Da Vinci re-imagined

Issue 38 February 2012
The monthly Magazine of qatar foundation
Da Vinci
re-imagined
In this issue
Meet the art professor inspiring students
by studying the Italian master
Healing with music
Qatar Music Academy holds a
workshop to promote the use of
music therapy as a method for
treating a range of medical
conditions
www.qf.org.qa
Shifting sands
Meet the team from Weill Cornell
Medical College in Qatar
discovering ways to prevent giant
sand dunes from encroaching on
valuable infrastructure
Perfect chemistry
More than 200 scientists from 36
countries convened in Doha to
exchange ideas at a key industry
forum hosted by Texas A&M
University at Qatar
TO HELP PRESERVE
A CULTURAL HERITAGE SPANNING
THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
Tammi Moe travels distances spanning
thousands of miles.
FOR TAMMI MOE, HISTORY IS A PASSION. Since 2005, she has been leading Virginia Commonwealth
University in Qatar’s efforts to create a visual research archive of Qatar’s cultural history. When complete, this
one-of-a-kind archive will be a valuable tool for researchers, scholars and students around the world. But in
the meantime, Tammi continues to travel the globe collecting information and assembling one of the most
extensive records ever created of the country’s history.
Qatar Foundation is proud to be home to leaders like Tammi Moe. Together, we are making Qatar a center
of knowledge that is helping the entire world move forward. Learn more about Tammi’s work and discover
the people of Qatar Foundation at qfachievers.com.
104
Foundation
Contents
20.
14.
preventing sand dune erosion
qf achievers - healthcare for all
special report.
A study by scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College in
Qatar is investigating ways to halt the movement of sand
dunes – using microbes to bind the sand together.
Features.
WCMC-Q student and prominent debater Marwa Saleh
tells The Foundation about her wish to make healthcare
available to people living in remote parts of the world
16.
perfect chemistry
More than 200 scientists from 36 countries convened in
Doha to exchange ideas at a key industry forum hosted
by Texas A&M University at Qatar
18.
da vinci re-imagined
VCUQatar professor teaches students the craft of drawing
by emulating the work of the 15th century Italian master,
garnering attention from the global arts media
03.
24.
healing through music
Briefing.
New R&D President announced; QF
in the global media; TAMUQ runs
oil and gas course; Doha Debates
visits Turkey; Autism lecture at
Awsaj Institute; Stem cell
conference at QNCC; QF Radio
celebrates first anniversary; Islamic
research center launched;
Swimming sessions for diabetics;
QF hosts Young Professionals
Institute event; VCUQatar professor
wins US award; QFIS hosts Islamic
banking conference; VCUQatar
supports global education
campaign; MEEZA to provide IT
banking solutions; QCF partners
with top career firm
Qatar Music Academy holds a workshop to promote the
use of music therapy as a method for treating a range of
medical conditions
27.
inspiring a love of arabic
The author of the first novel by a Qatari published by
Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing speaks of his
hopes that his story will engender a love for the Arabic
language in young readers
29.
In this issue
Guide to the most high-profile
forthcoming events in the Qatar
Foundation calendar
February’s issue of The Foundation
features full-length reports on the most
high-profile recent events in the QF
calendar, a round-up of the latest news
and in-depth profiles of some of the
organization’s many centers, research
projects and initiatives
calendar.
30.
qfradio
The presenters of the daily
entertainment show Corners
discuss the various topics they
feature to keep QF Radio’s
listeners amused and informed
09.
Intelligence.
