanate.
ance causing the calci¿cation oI tissues arteries and largel\ aIIecting neural Iunction.
+e added ³The simulated scenarios highlighted
Magnesium acts as a guard that controls calcium uptake and Iunction. ,t stimulates
the signi¿cant role oI releasing treated water in
hormones that draw calcium Irom muscles and soIt tissues into the bones lower-
recharging the aquiIer maintaining Àow in the
ing the risk oI heart disease osteoporosis arthritis and kidne\ stones. +eadaches
stream and increasing the aYailabilit\ oI water in
insomnia an[iet\ restlessness panic attacks numbness/tingling heart palpitations/
the =arqa RiYer Yalle\ that allows Ior the e[pan-
arrh\thmias high blood pressure and diabetes are also linked to magnesium de¿-
sion oI Iarming actiYities. &alculation oI the opti-
cienc\. MaMor health studies Iound that magnesium intake correlated with a lower risk
mal abstraction rates oI water Ior irrigation that
oI coronar\ heart disease. $ +arYard stud\ oI oYer 0000 people Iound that people
would induce minimum damage to the aquiIer
with the highest magnesium intake had the healthiest blood pressure Yalues. $maz-
and the riYer in general is enYisioned but is not
ingl\ also a meta-anal\sis oI aYailable studies showed a dose-dependent reduction
addressed in this work b\ speci¿c modeling sce-
oI blood pressure with magnesium supplementation. 'r. &arol\n 'ean the author
narios.´
oI the ©Magnesium Miracleª highlighted that hormonal changes in women largel\
$s Ior the recommendations the researcher sug-
aIIect magnesium leYels linked to leg cramps and muscular complaints. The link oI
gested that quantitatiYe assessment oI groundwa-
magnesium de¿cienc\ to mental health is e[plained b\ the oYer-e[citation oI neurons
ter recharge under M$R conditions could proYide
b\ calcium and glutamate. 'r. Mark +\man calls magnesium the ultimate rela[ation
ke\ inIormation Ior Iuture water resources man-
mineral Ior bod\ and mind contributing to restIul sleep. 'r. 1orman Sheal\ a neu-
agement plans b\ 2mani institutions such as the
rosurgeon and a pioneer in pain medicine described magnesium as the most critical
Ministr\ oI Regional Municipalities and :ater
mineral required Ior the electrical stabilit\ oI cells and goes Iurther to sa\ that mag-
Resources Ministr\ oI (nYironment and &li-
nesium de¿cienc\ ma\ be a leading cause oI diseases in modern times.
mate $IIairs +a\a :ater and Salalah wastewater
Fortunatel\ magnesium de¿cienc\ is easil\ resolYed with magnesium supplementa-
treatment compan\. 1ational guidelines Ior using
tion. +oweYer when taken orall\ onl\ 20-55 is absorbed and can cause digestiYe
treated water in Yarious ¿elds such as agriculture
disturbances or stress to the kidne\s. Fortunatel\ topical magnesium is a great alter-
were also recommended in the light oI current
natiYe. Magnesium spra\ed on the skin is absorbed eI¿cientl\ into the bloodstream
operating standards. $ tentatiYe treated water pro-
b\passing the kidne\s. Transdermal ©across the skin´ magnesium is highl\ absor-
Mect should be launched in Iarms in coordination
bent compared to other maMor minerals raising intracellular magnesium leYels signi¿-
with Iarmers so as to raise their awareness oI this
cantl\. This method is comparable to soaking in an (psom Salt bath. /uckil\ 2man
important application.
is blessed with a Yast coastal stretch that keeps this good old Iriend within reach. %\
taking a plunge in the rich sea water or simpl\ soaking their Ieet in it 2manis could
reclaim the bene¿ts oI this might\ mineral.
May 2016
23
3
23
Creativity
The First Chairman of a Student Group for Innovation
He believed he could add something new to the world of innovation, working harder and harder throughout his career as
a student, which culminated in chairing the first student group concerned with innovation at Sultan Qaboos University.
Finally, he did it, reaping the fruits of his labour. He is Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Saidi, a graduate of electrical engineering,
from the College of Engineering, and currently serving as CEO of Nafath for Renewable Energy. Interviewed by Tawasul,
he made the following remarks on several themes.
