Do We Need a New Name for Patients?
Panorama
Catalytic Upgrading of Omani Heavy Crude Oil
Mind Over Matter
Award for Dr. Ali al Bimani
News Update
Radiation Risk From
Medical Imaging
Department of Public
Relations and Information
Sultan Qaboos University
Issue 223
View Point
It Really Helps
The summer is over and so are the summer internships for the year. How
important are internships? In today’s fast paced world, education needs to be
more than just studying using books, pen or even computers. Career prospects
need to hit the ground running and be well acclimatized to their chosen career
path. Past experience shows us that hands on learning in a particular field offers
the best training for people new to a career. Nothing compares to shadowing
the expertise of seasoned professionals and their unique individual skills.
Humaid Abdullah Al Adwani
Editorial Supervision & Editor in Chief
M.K. Santhosh
Senior Editor
Younis Al Harrasi
Editor & Translator
Anisa Al Jabri
Design & Layout
Rashad Al Wahaibi
& Photography Dept., CET
Photography
Many companies are enthusiastic to offer a reasonable pay package to their
interns, which helps them make money while learning. What could be better?
The possibilities are endless for interns to learn valuable new skills and discover
their true talents. With an internship, you can really get a feel for your chosen
field. Will it be what you expect? Or maybe it will surpass your expectations?
The benefit of an internship is also that it carries the possibility of a full time
position with the company once your internship is complete.
Serious learners should realise that internship is not a pastime or mere money
making process. Internships are to be taken seriously. During the training, one
should get in on time without complaining about how early its is or how late
you were up the night before. Once should do more that is expected on every
single assignment. Show up; people are relying on you!
A good intern look for opportunities to demonstrate what one does know and
how one can contribute. But don’t push it-nobody like a show off. You should
be eager to learn more and people will be more likely to teach you. The success
of the internship is almost entirely up to you!
One of the key tools of job-hunting is utilizing your network to find your next
career step, whether another internship or a job upon graduation and beyond.
One should build professional relationships with his supervisors and other
managers in the organization. These people are also a good source for getting
other job-hunting advice and tips from their years of experience. Even if you
have a bad experience on an internship, never burn your bridges because you
never know when it could come back and hurt you.
Horizon invites contributions from SQU members of staff and faculty. Contributions in the form of articles, news, travelogues, stories of unique and interesting experiences, encounters, etc., are welcome. Contributions may be edited
for the sake of clarity and length. Please send your contributions to horizon@squ.edu.om preferably, as MSWord attachments. Authors will be suitably credited.
Horizon is published three times a month by the Department of Public Relations and Information,
Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 50, P.C. 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Phone: +968 24141045
E-mail: horizon@squ.edu.om
10 October 2011
P2
Fax: +968 24413 391
Website: www.squ.edu.om
News Update
Award for HE Dr. Ali al Bimani
HE Dr. Ali Bin Saud al Bimani, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, has been
honoured with the “Award for outstanding contribution to education” instituted by
the World Education Congress -Asia Awards. Dr. Al Bimani received the award which
consists of a trophy and a citation at a ceremony held on September 26 at Taj Palace
Hote, Dubai.
The World Education Congress Asia Awards are presented to non-profit bodies
institutions, and individuals. The awards are run and managed by professionals who
have a full time job and passion to make a difference to the community.
The World Education Congress Asia Awards are presented by Asian Confederation of
Businesses with CMO Asia as its strategic partner and Stars of the Industry Group as a
research partner. The awards of the highest stature are presented to individuals (and
institutions) who have surpassed several levels of excellence and set an example for
being a role model and exemplary leader.
Graduation Ceremony in December
The Graduation Ceremony of the 22nd batch of students of Sultan
Qaboos University will be held on December 3 and 10, 2011 at
the university’s amphitheatre. Students from nine colleges of the
university will receive masters’ and bachelor’s degree certificates at
the ceremony.
On the first day, certificates will be awarded to candidates from the
College of Commerce & Economics and the science colleges namely,
College of Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Agricultural
& Marine Sciences, College of Nursing and, College of Science.
