Doha: Qatar University has launched the 16th issue of its publication Qatar University Research Magazine.
Since its first edition in May 2013, the magazine has highlighted QU’s progress in research, innovation, and roadmap in alignment with its national strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.
QU’s research is based on the fundamental groundwork to develop interdisciplinary, complementary research that yields innovative results, tackles challenges and pandemics, and meets the social and economic requirements of the State and society.
While every issue has a unique theme, this current publication sheds light on the institution’s student inventor Yosra Magdi Mekki, who has two award-winning inventions to her name. Her invention in this issue combined software engineering and medical science to develop a virtual reality (VR) based tool to combat Catheter-Associated Urinary Infections (CAUTI). The invention received funding from Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).
Also, the magazine contains research on ‘Environmentally Powered Smart System for Urban-Scale Mapping and Assessment of Outdoor Air Quality in Qatar’ by Prof. Farid Touati and Hasan Tariq. This research is significant because it aligns with Qatar’s goal to ensure clean air, especially with the National Air Quality Monitoring Network being set up to tackle air pollution issues.
Furthermore, a study on ‘Diversity of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Qatar’ by Prof. Juha M. Alatalo discussed the role of microbial diversity and mycorrhizal fungi in the ecosystem. The research team analysed the variety and drivers of the fungi across 19 sites in Qatar.
This issue also featured the University’s participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2021. QU presented six innovative research projects created by corporations that aspire to go beyond the experimentation phase and introduce these inventions in various markets.
The institution’s first-ever National 3MT Competition was also highlighted, with the top three winners in focus. The competition provided an excellent opportunity for student-researchers to present ingenious ideas to organisations and other researchers.
Besides, several types of research are also contained in the issue, which further sheds light on QU’s drive to produce problem-solving individuals who contribute to Qatar’s economic diversification and sustainability drive and build a knowledge-based workforce.