QF students take part in
innovative LeaderShape
program; High-profile academics,
dignitaries and intellectuals visit
QF during January; CMU-Q hosts
lecture on Qatar 2022 FIFA World
Cup journey
31.
out to lunch
Abdulla Faraj Al Abdulla,
Monitoring and Evaluation
Specialist at Reach Out To Asia,
tells The Foundation of his love of
technology and reading, and how
he is guided by his faith
Communication Directorate
Rima Ismail
Publications Manager
rismail@qf.org.qa Tel: +974 44540960
Ghada Saade
Head of Translation and Editorial
gsaade@qf.org.qa Tel: +974 44540961
Asma Al Binali
asalbinali@qf.org.qa
For submission of articles and feedback:
Contact us at foundation@qf.org.qa
www.qf.org.qa
1
Foundation.
Welcome Letter
Growing the research community
Transforming cutting-edge scientific theories developed in laboratories
into new processes and products of real commercial value is one of the
core aims of the QF project and will become increasingly important in
the coming years.
It was immensely encouraging, therefore, to see Texas A&M University
in Qatar (TAMUQ) host one of the most important events in the
scientific calendar recently. The 14th International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry Conference on Polymers and Organic Chemistry
event brought some 200 of the brightest minds from all over the world
to Doha, providing a forum where delegates could discuss their
research, exchange knowledge and discover ways to bridge the gap
between academia and industry.
It was also the first time the conference has been held in an Arab
country, showing that QF’s mission to establish a thriving research
community in Qatar is paying dividends.
New processes developed by scientists at the conference are helping to
make Qatar’s petrochemical industry cleaner, more efficient and more
environmentally friendly, as well as generating intellectual property for
the country, offering employment opportunities to our young people
and channeling revenues back into the burgeoning research
community here.
The success of the sector provides an ideal model for the other creative
industries QF is encouraging to grow and flourish in Qatar, supporting
our goal of establishing a vibrant economy that is diverse,
self-sustaining and makes a positive contribution to the world.
Haya Khalifa Al Nassr
Director of Communication, Qatar Foundation
2
Briefing.
A round-up of all the LATEST news FROM qatar foundation
1.
New R&D
President
Announced
RESEARCH
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint
Nasser, QF Chairperson, has
appointed Faisal Mohammed Al
Suwaidi to the position of President
of Research and Development. Al
Suwaidi, who previously held
senior roles at Qatar Petroleum,
Qatar Fertiliser Company and
Qatargas, will oversee the
development of executive plans for
future research strategies at QF.
He will be responsible for all QF’s
scientific and research endeavors,
including projects undertaken by
Qatar Science & Technology Park,
as well as Qatar National Research
Fund and the trio of Qatar
Research Institutes: Qatar
Computing Research Institute,
Qatar Environment and Energy
Research Institute and Qatar
Biomedical Research Institute.
www.qf.org.qa
3
Briefing.
2.
IN THE NEWS
QF in the global media
“Adjacent to Qatar Science & Technology Park is Education City; it’s the Middle
Eastern base for eight international universities, including Texas A&M, Cornell
University in Qatar and, in the spirit of the great philanthropist of the last century,
Carnegie Mellon,” said CNN Business correspondent Richard Quest as he explored QF
for his Future Cities show. “It’s here that Qatar is sowing the seeds of a
knowledge-based society, fast-tracking its system of higher education.”
Samier Elhardalo, Technical Laboratory
Co-ordinator, TAMUQ, demonstrates
laboratory functions to course participants.
3.
TAMUQ runs oil
and gas course
EDUCATION
Engineering industry professionals were
given a briefing on the life cycle of the oil
and gas industry during a course hosted
by Texas A&M University at Qatar
(TAMUQ) in January.
The four-day course provided an
overview of the technologies, workflows
and processes that enable the production
of hydrocarbons. It also covered social,
environmental and financial impacts of
production.
Dr Mahmood Amani, Associate
Professor of Petroleum Engineering and
Course Instructor, said that the program
was of benefit to attendees because it
offered a comprehensive understanding
of oil and gas operations, rather than
focusing on only one part of the process.
The course was a collaboration
between TAMUQ and the Network of
Excellence in Training.
4
4.