7he beJinninJ
in charge oI the ,nnoYation and
members made real eIIorts to get
not been Iormulated properl\ \et
(ntrepreneurship
'epartment
the message across about their
in 2mani societ\ as there are a
innoYation ©,nnoYation is asso-
(,(' and asked her iI , could be
role. 1ow we can sa\ that our
Iew gaps that need to be bridged.
ciated with m\ ¿eld oI electrical
part oI the ¿rst group team. She
group has gained the position it
The conYersion oI innoYations
engineering and aIter stud\ing
welcomed the idea so we started
deserYes.´
into products requires a lot oI
electronics and soItware , Iound
to Iorm the group and selected a
m\selI passionate about innoYa-
chairperson. %eing at the
$l-Saidi talked about his debut in
able in the Sultanate. ,t needs
resources which are not aYail-
tion; so , continued m\ adYen-
head oI the team gaYe
the UniYersit\ in general
technical and ¿nancial support
ture taking courses participat-
me a lot oI e[perience
and the ,(' in particular
and incubators Ior research-
ing in conIerences and keeping
as it opened up Ior me new
in promoting innoYation
ers and deYelopers to be able
abreast oI adYances in new tech-
horizons in the world
he said ©, reall\ see
to deYelop an idea into a prod-
nolog\.´
oI innoYation intel-
the 'epartment as a
uct and stud\ its Ieasibilit\ as a
$s Ior his inYentions he said
lectual
propert\
beacon Ior students
commercialized product. This
©$ll the innoYations were the
entrepreneurship
guiding them to ben-
includes new products or a ser-
outcome oI team work which
and learning how
e¿t Irom innoYatiYe
Yice Ior an earlier product which
included doing much research
to translate ideas
discoYeries. The Uni-
has been deYeloped; aIter pass-
and deYelopment. The\ include
into proMects.ª
Yersit\ has taken bold
ing the economic Ieasibilit\ oI
steps on the road to
the product there is the proto-
a coIIee robot an electrical car
and an automatic dust cleaning s\stem Ior photoYoltaic
panels.´
Student Group
Speaking about his e[perience as the head oI the stu-
ChallenJes
Abdullah Al-Saidi to Tawasul:
Converting innovations into products
requires resources
t\pe
manuIacturing
stage
and so Iar we don¶t haYe such
manuIacturing techniques in
the Sultanate. Then we would
go on to haYe the e[perimental product in the market and
dent group he said ©, had heard
2n the diI¿culties he Iaced in his
innoYation and entrepreneurship
ne[t the ¿nal product would
that a student group Ior innoYa-
career and how he managed to
but there is much \et to be done
be launched. (Yer\ innoYatiYe
tion was being planned so , went
oYercome them $l-Saidi stated
in the Sultanate and the region.
product has a liIe c\cle.ª
straight to Sheikha $l-$khzami
©The biggest challenges were
:e e[pect more innoYatiYe prod-
7ips
how to keep the
ucts in the local and global mar-
$bdullah $l-Saidi concluded his
group on the right
kets. ThereIore the UniYersit\ is
remarks b\ calling on the 2mani
track oI innoYa-
e[pected to proYide support Ior
\outh to delYe into the world oI
tion and entrepre-
the ,(' and thus enhance the
innoYation and discoYer\ tak-
neurship and make
abilities oI the \outh in deYelop-
ing risks standing up to the
it
ing human resources.´
challenges and generating new
May 2016
Yisible.
Some
Productivity
knowledge in order to serYe soci-
the group a magi-
+e reÀected on the process oI
et\ and contribute to the deYel-
cal solution or a
conYerting innoYatiYe ideas into
opment plans in the Sultanate.
