Broadcast critics click
on Social Network
v Page 26
Alicia expecting
first child
v Page 26
Small town talent should get
platform: Mallika
v Page 13
Argentine dinosaur paved
way for T rex
v Page 28
Underused tools in
Windows 7
v Page 27
Fea ures
Sunday, January 16, 2011
HM stresses the importance
of science and knowledge
The SQU’s scientific research was highlighted by way of a special exhibition in which academics
and students presented a selection of strategic studies and research projects
I
n December 2010, SQU welcomed the architect of Oman’s
Renaissance, His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos, whose visit was intended
to add a new and wonderful touch
to the picture of national progress
which he is still working on so wisely and compassionately. He came to
write a new chapter in SQU’s history as he inaugurated our Cultural
Centre, which is the result of our
Leader’s vision and his great desire
to make the University an internationally recognised institution. And
since His Majesty has taught us to
pay special attention to science and
knowledge, scientific research was
highlighted by way of a especially
mounted exhibition. During this
exhibition academics and students
presented a selection of strategic
studies and research projects which
focused on the development of vital
sectors in the Sultanate and offered
solutions to problems from which
they are suffering. His Majesty listened to briefings on these projects
by their principal investigators.
This is how those students and
academics involved described their
feelings at the moment when they
addressed His Majesty.
Professor M Othman, from the
College of Medicine and Health
Sciences, said that in a minute and
a half he realised what he failed to
grasp in the past twenty-two years
of his keeping up with the achievements of this great leader. He always
thought that the concern for cultural
and innovative constructions was
not primarily for their sake, but
for the sake of the knowledge they
would make available. He went on
to say that in his moments with His
Majesty, the most enjoyable in his
life as a scientist, he found someone
who listened carefully and thoroughly to every word he said. “His
Majesty interrupted my explanation
to ask about a detail which was the
essence of my study. I was surprised
by His Majesty’s deep knowledge
of the role of genes and the environment in human health,” said Professor Othman. He wondered how
many world leaders would have
such knowledge on these topics,
and, concluded by saying that the
people of Oman must thank God for
having a leader who is so concerned
about their health and environment.
Dr Raed al Maamari, Director of
the Oil and Gas Centre, said that His
Majesty’s visit to SQU, which coincided with the 40th Anniversary
Students and academics describe their feelings when they addressed His Majesty
of Oman’s Blessed Renaissance,
touched him personally as well as
all students, faculty and staff. He
said that it has given SQU a strong
push to redouble its efforts to guarantee itself a distinguished future.
He went on to say that he was
greatly honoured to be able to brief
His Majesty on polymer technology
used to improve and enhance oil re-
His Majesty’s interest in earthquakes. He went on to say however
this should not have been a surprise
given that the Centre was established under His Majesty’s royal
guidance. He went on to say that he
was happy to explain to His Majesty
the hazards of earthquakes and the
methods of their assessment, mitigation and continuous monitoring.
measures for an anti-earthquake
code for buildings and constructions, was financed by the Council
of Ministers.
Dr Salim al Hatrushi, Head of
the Department of Geography, at the
College of Arts and Social Sciences,
briefed His Majesty on the coastal
erosion in Al Batinah. He said he
was honoured to hear His Majesty’s
esty’s speech. For him personally,
it could have been one of the most
difficult days of his life, had it not
been for His Majesty’s kindness in
talking with him about his project.
He went on to say that he was fascinated by His Majesty’s knowledge
of the subject of hereditary diseases
and their treatment.
Dr Rashid al Yihayai, from the
Al Rawas highlights SQU’s research
achievements for His Majesty
D
uring the exhibition that accompanied the inauguration ceremony of
the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Centre at
SQU, Professor Amer bin Ali al Rawas (pictured), Vice-President for Postgraduate Studies and Research highlighted for His Majesty
Sultan Qaboos, SQU’s most important research
achievements during the years between the inception of SQU in 1986 and 2009. He reiterated
at the outset of his briefing that SQU’s research
vision is manifested in the University’s attempt
to become a leading internationally-recognised
institution whose mission is to build research
culture and capacity, increase research production, encourage innovation, and help to find
solutions to problems which may face several
sectors of the Omani society.