A mainly Turkish audience voted to warn Arab states against
following the example of their country in the latest installment
of QF’s Doha Debates show. The debate at Bosphorus University,
Istanbul, on 12 January considered the motion “This house
believes Turkey is a bad model for the new Arab states”. Panelist
Ece Temelkuran, an award-winning Turkish journalist, claimed
her government was responsible for repressing criticism in the
media and academia, drawing cheers from the audience.
The motion was carried by a majority of 59 percent versus 41.
5.
Dr Laurie Sperry spoke at the Awsaj Institute of
Education about ways to help children with
autism achieve their full potentials.
QF Radio celebrates
first anniversary
MEDIA
The team behind QFRadio has marked a
successful first year of operation.
The station, which was launched on 23
January, 2011, has attracted thousands of
listeners in more than 80 countries, as well
as gaining a legion of followers on Facebook
and Twitter.
An eventful year saw the team establish a
regular schedule of popular programs, as
well as broadcasting live from external
studios on location at a series of prestigious
events, including Qatar National Day, the
Arab Games 2011 and the World Innovation
Summit for Education 2011.
On 18 December, 2011, QFRadio switched
on its new transmitter, expanding its
broadcast area from Qatar’s major
conurbations to cover the entire country
and many neighboring states.
Saad Saleh Al Hudaifi, QF Media Center
School hosts
autism lecture
COMMUNITY
Awsaj Institute of Education hosted a free
talk for parents on effective strategies for
helping children with autism.
Dr Laurie Sperry, a Senior Fulbright
Specialist in the condition, gave the
lecture ‘Translating Early Intervention
into Positive Adult Outcomes’.
She said that as children with autism
spectrum disorders mature, society’s
expectations of how they ought to behave
change.
Dr Sperry added that early intervention
in the areas of behavior communication,
social skills and adaptive functioning – a
person’s ability to effectively interact with
society – was imperative to maximize
future independence.
7.
Saad Saleh Al Hudaifi, right, QF Media Center
Manager, presenting QFRadio’s inaugural
broadcast from the Villaggio shopping mall.
Manager, hailed the progress made by
QFRadio during the year.
He said: “The number of current listeners
stands as an example of the success
QFRadio has witnessed since its launch.”
6.
research
QF hosts global
stem cell
conference
Cutting-edge research forum
at QNCC.
Leading scientists and
researchers will meet in Doha in
February for the Qatar
International Conference on Stem
Cell Science and Policy, organized
by Qatar Foundation and the
James A Baker III Institute for
Public Policy.
Hosted by Qatar National
Convention Centre, the
conference is the culmination of
a series of initiatives led by QF to
develop stem cell research in the
region and will run from 27
February – 1 March.
For more information visit
www.qf-research-division.org/
stemcell2012
www.qf.org.qa
5
Briefing.
QF launches CILE
research center
8.
RESEARCH
A new institute specializing in Islamic
legislation and ethics has been unveiled
by QF.
Established under the patronage of Her
Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, QF
Chairperson, the Research Center for
Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) was
launched at a one-day conference on 15
January attended by Her Highness and a
number of the world’s most prominent
scholars and thinkers.
Addressing the conference, Her
Highness said: “The message of this
center must be one based on universal
and established principles, ones which
integrate values and principles as part of
the learning and the formation of
individuals who can be agents of change.”
Based in Qatar Faculty of Islamic
Studies, a QF member, CILE is headed by
Director Dr Tariq Ramadan, a renowned
Muslim thinker.
Sheikh Ali Al Qaradaghi, Head of Islamic Jurisprudence at the College of Shari’a and Islamic Studies,
Qatar University, in a panel discussion with Professor Tariq Ramadan, Professor of Contemporary Islamic
Studies at Oxford University, Professor John Esposito, Professor of International Affairs and Islamic
Studies at Georgetown University, USA, and Sheikh Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
9.
QDA swim training
for diabetics
community
Diabetes sufferers gathered at QF Recreation Center to
take part in swimming training sessions organized by
Qatar Diabetes Association.