Iunding source Ior
products sa\ing ©, think that
³The world oI innoYation is Iull
innoYators but the
the concept oI innoYation has
oI risks but also Iull oI Iun.´
had
24
4
242
Roles
&ommenting on the role oI
considered
Innovation
Under the slogan: digital creativity: Culture reimagined …
The world marks WIP Day
Insufficient digital measures jeopardize the creativity industry
Sheikha Nasser Al Akhzami - Deputy Director, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Department
:orld ,ntellectual 3ropert\
globe. This \ear¶s theme ³'igi-
lution creatiYit\ has traYelled
recorded b\ the satellite chan-
(:,3 'a\ is obserYed annuall\
tal &reatiYit\ &ulture Reimag-
spatiall\ to reach all parts oI the
nels in $rab and $sian countries.
on 26 $pril. The eYent is an occa-
ined´ is intended to shed light on
world.
,n contrast the world oI games
sion to raise awareness oI how
the concrete and aesthetic aspects
+oweYer the growth oI the digi-
and
patents cop\right trademarks
oI digital creatiYit\ being no less
tal econom\ has been matched b\
seems immune against hackers
and designs impact dail\ liIe
important than other Iorms oI
the risks oI weak technological
due to the technical diI¿culties
and to celebrate creatiYit\ and
the arts such as sculpture paint-
measures as well as Yiolations
in the control panel whereb\ the
the contribution made b\ crea-
ing or photograph\. ,ndeed it is
oI the intellectual propert\ (,3
games industr\ has deYeloped a
tors and innoYators to the deYel-
sometimes considered as a sub-
rights oI digital creators. 'igital
model Ior a pirac\-resistant busi-
opment oI societies across the
t\pe oI such arts e.g. digital
pirac\ is a threat to two impor-
ness through monthl\ subscrip-
painting digital photograph\.
tant sectors the creatiYit\ indus-
tions and the Ieature oI Yalue-
The Yarious tools oI digital tech-
tr\ or orange econom\ oI moY-
added serYice Ior the customer.
nologies haYe crossed spatial
ies music publishing the games
ThereIore the ,3 s\stem must
boundaries and Iacilitated access
industr\ radio and teleYision
ensure a balance between pro-
to cultural e[pressions in a wa\
architectural
Iashion
Yiding protection Ior stakehold-
that has contributed to cross-
designing adYertising etc. and
ers to encourage them towards
cultural interaction. The\ haYe
the cultural industr\ oI emplo\-
creatiYit\ and the aYailabilit\ oI
stoked the creatiYe Iantasies oI
ing or mi[ing cultural e[pres-
such creatiYe works Ior a decent
artists who haYe produced works
sions in the arts. ,n 200 the rate
Iee Ior the creators. This \ear the
oI art rich in cultural diYersit\.
oI digital pirac\ oI Must music
world is celebrating digital crea-
This could be e[pressed through
was 9 through illegal down-
tors in recognition oI their work.
the plot oI a stor\ the words oI
loading and the highest percent-
The ,3 s\stem has to cope with
a song or the dialogue in a pla\.
age oI unlicensed re-broadcast
the challenges oI this new world
,n the midst oI this digital reYo-
oI programs was unIortunatel\
oI digital creatiYit\.
design
entertainment
programs
Patent Search and Analysis Facilitation Cell
The $cademic ,nnoYa-
building in the conte[t oI S4U
process and petroleum engineer-
tion $ssistance 3rogram ($,$3
and the Sultanate oI 2man. The
ing nanotechnolog\ agricultural
has introduced a series oI train-
practical and pragmatic approach
ing courses Ior members selected
includes implementation oI the
Irom diIIerent ¿elds and col-
patent search and anal\sis pro-
leges to create a 3atent Search
cess b\ working on liYe cases
and $nal\sis Facilitation &ell.
and simultaneousl\ deYeloping
The aim oI this cell is to pro-
the capacit\ oI the 3atent Search
Yide the S4U communit\ Yalue
and $nal\sis &ell.
added patent search and anal\sis
The &ell members include rep-
assistance in research ideation
resentatiYes Irom diIIerent tech-
and proposal writing Ior Ios-
nological ¿elds in biotechnol-
tering innoYation and capacit\
og\
mechanical
engineering
technolog\ and medicine.