On December 10, students from the humanities colleges, namely
College of Arts & Social Sciences, College of Education and College
of Law will receive scrolls.
University administration’s speech will be delivered on both days
before distributing certificates. Recitation of poems and speeches of
representatives of the graduating students are the other highlights
of the ceremony.
UAEU Delegation Visits SQU
Within the framework of cooperation between the two universities, a delegation
from the UAE University visited the Sultan Qaboos University recently. The
delegation was received by Prof. Amer bin Ali Al Rawas, SQU Deputy Vice Chancellor
for Postgraduate Studies & Research and Dr. Saif bin Nasser al Bahri, Dean of the
College of Science. UAE delegation included Prof. Peter W. Werner, Dean of the
Faculty of Science, Dr. Ahmed Murad, and Dr. Khalid Al Balushi.
Both sides discussed a number of topics related to cooperation between and SQU
and UAE University and agreed to further intensify exchange of academics and joint
research activities between the two universities. Prof. Amer al Rawas observed that
the strong ties between the two universities is a model for other higher educational
institutions in the region to emulate.
In fact, there is a joint committee between the two universities that oversees
collaborative research project and other joint activities between SQU and UAEU.
College of Engineering Holds Industrial Training Exhibition
The Office of the Assistant Dean for Training for Training & Community
Service of the College of Engineering recently organized “Engineering
Industrial Training Exhibition” which featured poster presentation by
students who completed summer training for the year 2011 at different
industrial establishments within and outside the Sultanate. The opening
ceremony of the demonstration and poster presentation event was
held under the patronage of Dr. Ali al Harthy, Dean of the College of
Engineering.
During the summer 2011, a total of 380 engineering students did
their training in different companies and organizations locally and
internationally. Since Sultanate of Oman is a member of the International
Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience
(IAESTE), represented by the College of Engineering at SQU, 292 students
did their summer training abroad since 2001. A total of 220 international
students were received who did the training in different organizations
in Oman. Consequent to the international collaboration between the
College of Engineering and organizations from different countries, a
total of 168 students were sent abroad for training.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Issa al Harthy, Assistant Dean for Training
and Community Service, said that one of the crucial objectives of the
exhibition was to select the best trainee for the year 2011. “Various
criteria has been adapted for selecting the best trainee. These include
grade in the final training report, weekly report during the training
period, assessment and performance report from the company, and
presentation during the exhibition”, he said. During the opening
ceremony of the exhibition, Eithar al Hasani, a student of College of
Engineering gave a brief presentation about the Office of Assistant
Dean for Training and Community Service at the college.
10 October 2011
P3
Insight
Radiation Risk From
Medical Imaging
Prof. Lamk Al Lamki
Though medical Imaging technologies such as X-rays and gamma
rays offer enormous benefits in terms of medical diagnostics, the risks
associated with exposure to medical imaging call for urgent action in
Oman towards educating medical staff on the appropriate utility of
this diagnostic tool. In the editorial of SQU Medical Journal (Volume
11, Issue 1 dated February 2011), Prof. Lamk Al Lamki, Editor–inChief of the Journal and Head of the Department of Radiology &
Molecular Imaging of the College of Medicine & Health Sciences at
Sultan Qaboos University, explains that the risk factor is because of
the potential harmful low–dose radiation associated with medical
imaging tools.
Prof. Lamk says: “Medical imaging using X-rays is like a doubleedged sword. On the one side, we cannot do without it because of
its enormous benefit in medical diagnosis, but on the other side, we
risk exposing ourselves to potentially harmful low-dose radiation”.
Typically, two-thirds of all medical imaging procedures involve the
use of ionising radiation, either X-rays in diagnostic radiology or
gamma rays in nuclear medicine. “Thus there is an urgent need to
educate medical staff on the appropriate utility of this diagnostic tool,
and for the creation of a regulatory body controlling and monitoring
its use. This is of particular urgency in Oman”, observes Prof. Lamk.
