Qaboos University to conduct major research projects

Sultan Qaboos University will undertake five major research projects in the areas of hypertension, blood cancer, Information Technology, agriculture and science, supported by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos' Research Trust Fund.

This was announced by Dr Saud Nasser al Riyami, the university's Vice-Chancellor, to mark University Day. He said the projects would go a long way to promote the sultanate's social and economic sectors.

In her speech, Rajiha Abdulameer bint Ali, undersecretary at the Ministry of National Economy, said last year the university had executed 21 contract research projects and the number has been increased to 25 for the year 2001, signifying the importance the university attaches to research.

"It is not new to say that education is the most important pillar of development for any nation and the university' role is clear in this respect. Research will play a major part in pushing our endeavours to solve social and economic issues."

Dr Ali Yousouf, dean of post-graduate studies and research, said the university is setting up new research centres focusing on environment, remote sensing, earthquake monitoring, joint virtual reality, carbonate studies and other subjects.

He said the university has since become a premier research centre of international repute. For instance, the university has more than 200 qualified investigators and 500 referred journal publications to its credit.

Explaining the five new projects approved by Sultan Qaboos, Dr Yousouf said the College of Agriculture will research how to improve the quality of dates, while the College of Engineering will formulate a strategy to develop Information Technology.

The College of Medicine will work on hypertension in Oman through mapping genes, and on childhood acute lymphoblastic(blood cancer) in collaboration with Texas Children's Cancer Hospital.