6
Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) held a series of
swimming training sessions for sufferers of the disease
at the QF Recreation Center from 9 – 30 January.
Health experts agree that low intensity exercise such
as swimming can improve the well-being of people
with diabetes, reducing their risk of developing heart
and blood diseases. In addition, weight loss and
increased muscle mass resulting from exercise can
improve absorption of blood sugar in diabetics,
bringing it down to a healthier level.
Dr Amal Adam, Medical Co-ordinator, QDA, advised
all diabetics to have a comprehensive medical test
before engaging in any sports programs.
10.
Students from two leading US
universities visited Qatar in January to
participate in a Young Professionals
Institute (YPI) event.
Dr Abdulla Bin Ali Al Thani, President of
Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Vice
President for Education at Qatar
Foundation, welcomed students from
The University of Maryland and Colorado
State University. Participants joined
discussion groups with Qatari
educational professionals, tackling
topics such as recruitment, admissions
and retention, as well as exploring
student affairs as a career path in Qatar.
education
Inspirational
VCUQatar
teacher wins
US award
11.
A professor at Virginia
Commonwealth University in
Qatar (VCUQatar) has received a
prestigious US higher education
award, reflecting her ability to
inspire students with her passion
for painting.
Ruth Bolduan, Assistant
Professor of Painting and
Printmaking, won the Award for
Excellence in Teaching at the
recent Southeastern College Art
Conference Annual Conference,
held in Savannah, Georgia.
Professor Bolduan said she was
deeply indebted to her students
for the honor, and was
particularly happy to be working
in Doha sharing ideas with the
dedicated students from
VCUQatar.
Usually based at Virginia
Commonwealth University
School of the Arts, USA, she is
teaching at VCUQatar for the
2011-12 academic year.
Dr Abdulla Bin Ali Al Thani, President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Vice President for
Education at Qatar Foundation, works with visiting US students during January’s Young
Professionals Institute event.
QFIS hosts
Islamic
banking
conference
12.
Dr Mabid Ali Al Jarhi,
Head of Training at
Emirates Islamic Bank,
engages fellow
delegates in debate.
research
Leading scholars gathered at Qatar
National Convention Centre recently for
the Eighth International Conference on
Islamic Economics and Finance.
Inaugurated in 1976, the conference was
hosted by Qatar Faculty for Islamic
Studies (QFIS) and marked the first time
it has been held in Qatar. The three-day
event featured a series of panel
discussions exploring the role of
traditional Islamic banking practices in
the modern financial world.
Dr Tariqullah Khan, Professor of Islamic
Finance, QFIS, was named at the
conference as the new President of the
International Association for Islamic
Economics.
He said: “Islamic banking is the future of
business in the Gulf and for those
companies doing business with the Gulf.”
www.qf.org.qa
7
Briefing.
COMMUNITY
VCUQatar
joins global
campaign
13.
Virginia Commonwealth
University in Qatar (VCUQatar)
displayed 100 posters to raise
awareness of the right to learn.
The exhibition, held in the
Graphic Design Department,
formed part of a global campaign
promoting access to education.
‘Poster for Tomorrow’ is run by
4Tomorrow, a Paris-based
organization that promotes the
right to education regardless of
race, gender, disability or
economic situation. Its goal is to
encourage people in both the
design community and the
general public to make posters to
stimulate debate on issues that
affect us all. In the previous two
campaigns more than 4,000
posters were received from 81
countries, hosted in exhibitions
across five continents.
QCF partners
with top
career firm
MEEZA to
provide banking
IT solutions
14.
technology
QF joint venture MEEZA has entered into
an exclusive strategic agreement with
Commercialbank to provide the latest IT
applications to the bank’s business
customers.
MEEZA, the leading IT solutions
company in Qatar, is working with the
bank to provide clients with access to a
full portfolio of cloud applications,
including payroll, email, document
management and web hosting solutions.
