Award winners announced at Qatar Foundation’s Annual Research Conference 2014

Qatar Foundation’s Annual Research Conference (ARC’14) has revealed the winners of original scientific research awards aligned with Qatar’s Grand Challenges – Water, Energy, Cyber Security and Integrated Healthcare.

ARC’14, Qatar Foundation’s flagship research event, is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF). The event supports Qatar Foundation’s Research and Development’s (QF R&D) mission to build Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity through key sciences.

A total of 22 local and international researchers and students received accolades at the ARC’14 Gala Dinner, held at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Qatar’s capital city of Doha. The winners were presented with certificates and awards by Dr. Thomas Zacharia, Executive Vice President of Qatar Foundation’s Research and Development (QF R&D). The three categories for recognition included Student Poster Presentations, Regular Poster Presentations and Best Research Presentation.

Each year, ARC activates the scientific community encouraging researchers to submit their innovative research with the opportunity to present and connect with leading experts in Qatar within their respective fields locally, regionally and internationally.

Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), a centre of QF R&D undertook peer reviews for almost 1,200 submitted abstracts. The evaluation process was based on a strict set of criteria, including research quality, originality and merit, relevance to Qatar, and its most pressing research priority areas, including; Water, Energy and Cyber Security, alongside Integrated Healthcare.

Dr. Zacharia said, “ARC is an excellent forum for local and international subject-matter experts to come together and exchange ideas and discuss solutions to pressing research challenges in Qatar and around the world. It is an honour to recognise these aspiring and pioneering scientists and researchers as we continue to build a vibrant ecosystem on the journey towards world-class research and innovation.”

Student Poster Presentations Award winners were; Salman Ahad Khan in  Social Science, Arts and Humanities; Umm-Kulthum Umlai and Dhabia Al-Mohannadi in Energy and Environment; and, Fatemeh Jalali, Mashael Al-Shafai and  Shaika Alsowaidi in  Health and Biomedical.

Regular Poster Presentations Award winners were;  Jocelyn Mitchell,  Susie Kilshaw and Somaya Al-Maadeed in Social Science, Arts and Humanities; Deepak Pant, Hanan Farhat and Rashmi Fotedar in Energy and Environment; Toshikazu Ebisuzaki, Bert Calessens and Kamla AlMannai in Computing and Information Technology; and, Rayaz Malik , Eman Nasralla and Mohamed AlShabrawey in Health and Biomedical.

The winners in the category for Best Research Presentation were; Dr Hayat Khalil Nidhar in Social Science, Arts and Humanities; Ali Elkharbotly in Energy and Environment; Wassim Drira in Computing and Information Technology; and, Barbara Seliger in Health and Biomedical.

As one of the main pillars of Qatar Foundation, QF R&D has been active in promoting QF’s vision of cultivating life-long learning and interest in science and research in Qatar with the Annual Research Conference organised by QF R&D being its flagship event.

QF R&D is the custodian of the Qatar National Research Strategy and leader of a science and research mission that puts Qatar and the Arab region on the map globally.