Since the introduction of computed tomography (CT) scanning,
diagnostic accuracy has significantly improved in clinical medicine,
but concomitantly radiation exposure to human subjects has also
significantly increased. By far, the CT scan results in much higher
radiation exposure to the patients than does plain radiography,
typically 40 to 50 times more. A study has shown that CT scanning and
nuclear imaging accounted for over 75% of the cumulative effective
dose to the population. Other studies have also shown that CT scans
of paediatric patients result in alarming radiation doses. Prof. Lamk
further observes that such studies show that physicians need to restrategise significantly how they request medical imaging studies,
and especially CT scans, in the paediatric population.
The increase in the numbers of medical imaging scans involving
ionising radiation is alarming. In 2010, of the 5 billion medical imaging
procedures worldwide, two-thirds utilised ionising radiation, thus
the need of discernment on our part in requesting diagnostic imaging.
Radiation is much more damaging to the growing child who has a
longer life expectancy than to an adult. Considering this factor, Prof.
Lamki says: “we, as physicians, need to consider alternative imaging
methods as much as possible and increase our use of ultrasound and
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in place of CT scans and other
radiation-dependant modalities whenever possible”.
Commenting on the tissue damage caused by low-dose radiation
exposure, Prof. Lamk explains that the effects are “stochastic”,
whereby the probability of an effect occurring is dose-dependent, but
there is no threshold dose below which we could be relatively certain
that no adverse effect will occur. The best known stochastic effect
is cancer production from radiation exposure. There is a significant
10 October 2011
P4
amount of epidemiological data which indicates that exposure to lowdose radiation may result in cancer including cases of leukaemia, as
well as thyroid nodules and other cancers.
There are also several radiation-associated non-cancer diseases, which
are a result of radiation exposure. The best example is congenital
disorders from exposure to a developing foetus, the neurological
system being the most susceptible. The risk will depend on the
dose and the timing of exposure during pregnancy. The third group
of disorders related to radiation exposure is the heritable effects of
radiation. Studies have proved damage to DNA of germ cells resulted
in heritable diseases. Unfortunately, these may be passed on to
offspring and to several future generations. The evidence is clearer
with higher than lower doses, but there is experimental evidence in
animals that mutations induced by radiation can indeed appear in
several generations.
Elaborating on the scenario in the Sultanate, Prof. Lamk says: “At
this stage, we more importantly need good regulations to control
the handling and uses of ionising radiation. Unfortunately, there are
currently no regulations in Oman that control X-ray machines, and
only lax regulations for handling radioactive substances. Thus the use
of low-dose radiation in Omani medicine is potentially dangerous to
our community. We need tougher regulations on the purchase of X-ray
machines and on the running these machines. In some private clinics
in Oman, unqualified technologists run X-ray machines as there are
no specific licensing regulations”.
“The training requirements for radiological technologists are also
limited in the Sultanate. In addition, there are no training requirements
for physicians who use X-ray machines. Not all radiological
procedures and cardiac catheterisation procedures are adequately
monitored from the equipment point of view, or by the physicians
or technologists involved. The good news is that there is a move in
the government towards setting up such a regulatory authority, says
Prof. Lamk. He further says that it should be mandatory for any
physician handling radioactive material or using X-ray machines to
attend a course on radiation safety and the use of these materials and
machines to be certified prior to any use. Likewise, the technologists
or nurses involved must have a similar course and certification. In
addition, Oman needs to recognise medical physics as a specialised
profession. Medical physicists are needed in all radiology and nuclear
medicine departments to be in charge of quality control and assurance
and as radiation safety officers.
Prof. Lamk says that what we need in Oman now is education of
medical doctors on the dangers of medical imaging that utilises ionising
radiation, in particular CT scanning and cardiac catheterisation
studies. “Most importantly, and perhaps of great urgency, is the
creation of an independent regulatory body to regulate the safe use
of ionising regulation in medicine and otherwise. We need to respect
and control low-dose radiation to safeguard ourselves and our future
generations”.