At a training course
May 2016
25
5
25
s­††††††††´ä
Conferences
Omani medical experts participate in an international
event in Italy
$ number oI S4U +ospital ph\-
and diseases oI cardioYascular
mechanism oI genetic inherit-
Statin can reduce cholesterol
sicians and &ollege oI Medicine
agents. +e reYiewed man\ treat-
ance calculation b\ using the t\p-
and harmIul Iatt\ proteins to leY-
and +ealth Sciences academics
ment options to control obesit\
ical change oI Iat in indiYiduals
els oI up to 0.
took part in the 4th ,nternational
through nutrition medication
per Iamil\. +e said that the anal-
The ¿nal paper presented b\ 'r.
&onIerence on 3reh\pertension
and surgical methods oI ph\sical
\ses oI his results haYe shown
Mohammed $l-$bri dealt with
+\pertension and &ardio Met-
behaYior.
that about 40 oI the change in
the relationship between sleep
abolic S\ndrome which took
'r. .halid $l-:aili in his paper
blood trigl\ceride leYels are due
disorders and cardioYascular dis-
place in 9enice ,tal\ Irom 3-6
2YerYiew oI '\slipidemia Man-
to genetic Iactors. +e also men-
eases. +e managed to show some
March 2016.
agement in &ardio Metabolic
tioned the role oI some genetic
links between sleep disorders
The eYent was attended b\ a host
S\ndrome addressed the rela-
Iactors in inÀuencing trigl\cer-
on the one hand and the prob-
oI proIessionals and e[perts Irom
tionship oI lipid disorders to
ide leYels in males and Iemales.
lems oI obesit\ diabetes and the
heart disease and arteries and
'r. .halid $l-Rasadi discussed
metabolic s\ndrome. $ccording
patients with metabolic s\n-
touched on the t\pes oI Iat dis-
in his paper 1ew Therapeutic
to other studies 25 oI adults
drome and diabetes and con-
orders especiall\ in metabolism
2ptions to Treat $therogenic
also suIIer Irom the metabolic
cluded his paper with appropriate
and their causes. +e also touched
/ipoproteins the latest scienti¿c
s\ndrome. +e said there is a ten-
recommendations based on the
on the latest deYelopments in the
¿ndings in the treatment oI cho-
denc\ among man\ people to
latest steering s\stems oI interna-
treatment oI lipid disorders in the
lesterol and other harmIul low-
change their rest and sleep pat-
tional organizations in this ¿eld.
metabolic s\ndrome according
densit\ lipoproteins. +e pointed
terns due to the increasing use
'r. MustaIa $l-+inai presented
to the latest international recom-
to
between
oI modern technolog\ especiall\
an update on obesit\ manage-
mendations.
these lipoproteins harmIul dis-
the social media which aIIects
ment and its spread in recent
Further 'r. Fahad $l- =adMali
eases and atherosclerosis and
the human bod\¶s abilit\ to
decades which is a source oI
presented a paper on the herita-
their relation to the occurrence
digest and rec\cle nutrition ele-
concern to the :orld +ealth
bilit\ oI plasma trigl\cerides and
oI strokes and heart attack. 2ne
ments. $ll oI this causes metabolic diseases he concluded.
the U.S. &anada (urope and
the Middle (ast. The participation oI the 2mani team was supported b\ S4U and was the result
oI the eIIorts between the 2mani
$ssociation Ior Fats and $rteriosclerosis and the ,tal\-based
(urope-Middle (ast ,nstitute Ior
Science and Technolog\.
,n his paper 'r. .hamis Mohammed $l-+ashmi talked about
h\pertension
management
in
the cardio metabolic s\ndrome
and its preYalence in the Sultanate the Middle (ast and 1orth
$Irica. +e also touched on the
latest deYelopments in the treatment oI high blood pressure in
26
6
262
the
relationship
2rganization. 2besit\ is a poten-
the role oI adiponutrin. +e spoke
oI the latest group oI drugs that
tial risk in the deYelopment oI
about deYelopments in genetics
haYe been addressed are 3&S.9
high blood pressure diabetes
high blood trigl\cerides and the
inhibitors which in addition to
May 2016
Book
Book at a Glance
( Sultanate of Zanzibar in East Africa )
Book sheds light on an important period in the history of this Arab Muslim
Sultanate
The book,
ical and administrative situation in the Sultan-
segments of society. It also sheds light on the
Sultanate of
ate of Zanzibar under British occupation, and
important roles of the Zanzibar National Party
Zanzibar
in
describes the system of British rule and the
in the National Movement, Arab figures such
Africa
political developments that have occurred in
as Ali Mohsen al-Barwani and Saif bin Hmoud
1890-1964,
Zanzibar since 1913. It also addresses the Brit-
and Ahmed Al-Lamki, and other parties such
sheds
light
ish policies, emergence of sectarianism, the
as the Umma Party, the Zanzibar People Party,
on an impor-
judicial system under the protectorate, and
Pemba and the Afro-Shirazi Party. The chapter
tant period
the seven Sultans of Zanzibar and their posi-
addresses the racist legislations enacted by
in the his-
tions on the British occupation.