Rashid Al Naimi, Chairman and CEO,
MEEZA, and VP-Administration, QF, said
introducing these solutions would enable
companies to rapidly adopt the latest
technology. “We look forward to a long
lasting relationship with
Commercialbank as we continue to invest
and expand our presence in the cloud
services space,” he said.
Rashid Al Naimi, Chairman and CEO, MEEZA, and
VP-Administration, QF, welcomed MEEZA’s new
partnership with Commercialbank.
15.
development
Qatar Career Fair (QCF) has signed a
co-operation agreement with Kuder, a
leading international provider of
Internet-based tools for career planning
and assessment.
The agreement, signed by Khalid Al
Sulaiteen, Executive Director of
Operations at QF and Co-Chair of the
Steering Committee of QCF, and Phil
Harrington, President of Kuder, will
present new opportunities for young
Qataris to shape their careers and further
Qatar’s progress towards becoming a
knowledge-based economy.
The first component of the agreement
will include a career development course
for academic counselors.
8
Khalid Al Sulaiteen, Executive Director of Operations at QF and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee
of QCF, signs the co-operation agreement with Phil Harrington, President of Kuder.
Intelligence.
EXPLORING QF INSTITUTIONS, INITIATIVES, PROJECTS AND EVENTS IN DEPTH
The 61 students from QF’s branch campuses who participated in the Qatar LeaderShape Institute 2012 at Al Sultan Beach Resort, Al Khor.
LeaderShape inspires new
generation of global citizens
community
S
tudents drawn from
QF’s six undergraduate
branch campuses
convened in January to take
part in Qatar LeaderShape
Institute 2012 – a leadership
program sponsored and
organized by QF’s Office of
Faculty and Student Services
(OFSS), Education Division.
The intensive six-day
residential program at Al Sultan
Beach Resort, Al Khor, used
interactive learning techniques
to equip the 61 participating
students with leadership
knowledge and skills, as well as
the inspiration to achieve their
visions for a better world.
Dr Dennis Roberts, Assistant
Vice President, OFSS, said:
“Qatar Foundation offers the
LeaderShape Institute in
cooperation with our university
partners so that the student
participants have a chance to
discover compelling purposes
that will increase their
motivation for learning and
success. There are few
programs offered anywhere that
have such a deep impact on
helping students fulfill their
potential as contributors to a
global society.”
In its 25-year history, the
LeaderShape Institute has
graduated more than 35,000
young people in the United
States and around the world.
QF hosted the organization’s
first international session in
2007 and this year brought
branch campus students hailing
from Qatar, the wider Middle
East, Africa, the US, Pakistan
and Afghanistan to take part in
the program.
Rather than relying on
classroom-based tuition, the
program utilizes small and large
group activities, role-playing
and a series of exercises
designed to be engaging but
challenging. The course aims to
provide students with the skills
to become the next generation
of leaders in QF’s mission to
move Qatar towards a
knowledge-based economy.
A key feature of the program
is the Guest Leader Panel, in
which senior figures from the
local community participate in a
discussion forum with students,
exploring the values
underpinning leadership.
This year’s panelists were
Buthaina Al Ansari of Qatari
Business Women Association,
Susie Kelt of Vodafone Qatar
and Mohammad Al Kaabi of
Maersk Oil.
Northwestern University in
Qatar journalism freshman
Marium Saeed said she found
the program inspiring and
enlightening.
“Throughout the six days, we
all worked together as a
community which celebrated
differences, ideas and visions,”
she said.
“We learned to develop a
healthy disregard for the
impossible and ask ourselves
what a better tomorrow looked
like. We learned that making
mistakes was human and that
we should regard them as
‘fascinating’ rather than
obstacles.
“Most importantly, we learned
to wear our core values on our
sleeves for everyone to see, and
that the only way to reach our
visions is through integrity.”