Mind Over Matter
By: Dr. Baba Jibril
Associate Professor
Dept. of Petroleum & Chemical Engineering
College of Engineering
Catalytic Upgrading of Omani Heavy Crude Oil
Oman has abundant deposits of heavy crude oils. The oil
mobility in reservoirs and pipelines remains key challenge to its
optimum utilization. In the past, production of such heavy oil
was disfavoured due to discouraging economic feasibility and
availability of lighter oils. Increasing demand and dwindling
supply of crude oil have spurred efforts towards enhancing
heavy oil recovery, using different approaches. In the past couple
of decades, (i) in situ combustion and (ii) steam injection have
evolved to become commercially applicable. Steam injection is
the most widely applied in many countries. Oman has a large
steam injection project in Mukhaizna oil field. During steam
injection the latent and sensible heat is transferred to reservoir
fluids and rock matrix. This increases their temperature which
results in thermal expansion of the oil, oil viscosity reduction
and separation of the lighter hydrocarbon fractions. These
effects increase the overall heavy oil recovery, but do not notably
improve the quality of the crude.
We propose a new approach for Oman heavy oil. Here, the steam
is injected along with a catalyst to enhance the oil recovery. A
catalyst is a material that speed up rate of conversion of chemicals
from one form to another. Catalysts have been used for decades
in oil refineries to improve and extract the maximum value
from each barrel of produced oil. Instead of using a catalyst in
a neatly-arranged columns and vessels as done in oil refineries,
our approach is to send the catalysts down into oil reservoir. The
catalysts facilitate the conversion of some components of the oil
to components that result in lower viscosity. Suitable operating
conditions such as temperature, hydrogen agents and steam
flows are optimized to enhance the crude oil quantity and quality.
The end product of heavy crude upgrading is lighter and more
valuable crude. Catalytic upgrading has been demonstrated by
others and shown to decrease sulphur content and viscosity.
For example, Oman’s large oil deposit at Mukhaizna site has
kinematic viscosity of 7,160 mm2/s at 30 oC, density of 0.9571 g/
cm3 at 15oC, asphaltene content of 4.7 wt% and sulphur content
of 3.46 wt%. Other heavy oil sites in Oman are at Nimr, Qarn
Alam and Fahood. The quality of the oil needs to be improved.
However, the main challenge is to develop a catalyst that will
retain its efficacy despite high brine concentration and impurities
associated with Middle Eastern heavy oils.
The upgrading is done prior to production and prior to reaching
the surface storage tank, either near a producing well or in the
producing well-bore. A successful in-situ catalytic upgrading
project depends mainly on designing a suitable catalyst for
the purpose. One important observation is the fact that each
oil deposit needs to be studied individually to develop a
sustainable solution. Therefore, the composition and properties
of Omani heavy oil must be studied and catalysts developed for
the upgrading in order to utilize this abundant resource in the
Sultanate.
Previous laboratory studies on other heavy oils have shown that
they could be catalytically upgraded despite adverse condition
of high brine concentration and oil impurities Significant
upgrading was reported for Llancanelo heavy oil in Argentina. In
a batch reactor study using Fe3(CO)12 as a catalyst and methane
as a source of hydrogen, viscosity of a heavy oil was reduced
from 500 Pascal seconds to 1.3 Pascal seconds and sulphur was
reduced by 14%. Others consider nano-catalysts to improve the
performance of the upgrading. However, field studies of catalytic
upgrading are not readily available in the open literature. One
report indicated a successful field upgrading of heavy oil in
Hungary.
In general, research in catalytic upgrading was not vigorously
pursued in the past due to the availability of light oil. However,
conventional oil production is projected to peak and decline
irreversibly in the coming few years, increasingly making
unconventional heavy oil more essential for future energy needs.
This led to more research in the heavy oil catalytic upgrading
which is the focus of this proposed project. We will focus on
designing catalysts that will decrease the heavy oil viscosity
to ease its transportation and decrease its sulphur content to
improve oil quality. Hence, the proposed technology will play an
important role in extending the life of Omani oil fields and will
contribute towards improving the production of oil.