Britain, the elections, signs of discord, the end
East
tory of this
Arab
Chapter Two
of Arab rule and, finally, the independence of
Zanzibar on 10th December 1963.
Mus-
It deals with the economic conditions of Zan-
Sultan-
zibar under British occupation, shedding light
ate, focusing
on the British economic policies of controlling
This is the most important chapter as it
on the political, economic, social, cultural and
Zanzibar’s trade, customs revenues, monetary
reviews the bloody coup which occurred on
religious conditions of the Sultanate of Zanzi-
policy and pegging the currency to the pound
12th January 1964, illustrating the course of
bar under British protection. It illustrates the
sterling. It also discusses aspects of agriculture
events that surrounded it, its causes, Britain›s
Arab role in the national movement, and the
and some crops such as cloves and coconuts,
role, the Communist expansion, the role of
“black coup” of 12 January 1964, its causes and
the ivory trade, customs revenues, industrial
Israel, Tanganyika and Nyerere. It also men-
the details of the events, as well as the British,
activities and some economic projects carried
tions the number of Arab victims, leaders of
Israeli, American and Arab positions against
out by Britain in Zanzibar.
the coup, the role of the Afro-Shirazi Party’s
lim
this coup and its ramifications on East Africa in
Chapter Three
Chapter Six
leader and how the Ugandan Okello planned
general , and on Zanzibar, in particular.
It addresses the social conditions in Zanzibar
for the coup. Other aspects have to do with
The manuscript is authored by Dr. Saleh Mah-
under British protection, highlighting the Brit-
the positions of the East African countries,
rous Mohammed and consists of an introduc-
ish policy towards the people, the integration
the United States and Arab States, the impli-
tion, a preface, six chapters and a conclusion.
of different social groups in Zanzibar, the com-
cations of the coup, the political ramifications
ponents of society in Zanzibar, such as the
of British colonial rule, such as the three coup
The preface introduces Zanzibar, its strate-
Arabs, Indians, Africans, Swahili and Shirazi
attempts in East Africa, the end of Al-Busaid
gic position and its history before becoming
people, and the English, as well as the tradi-
rule in East Africa, and the annexation of Zan-
a British protectorate. It provides a histori-
tions of Zanzibar.
zibar by Tanganyika. The chapter refers to the
Preface
cal overview of the presence of Arabs in East
Chapter Four
economic impacts, such as the collapse of the
Africa and their migrations to the region, as
This chapter deals with the cultural, educa-
Sultanate’s economy, the former commercial
well as the spread of Islam there. It touches
tional and religious life in the Muslim Sultan-
role, the social effects, such as the deteriora-
on the circumstances surrounding the arrival
ate under British occupation. It illustrates the
tion of the situation of the Arabs and the rise
of the Al-Busaid family to Zanzibar and Oman
objectives of the British educational and cul-
of Africans, and the cultural effects, such as the
and the Al-Busaid Sultans who had ruled Zan-
tural policies, Islamic education and Arabic
demise of the Arabic language and the spread
zibar and Oman before the Protection. It also
and Muslim culture. It deals with the British
of Swahili in Latin script.
refers to the European powers in East Africa in
missionaries, public schools, languages, reli-
the second half of the nineteenth century, the
gions and creeds.