Al Rawas also briefed His Majesty on the financial sources of funding for SQU’s research
projects. These started as internal University
grants at the beginning of 1999. In 2009, 785
research projects were carried out by SQU’s
several faculties, with a total cost of 4.5 million Omani Rials. Then, in 2001, His Majesty’s
grants were provided to fund strategic research
projects in areas like medicine, agriculture,
fisheries, and the environment. This constituted a landmark in the quality and size of the
projects produced by different research sectors.
Forty-six strategic projects have so far been
carried out at a total cost of 4.7 million Omani
Rials. Moreover, in collaboration with Japanese
and German international institutions, SQU has
carried out 14 joint projects at a total cost of 5
million Omani Rials.
covery and shut off unwanted water
in oil producing wells.
Dr Issa Hassan, Director of the
Earthquake Monitoring Centre, said
that he was uplifted when he heard
In 2010, SQU
received funding
from The Research Council
to finance 9 research projects at
a cost of 90,000
Omani
Rials.
SQU, as the nation’s main research hub, also
offers consultancy services to
the private and
public sectors.
More than 300 consultancy research projects
have been so far carried out at a cost of 11 million Omani Rials.
Postgraduate Studies:
Al Rawas emphasised for His Majesty that
postgraduate programmes have increased over
the years. The number of students enrolled in
them in 2009 was 923, and 33 of them were
working for their PhDs, while in 2000, only
370 students were enrolled.
MA programmes at SQU started in 1992
in all nine Colleges of the University except
Nursing , and they offered 4 routes to obtaining
the degree: one included research and a thesis,
one required courses and a thesis, one required
courses only, and one required courses and a
comprehensive examination.
The PhD programmes are originally based
on research with the option of taking a number
of required courses at the request of the
He concluded by saying that the
comprehensive project to devise
accurate seismic map for the entire Sultanate, microzonation maps
for Muscat, including preliminary
student’s doctoral committee. Presently, there
are twenty-five PhD programmes offered by
four colleges: Agriculture and Marine sciences,
Engineering,
Medicine and Health Sciences and Science. Soon, MA and PhD programmes will be
launched in the College of Education and in the
College of Arts and Social Sciences.
It is worth mentioning here that since
2007 SQU has been offering scholarships to
postgraduate students in accordance with its
commitment to the positive implementation
of postgraduate programmes. Between 20072009, one hundred and forty-nine scholarships
were awarded to MA students and sixteen to
PhD students.
Scientific Publication:
Professor Al Rawas went on to say that he
briefed His Majesty on SQU’s progress in scientific publication , where the number of research papers published has increased rapidly
from 672 in 2000 to 1579 in 2009.
Statistics show that SQU has achieved the
first position nationally in research, since it has
been responsible for 78 per cent of all research
published throughout the Sultanate.
Professor Al Rawas concluded by saying
that students and staff of SQU were grateful to
His Majesty for this blessed visit, and that they
promised him to redouble their efforts in the
service of SQU, the community at large, and
the advancement of education and research.
He said that they prayed to Allah, the Almighty to keep His Majesty in good health and
to grant him a long life.
speech, and was more honoured to
be one of the academics to address
His Majesty on his research project
which was financed by the Royal
Funds. He said that his study dealt
with the dangers of the coastal erosion on the lives of the population of
the area. The study used aerial photos and satellite imagery to examine
the long scale changes in the whole
section of the coast. It also analysed
grain sizes and mineralogy of the
sediments to understand the origins
of this material and to enable the
future use of these materials as tracers. He concluded by saying that the
local structures in Al Batinah coast
have caused limited erosion and that
the reduction of wadi sediment supply did not yet have a major effect
on the coastal area, with the exception of Wadi Hawasneh.
A Memorable Day:
Dr Salam al Kindi, from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, felt that December 18, 2010
would never be forgotten by anyone
who was honoured to hear His Maj-
College of Agricultural and Marine
Sciences, said that His Majesty’s
second visit to SQU emphasised
his concern and deep interest in the
progress of both the University and
His Majesty’s Speech
H
is Majesty’s kind
visit to SQU will
add an historic
landmark to the University’s record which has always been graced by royal directives, illuminating
thoughts and wise decisions. It also re-emphasises the prominent role
which the Sultan Qaboos
Cultural Centre plays in
advancing the progress
of science and knowledge
inside and outside the
Sultanate. Thus, the University spared no effort in
supporting it in every possible ways.