10 October 2011
P5
News Round Up
Lambert Publishes SQU Academic’s
Book on Digital Logic Design
Japanese Students Visit
SQU, Oman
As part of a cultural interaction program, a group of students,
who are members of the Japan Middle East Student Conference
(JMESC), visited SQU and Oman recently. In a meeting they
discussed with counterparts in SQU, several topics such as
marriage traditions in Oman and Japan and the massive
earthquake that hit Japan of late.
Germany based publisher, Lambert Academic Publications recently
published a book “Introduction to Digital Logic Design” authored
by Dr. Tariq Jamil, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering, Department of the College of Engineering
together with Iftaquaruddin Mohammed, a technical staff in the same
Department.
During the meeting, students from both sides exchanged and
shared their thoughts and ideas about different topics. The
discussion showed a lot of similarities in both cultures and
how the traditional marriage was spread in the society but
now in 21st century the young generation of Oman and Japan
agreed that the marriage should be simple, modern and not to
be arranged by family as it was before. The Japanese students
shared their knowledge about the marriage companies and how
they work in Japan and it was concluded that the idea of having
these companies was not applicable in Oman.
Various books on the topic of digital logic design are available in the
market today which tend to focus on presenting detailed description of
the topics associated with this subject area. Unfortunately, because of
limited time during the semester, most students of digital logic design
are unable to read each and every page of these books to ascertain the
main objective of each topic and, therefore, require a more succinct
and to-the-point approach towards learning about these fundamental
concepts.
The JMESC students shared information about tsunami and
certain new technologies that alert people of tremors and useful
in situations such as that was experienced by Japan. SQU students
expressed their solidarity and sympathy to the Japanese people
who suffered from the tsunami that hit the country recently.
During the period from September 19 to 22, the visiting students,
along with the Omani students, went for sightseeing and cultural
interaction trips to different regions in the Sultanate to learn
more about the topography, culture and heritage of Oman. The
ideas that Japanese students has about Oman and it’s culture
were changed in a positive way after having these enjoyable
trips and living here for a week.
This book is a compilation of lectures in digital logic design resulting
from teaching of this subject by the authors during the past several
years at SQU and is intended to provide concise description of the
topic commonly covered in a one-semester course. Typical questions
or problems which may be asked in examinations from the students are
indicated at the conclusion of each chapter to assist students with the
formulation of their study plans. It is hoped that this book will assist
both students and practicing computer engineers in understanding of
the fundamental concepts of digital logic design and can be used as a
reference book throughout their professional career.
Dr. Tariq Jamil has been teaching Digital Logic Design course to
undergraduate engineering and computer science students for over a
decade. He is a senior member of the IEEE (USA), a member of the IET
(UK), and a chartered engineer (UK).
SQU at World Chemistry Congress
Atika bint Yahya al Husainiyah, a Master’s student in the Department of
Chemistry, College of Science at SQU presented a paper last August on
liquid crystalline materials at the 43rd IUPAC World Chemistry Congress
held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the USA. Atika presented a working paper
on synthesizing liquid crystals for potential use in TV screens, computer
monitors and other electronic devices which was her B.Sc. graduation
project research under the supervision of Dr. Wajdi Michael Zoghaib,
Assistant Professor of Chemistry at SQU. The research funded by SQU
was done in collaboration with Dr. Carlo Carboni and Prof. Abraham
George of the Physics Department at SQU.
Atika’s paper was titled “Novel fluorinated ferroelectric organosiloxane
liquid crystals”. Ferroelectric Organosiloxane liquid crystals synthesis
occupies an increasingly large field of research as the range of their
applications is evolving day by day. Because of their special properties,
fluorinated ferroelectric organosiloxane liquid crystals are the synthetic
focus of many scientists.
polarized electron microscopy to investigate the relation between chain
length and phase transition behaviour. It was found that bimesogens and
their fragments possessing less than 10 carbon atoms in the long chain
were not liquid crystalline at room temperature, whereas the one with
10 carbon atoms possessed liquid crystalline properties at below room
temperature.