French, Belgian, Italian and German ambitions
Chapter Five
Conclusion
The book ends with a conclusion that sums
up the findings of the study about the British
in Zanzibar and how its lands were divided
Chapter V provides an overview of the
presence in Zanzibar during the period 1890-
according to the 1886 agreement between
national movement in the Sultanate of Zan-
1964.
Germany and Britain, finally coming under
zibar and the reasons behind the lack of
It is worth mentioning that the manuscript is
British protection.
national awareness, factors of national awak-
one of the recent publications of the Depart-
ening, the role of the Arab national movement
ment of Academic Publication and Outreach
and the call of the Arab Union for unifying all
at Sultan Qaboos University.
Chapter One
This chapter provides an overview of the polit-
May 2016
27
7
27
Postgraduate Studies
Postgraduate Studies: Oman’s Window to the Future
3ostgraduate studies
postgraduate students
are a central component oI the
and academics.
higher education s\stem. The\
Masters programs
are oI paramount importance
These
programs
Ior uniYersities in their pursuit
started in 1992 Must
oI the goal oI preparing highl\
si[ \ears aIter the
quali¿ed
graduates
inception oI S4U.
and enhancing their innoYatiYe
$t present there are
abilities. Further students will
60 programs oIIered
acquire the skills needed in the
in all colleges. Stu-
market so as to contribute to the
dents are admitted
oYerall deYelopment plans oI the
to the master¶s pro-
nation. The\ will also get their
grams
proIessional and scienti¿c e[per-
options thesis onl\
tise polished. The societ\ will be
coursework and the-
able to deYelop its resources and
sis coursework onl\
thus become selI-reliant. ,t is Ior
or coursework and
*3$ oI at least 2.5 on a 4-point
these reasons that Sultan 4aboos
comprehensiYe e[amination.
scale or equiYalent grade. Those
eI¿cient
under
Iour
M.Sc. student graduation
92 programs and 700 scholarships
have been offered to date
UniYersit\ seeks to improYe the
28
8
282
3h.' programs
with
a
cumulatiYe
scale or equiYalent in the master¶s program in case the *3$ is
based on a diIIerent s\stem. The\
*3$ between 2.50
should also Iul¿ll the require-
and 2.74 on a 4-point
ments oI (nglish language pro-
scale
equiYa-
¿cienc\ and other program-spe-
or
lent ma\ be consid-
ci¿c conditions. These criteria
are applicable to both 2manis
scope oI postgraduate studies b\
,nitiated in 200 these programs
ered Ior conditional admission.
oIIering a Yariet\ oI programs
are mainl\ based on research and
$pplicants Ior 3h.' programs
and non-2manis a polic\ pur-
and recruiting competent aca-
some coursework determined
should haYe a minimum cumula-
sued at S4U and elsewhere
demics who will implement and
b\ the thesis committee. $t the
tiYe *3$ oI 3.00 on a 4.00 point
to oIIer postgraduate programs
deYelop them.
moment there are 32 doctoral
The 'eanship oI 3ostgraduate
programs oIIered in the si[ &ol-
Studies is responsible Ior deliY-
leges oI $gricultural and Marine
ering on diYerse issues includ-
Sciences (ngineering Medicine
ing the enhancement oI post-
and +ealth Sciences Science
graduate studies marketing the
$rts and Social Sciences and
annual master¶s and doctoral
(ducation.
programs locall\ and internation-
$dmission criteria
all\ through adYertisements and
$dmission to the masters and
aligning them with the require-
doctoral programs is subMect to
ments Ior admission registration
a set oI general criteria appli-
and graduation oI postgraduate
cable to all colleges. To appl\
students. ,t is also responsible Ior
Ior a master¶s program appli-
administering postgraduate tui-
cants should hold a %$ degree
tion Iees grants and regulations
whereas admission to a 3h.'
as well as organizing training
program requires a master¶s
courses and workshops aimed at
degree. $pplicants Ior a master¶s
deYeloping the research skills oI
degree should haYe a cumulatiYe
May 2016
Postgraduate students
the leYel oI progress made b\ the
nationalit\ as long as the\ meet
uniYersit\ in the areas oI enhanc-
the conditions Ior admission.