SQU was doubly blessed by His Majesty’s visit
since its entire academic
community was able to Dr Ali al Bimani, Vice-Chancellor
hear the royal speech, replete with full of illuminating directives and insightful thoughts. His
Majesty left no stone unturned in his incessant and persistent support
for SQU’s welfare since its inception.
His Majesty’s royal directives resemble a lighthouse for our faculty
because they light up the path ahead. Hence we will translate them
into actions and never forget them. His Majesty emphasised the role
of science and knowledge and the importance of pursuing by whatever
means what is new: furthermore of taking up what is useful and rejecting what is not. This is the primary goal which SQU has always tried
to reach. His Majesty’s emphasis on it makes it the ultimate objective
for all educational institutions in Oman so that they can provide the
Sultanate with the essence of right thinking and useful knowledge.
His Majesty directed us to take care of the student body and the
teaching staff. While students are the nation’s cornerstone in the development process, a fact which obliges every educational institution
to give them its utmost attention and provide them with the best methods to acquire useful knowledge and correct information, the teaching staff, as the closest to them, play an important role in guiding the
minds of students and setting them an excellent example. That is why
educational institutions should make every efforts to selecting qualified and committed staff to carry out this great mission so that their
graduates will be able and qualified to adjust to all that is new and useful in their pursuit of renewable knowledge; also so that they can build
their future on a solid, noble and scientific foundation.
His Majesty’s speech during the inauguration ceremony emphasised the significance of education and research. And indeed they are
two of the noble objectives which SQU has always kept to the fore.
His Majesty’s interest in them springs from his deep belief in their vital role in the advancement of Oman as it seeks to find an equal place
among developed nations.
SQU will redouble its efforts and fully carry out and follow-up His
Majesty’s directives by emphasising the best ways of acquiring useful
knowledge and making hard work and perseverance the slogan of its
students and staff. We pray to Allah the Almighty to keep and support
His Majesty, grant him good health and a long life.
Oman. He went on to say that he was
honoured to brief His Majesty on his
project, financed by the Royal Research Fund, concerning revival of
the production of the Omani lemon
through the expansion of cultivated
land in the Sultanate and by finding
a cure for Broomstick disease.
Dr T Berviz, from the College of
Engineering, said that he could not
find words to express his feelings of
joy when he briefed His Majesty on
his joint project with PDO and the
Dutch company SEPTAR concerning the use of expandable pipes and
tubules which will minimize costs
and maximize opportunities for oil
recovery in the Sultanate.
Dr Sergey Biontovisky, from the
College of Agricultural and Marine
Sciences, said that during his brief
conversation with His Majesty, his
profound questions on the subject
of research made it easier for him
to explain it. The meeting also
made him aware of His Majesty’s
achievement in transforming Oman
into a modern state in such a short
period. He went on to say that he
briefed His Majesty on the changes
and transformations which take
place along the Sultanate’s coasts
and how to scientifically measure
them. He added that two projects of
the same nature were funded by the
Ministry of Fisheries and The Research Council.
The exhibition also included
high quality projects completed by
distinguished students of SQU who
were honoured to address His Majesty concerning their work. Asad al
Hosany, a student in the College of
Arts and Social Sciences, said that
he was very proud to be able address His Majesty on his project
concerning site selection by way of
GIS approach for petrol stations and
traveller services along the QurayatSur Highway. Adi al Fari, a student
in the College of Engineering, also
expressed his happiness at being allowed to address His Majesty on a
project to establish an environmentfriendly Souq which would give
modern services while preserving
the Omani heritage. He went on
to say that he was so touched by
His Majesty’s visit to SQU that
he would never forget that day.
Mustafa A Barami, a student in the
College of Science, expressed the
same feelings of pride and joy on
being able to brief His Majesty on
his project which concerns the utilisation of waste material from palm
leaves for producing printing paper,
envelopes, tissue, bags and cartons,
a procedure which will help in reducing plastic pollution. He added
that the opportunity to speak to His
Majesty is the dream of all Omanis,
and that he thanked God for making
his own dream come true.