In this research, a series of novel fluorinated ferroelectric organosiloxane
liquid crystals differing in the number of carbon atoms at their molecular
middle chain were synthesized and identified by proton and carbon NMR
spectroscopy. The phase transition temperatures were examined using
The conference included a number of lectures, workshops, short courses
and specialized exhibitions in the filed of chemistry, in addition to a
number of chemistry activities organized and supervised by a number
of chemistry experts and professionals from different parts of the world.
Seven Noble laureates participated in the congress.
10 October 2011
P6
Panorama
Do We
Need
a New
Name for
This article presents views on the use of terms ‘patient’, ‘client’ and ‘customer’ in the
clinical nursing scenario. The author is a lecturer in the Department of Adult Health and
Critical Care of the College of Nursing at SQU.
Today’s world of public involvement and active participation,
a suffering person when admitted to the hospital is called
a Patient. Is it a right one or it is an offensive anachronism?
Need to think. Nursing community at large are in use of these
terms---Client, Consumer, Customer and Patient for referring
recipients of medical services.
Contemporary meanings – a guide to understanding of terms
The vernacular use of the word ‘patient’ has been used since
long to refer to a sick individual/ person under medical
treatment. The word ‘patient’ is a Latin word which means “one
who suffers”. This also means that a patient is an inmate of an
infirmary or Hospital and is medically supervised or subjected
to care, treatment or correction. Here the treatment for a patient
can change from advice to surgery from a medical person.
The word ‘client’ on the other hand, is a Latin word meaning
to lean which connotes alliance and interdependence. Client
is a synonym with consumer, purchaser, buyer, customer.
This means consumer is a person using the services of agency
upon payment for goods and services and can also imply the
voluntary right –laden status of an individual explicit.
‘Customer’ is derived from the word custom, which is
something done regularly. Therefore, customer is a person who
buys, especially one who buys regularly.
Experts’ view
According to Verinder Sharma, M.B, Diane Whitney, M.D, Shahe
S.Kazarian, et al use of term may be context –dependent----the term patient may be appropriate for someone who is in
an intensive care unit. On the other hand, someone who is in
a rehabilitation phase of treatment would be appropriately
addressed as a client.
In a study conducted in Ontario in 2005 , about 550 mental
health service recipients and 427 providers were surveyed for
their preferences among the terms patient, Client/ Consumer
Patients?
By: C. Deborah Packiajothi
for use in the health care setting. The results showed majority of them
preferring the term patient. Moreover it suggested that no one term
was clearly preferred among the respondents.
Mueser and colleagues (2006) found no significant associations
between the preferred terms of usage, gender, outpatient or inpatient
status.
Consequences of usage in the health care setting
Words mean things. The words we use and the language we adopt, as
a firm and as a profession, take on certain meanings over time. They
become part of our culture, the way we do things. Words we use in the
firm serve enormously the attitude of the firm--- and it is the attitude
and actions of people that ultimately determine the firms culture.
In this business world of commercial transactions, professionals don’t
pander in the market place with nonprofessional advertising to attract
clients. Rather in the health arena people rush out in order to seek for
expertise, experience, guidance.
Thus professionals are part of the crass marketplace and so must
participate in it and definitely differentiate themselves from the
competition if need to succeed.
To conclude
Customers do after all buy a product from you and can probably get
what they purchase somewhere else. You can have customers without
building a relationship but you cannot have patients or clients without
building a relationship because if you don’t build a rapport with them
they won’t like you and will not use your services at all.
Patients and Clients are people with whom professionals have a long
term relationship based on mutual trust and understanding. There is a
relationship of trust is inherent in a patient and client relationship that
does not need to exist in a customer relationship.
Thus use of the word customer for recipients of medical services needs
to be avoided by Nursing professionals as it will give a commercial
meaning and business effect rather than denoting a caring and building
relationship.