ing postgraduate studies open-
Students
ing new programs and satisI\ing
Since the launch oI masters pro-
student needs.
grams in 1992 the number oI
Scholarships
postgraduate students has rapidl\
,n 2007 the uniYersit\ started a
increased. :hile there were onl\
scheme oI scholarships Ior post-
34 students at the outset the total
graduate students. 'uring the
Workshops and seminars polish
new students’ skills
number oI students enrolled in
period 2007-2015 some 60
diIIerent postgraduate programs
scholarships were granted to
up to the end oI 2015 was 475.
the skills needed b\ postgraduate
students in the col-
students researchers and aca-
leges whereb\ stu-
demics. Seminars and workshops
dents
nomi-
haYe been organized to deYelop
nated based on their
their skills in their speci¿c disci-
test results and inter-
plines. The 'eanship oIIered 24
Yiews which are the
workshops in $rabic another 30
were
in (nglish one training course in
admission.
Scholar-
$rabic and two in (nglish. These
ships
master¶s
were designed to introduce par-
and 3h.' students Iall
ticipants to research methodol-
into two t\pes ³Iull
og\ selecting a research topic
grants´ which include
writing skills and documenta-
a tuition Iee waiYer
tion. The program has proYed to
a stipend and other
be practical and popular amongst
bene¿ts in return Ior work at the
participants. ,n 2015 oYer 2520
uniYersit\ as teaching or research
postgraduate students and aca-
Ior
Postgraduate Studies
Yiding training and deYeloping
ers oIIered to 3h.'
The programs meet social development needs
assistants; the second kind oI
demics bene¿ted Irom such
scholarship is a tuition Iee onl\
workshops.
waiYer.
([pectations
Skills (nhancement
S4U e[erts continued eIIorts
,n 2009 the 'eanship oI 3ost-
to deYelop the master¶s and
graduate Studies conducted three
3h.' programs oIIered annuall\
workshops. ,n March 2010 the
through the 'eanship oI 3ost-
Skills 3rogram was established in
graduate Studies. 1ew ¿elds oI
stud\ are upgraded in the
ongoing scienti¿c discoY-
ment giYen that the number oI
eries around the world
students enrolled onl\ in 2015
and the uniYersit\¶s aca-
totaled 473. This increase in the
demic and logistical poten-
number oI students accepted in
tials. (IIorts are currentl\
the master¶s programs occurred
in Iull swing to qualiI\ staII
in 1999 when the administra-
and attract skilled academ-
tiYe structure oI research was
ics so as to establish such
established. Since the inception
programs according to a
oI master¶s programs in 1992
de¿nite detailed plan that
some 2609 postgraduate stu-
would cater to the uniYer-
dents haYe graduated so Iar. ,n
sit\¶s aspirations as well as
2015 the uniYersit\ granted 29
onl\ 24 in 1995 which indicates
addition to 93 oth-
light oI social demands
This is a considerable deYelop-
master¶s degrees compared with
the 'eanship with the aim oI pro-
basic conditions Ior
Postgraduate Medical students
to eYer\one regardless oI their
master¶s students in
Conducting experiments
the goYernment¶s endeaYors
to attain its comprehensiYe
deYelopmental goals.
May 2016
29
9
29
Study
When do children develop metacognition ability?
Children’s Overconfidence
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Harthi - College of Education
3030
A new study has been carried
always presented in order). After
4 have begun to use metacogni-
learning (JOL) of familiar items is
out at the College of Education to
pilot testing, 10 pictures were
tion.”
higher compared with their JOL
determine the age at which chil-
chosen from the curriculum for
Experiment Two
of unfamiliar items. It is not sur-
dren begin to use metacogni-
each of the four grades. As each
The researcher added: “In the sec-
prising that children rated their
tion. Calibration, the relationship
picture was placed on the board,
ond experiment, we selected 181
learning of familiar objects higher
between how confident one is
the child was asked to name it.