Ameena Hussain, Assistant
Director of Campus Life, OFSS,
said: “LeaderShape is a
wonderful opportunity for
students from different cultural
backgrounds and academic
disciplines to come together and
learn how to lead with integrity.
It’s a unique setting that fosters
patience, tolerance and openmindedness, which is much
needed in our time.”
www.qf.org.qa
9
Intelligence.
His Excellency Dr Abdulla Bin Ali Al Thani, President of
Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Vice President of
Education at QF, presents Her Royal Highness Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand with an official gift.
QF welcomes VIPs
A host of high-profile dignitaries, academics
and politicians visited QF in recent weeks.
round-up
A
string of important guests came to
QF during January to view the
organization’s educational and
research facilities.
One such dignitary was Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
of Thailand, who conducted a two-day
official visit commencing on 9 January.
Her Royal Highness, who has a strong
academic background, is often referred to in
her home country as ‘The Princess of
Technology’ and she took a keen interest in
the many educational facilities at QF during
her visit.
The Thai Princess observed a
presentation outlining the vision and
mission of QF, before viewing a 3D scale
model of the QF site and touring Qatar
Academy, Awsaj Institute of Education and
Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies.
10
She said: “Qatar Foundation is doing a
wonderful job in education, science and
community development, so I wanted to see
what they have been doing here. I like
education because it is the means to give
more opportunities to people. If people
have more knowledge, they will be more
capable of future achievements.”
On 24 January, QF was visited by the First
Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Dr
Ernestina Naadu Mills. Dr Mills is
renowned as a passionate social worker and
advocate for improved standards of
education in Ghana, and in 2009 was at the
helm of an initiative that provided 1.6
million school uniforms to children in
deprived areas of her country.
She said of her visit: “After coming to see
what Qatar Foundation has been involved in
and the numerous projects it looks to begin,
it is clear that it is a force to be reckoned
with internationally.”
VIPs who visited QF
during January 2012
n Her Royal Highness Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of
Thailand
n First Lady of the Republic of
Ghana, Dr Ernestina Naadu
Mills
n Dr Mohamed Omary, Professor
of Chemistry and Physics,
University of North Texas
n Algerian Ambassador His
Excellency Mokadem Ahmed
n Dr Venkatesh Merwade,
Assistant Professor, School of
Civil Engineering, Purdue
University, Indiana, USA
n Delegation from People’s
Friendship University of Russia,
Moscow
n Ahmed Tibi, Arab-Israeli
politician, Deputy Speaker of
the Knesset
n Deposed Palestinian Prime
Minister Ismail Haniya
QF’s architecture saluted
Prestigious design publication examines QF’s groundbreaking building program.
Infrastructure
A
leading Italian
architectural magazine
has published a feature
focusing on the scores of
ambitious construction projects
that have sprung up in Doha in
recent years, including many of
QF’s iconic buildings.
The article in the December
2011 edition of Domus magazine
highlights key elements of the
QF estate, with hand-painted
illustrations of buildings such as
Al Shaqab, Qatar National
Convention Centre, Texas A&M
University at Qatar, the Liberal
Arts and Science (LAS) Building
and Weill Cornell Medical
College in Qatar (WCMC-Q).
Domus journalist
Massimiliano Gioni interviewed
Her Excellency Sheikha Al
Mayassa bint Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson
of Qatar Museums Authority
(QMA), which oversees national
architectural policy. Her
Excellency, who is also
Chairperson of QF’s Reach Out
To Asia initiative, told Gioni
about the burgeoning arts scene
in the country.
800,000
sqm
Size of Al Shaqab
Equestrian Center
She said: “Qatar Foundation
has implemented programs that
have brought many
international universities to
Qatar.
Virginia Commonwealth
University in Qatar (VCUQatar)
offers a graduate program in
design, and a variety of
undergraduate programs in
Islamic art, interior design and
fashion. The Qatar Faculty of
Islamic Studies offers programs
in urban design and
architecture in Muslim
societies.”