10 October 2011
P7
Straight Talk
Horizon: Could you please shed light on Jagiellonian University of Krakow and
the city of Krakow?
Prof. Barbara: Jagiellonian University of Krakow is the oldest university in
Poland established in the year 1364 by the Jagiellonian dynasty that ruled
the Kingdom of Poland. Now it is one of the best universities in the country
which within the best 300 universities in the world. It has 15 faculties and
accommodates 50, 000 students. Most of the courses are taught in Polish.
However , a few courses are now taught in English, in accordance with EU
specifications. In the Arabic Studies Department, we enrol 40 students for
undergraduate program. Since Arabic language is a little bit hard for the Polish
students, only half of them is usually graduated every year. We admit 20 students
for our Master’s program and once in two or three years we get a PhD scholar
in our department. In addition to Jagiellonian University, Arabic is taught in
two other institutions. Krakow is the second largest and one of the oldest cities
in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city
dates back to the 7th century. Krakow has traditionally been one of the leading
centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland’s most
important economic centres.
Horizon: How did you develop interest in Arabic language and literature?
Prof. Barbara: Well; this is a very difficult question for me! I would say it is my
destiny! I was a good student. At the end I found that I had no special interest
for any subject. At this juncture, I started looking for something different to
learn. My friends advised me to try something of which I had no idea about. By
that time I visited London and found the School of Oriental and African Studies
there. After returning to Poland, I shared with my friends that idea of having
an Oriental Studies institute in our country to which the replied: “We have the
Institute of Oriental Philology attached to the Jagiellonian University”. That
is how I decided to join in Jagiellonian University. I chose Arabic because it is
spoken in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Horizon: Could you please tell us about your books on Arabic language and
literature?
Prof. Barbara:
“Tradition and Innovation in the Work of Layla Al-Uthman”,
“The Contemporary Kuwaiti Short Story in Peace and War Time 1929-1995”, “An
Outline of Contemporary Short Story Writings of the Arabian Peninsula”, “Modern
Poetry and Prose of Bahrain” etc. are some of the books I published. My first
book was about Kuwaiti literature. I got a scholarship to study Arabic literature
in Kuwait and it became the first Gulf country that I visited. My first visit to Oman
was in 1997; I was really fascinated by the landscape and people of Oman. The
traditional architecture and the diversity of its nature are amazing. Since I
come from Krakow, a traditional city in Europe, I have fascination for traditional
architecture in urbanisation in contrast to the modern cities characterised by
skyscraper architecture.
Horizon: How would you compare Gulf Arab literature with world literature?
Prof. Barbara: I should say that the contemporary writings of the writers in
the Gulf region are tremendously influenced by the rapid economic growth that
these countries witnessed during the last few decades. Economic development
is a slow process in most of the countries; when it comes to the Gulf region, the
rapid growth brought out by the by the oil boom has influenced the literature in
the Gulf states. The society was not actually ready to fully absorb, both mentally
and culturally, the economic change and rapid development that came within
a short period. The mentality of the people towards this change is well reflected
in the writings of the writers of the region. The Gulf states was rather culturally
isolated from the rest of the world to a great extent, before the oil revolution.
People used to live traditional lives in the villages with small scale agriculture,
livestock production and fishing as sources of income. After the advent of
economic boom, the people started visiting other countries which paved way
for interaction with people of other cultures; they became exposed to foreign
literature; the educational advanced considerably. All these changes are aptly
deliberated in the literature of the region. The new generation are open towards
foreign cultures.
Prof. Barbara
Michalak Pikulska
Prof. Barbara Michalak Pikulska is a professor of Arabic Literature and Head
of the Department of Arabic Studies in the Institute of Oriental Philology
at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. She had travelled a lot
in Oman and other Gulf countries to learn more about the literature of
the region. She has authored several books on writers and literature in
the Gulf countries. “A journey through works of Omani poets and writers
1970-2000” is one among them. Of late, she visited SQU and delivered a
talk on contemporary Omani literature. Following are excerpts from her
conversation with Horizon.