4th - 6th grade students from
compared to unfamiliar objects.
in one’s performance and actual
After all 10 pictures had been pre-
the same school. The procedures
However, no differences were
performance, is captured in the
sented, the child was given 10
were the same as in experiment
found in calibration due to famili-
research to assess children’s abil-
seconds to study the pictures. The
1, with one exception. Each child
arity. They still predict more than
ity to use metacognition. Reflect-
child was then asked, ‘‘How many
completed two tasks: 1) Identify-
they can actually remember.”
ing on his work, Dr. Ibrahim Al-
of these pictures do you think you
ing pictures derived from the cur-
New Perspectives
Harthi from the Department of
are going to be able to remem-
riculum; 2) Recognizing photos of
He concluded his remarks by stat-
Psychology, observed: “A 6-years-
ber once I cover them up?” After
objects from other cultures that
ing that the study “offers a new
old child may, for example, say
the child responded, the pictures
were unfamiliar to the children
look at the link between chil-
to his father ‘I can recall all the
were covered with a large piece
(e.g., a Christmas tree). The order
dren’s metacognitive abilities and
directions to go home’, but may in
of white paper, and he/she was
of familiar vs. unfamiliar objects
developmental differences. Grade
actuality fail to do so and get lost.”
asked to recall as many of the pic-
was
across
4 was observed as a distinction
Previous research demonstrated
tures as possible.”
students.” As to the findings, he
point where children begin to
that young children have limita-
He went on to elaborate on the
pointed out that, “4th graders
develop metacognition. Children
tions in their metacognition. Such
study results: “First, each succes-
had higher JOL’s than both 5th
lower their prediction of unfa-
research findings were utilized by
sive grade was significantly bet-
and 6th graders. The same anal-
miliar photos compared to famil-
the researcher to investigate the
ter at the memory task (recall)
ysis indicated that all students
iar photos, which demonstrated
development of meta-memory in
than the preceding grade. Sec-
reported higher JOL’s for familiar
their use of previous learning
children, and one research ques-
ondly, the ANOVA method indi-
items than for unfamiliar items.
experiences. Why do students sig-
tion was: When do children begin
cated a significant effect of grade
ANOVA indicated a major effect of
nificantly start to use metacog-
to make accurate predictions of
on judgment of learning (JOL).
grade, but no effect for familiarity.
nition at Grade 4? At this stage,
performance on a simple mem-
Post-hoc analysis indicated that
The correlation between calibra-
children think operationally and
ory task? Two experiments were
the difference between 1st and
tion and memory performance
logical reasoning replaces intui-
conducted with 1st - 6th grade
4th graders was the source of this
was r = -.58, indicating that bet-
tive thought, but only in concrete
children.
counter-balanced
effect, with 4th graders predict-
ter memory performance was
situations; classification skills are
Experiment One
ing a significantly lower perfor-
related to lower calibration (or
preset. They become able to oper-
According to Dr. Al-Harthi, “The
mance than 1st graders. Lowering
less overconfidence). The results
ationally realize that their predic-
experiment
consisted
their prediction (JOL) is a sign of
of experiment 2 indicate that the
tion should be based on their
of 239 1st - 4th grade students
using metacognition. They knew
improvement in children’s predic-
knowledge of materials to be
enrolled in a public school in
that they could not remember all
tion accuracy with age in experi-
tested. It is also clear from the cur-
Muscat. The subjects were ran-
the pictures and did not depend
ment 1 is not simply an artifact of
rent study that reasoning in rela-
domly selected from different
on other cues to make predic-
the data. Furthermore, children
tion to younger children (grades
classrooms. They were individu-
tion. The analysis indicated that
with better metacognition also
1-3) is very different. It is very dif-
ally tested and given clear instruc-
4th graders were more accurate
performed better on the mem-
ficult for children to understand
tions. The experiment was con-
in their predictions than all the
ory task. Children’s calibration is
that their initial predictions could
ducted in a quiet room. The task
other grades. Their predictions
better across the grades, which
be based on external cues, such
began with the experimenter
(number of photos they thought
is explained by improvement
as easy photos, to remember.”
placing 10 4 x 6-inch colored pic-
they could remember) were close
in metacognition. The results of
tures of familiar objects on the
to the actually recalled photos.
experiment 2 demonstrated that
board (the lists of pictures were
Interestingly, students in grade
those children’s judgment of
May 2016
sample
May 2016
31
31