She went on to discuss the
buildings at Education City,
saying: “Qatar Foundation’s
initiatives have resulted in
very fascinating buildings in
Education City. Qatar National
Convention Centre designed
by [Japanese architect] Arata
Isozaki opened in December.
“Isozaki has also built the
LAS Building, WCMC-Q and
the Ceremonial Court.
“[Late Mexican architect]
Ricardo Legorreta designed
three of the university
campuses, as well as the Student
Center. Northwestern
University in Qatar was built by
[US architect] Antoine Predock
and VCUQatar was built by
Hazem Abu Naba’a.”
Her Excellency added that
QMA always strives to use
local architects when
commissioning projects, and
that when outside expertise is
brought in the organization
ensures there are many
opportunities for local
knowledge transfer.
Domus magazine ran an
eight-page feature on the
architecture in Doha, including
the many new buildings at Qatar
Foundation, in its December 2011
edition.
www.qf.org.qa
11
Intelligence.
Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, told the audience that solar energy
would be used to cool stadiums and training camps during the World Cup 2022.
The path to success
The Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee takes
CMU-Q on the FIFA World Cup journey.
development
Q
atar’s journey to
winning the right to
host the host the 2022
FIFA World Cup was
the subject of a lecture at
Carnegie Mellon University in
Qatar (CMU-Q) on 17 January.
Students, staff and members
of the press were at CMU-Q to
hear a speech by Hassan Al
Thawadi, Secretary General of
the Qatar 2022 Supreme
Committee.
He said: “There are many
benefits to hosting the World
Cup. It will bring different
cultures and religions together
in the Middle East, united in
their shared passion for
football.”
12
Al Thawadi explained that it
will also help the economy of
the region including the tourism
and hospitality sectors, as well
as offering many opportunities
for entrepreneurs.
“People were concerned
about the heat, but we will use
solar power to create clean
energy to cool stadiums and
training camps,” he said.
The potential problem of
building grand arenas that will
become redundant after the
games will be avoided by
donating selected venues to
countries needing to improve
their infrastructures, he added.
Al Thawadi was appointed to
his current position in March
2011 following on from his role
as CEO of Qatar’s 2022 Bid
Committee. During the bidding
process he worked closely with
Bid Chairman His Excellency
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad
Al Thani, helping to manage
Qatar’s revolutionary attempt to
bring the FIFA World Cup to
the Middle East for the first
time.
The lecture ended with the
signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding between the
Qatar 2022 Supreme
Committee and CMU-Q.
The two organizations
pledged to work together in the
fields of scientific research and
strategic studies, as well as to
encourage students to become
involved in the many projects
required to make Qatar 2022 a
resounding success.
86,250
Capacity of Lusail
Iconic Stadium
being built for
World Cup
2022
There are many benefits to
hosting the World Cup. It will
bring different cultures and religions
together in the Middle East, united in
their shared passion for football.
www.qf.org.qa
13
Achiever.
Spreading
healthcare
worldwide
Marwa Saleh is determined to use her training at Weill Cornell
Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) to make a difference to
healthcare in some of the world’s most impoverished nations. A
third year medical student, she has already started to realize her
goal by working with women and children in rural Nepal and
Uganda. She has also been a prominent debater on topics such as
politics and opportunities for women.
Your decision to study medicine is based on your passion
for helping others. How do you think individuals can
make a difference in terms of solving global health issues?
Q
Every person can play a role to improve
A
healthcare in less developed countries. The
simplest way is to become aware of some of the
issues facing other parts of the world and find out
ways to contribute to solutions through your local
community, for example, by taking part in
fundraising and education campaigns.
This was the idea behind the Global Health Club at
WCMC-Q, which was formed two years ago by
myself and some of my classmates.
We started off by presenting lectures for our fellow
students on topics like emergency healthcare in the
aftermath of a typhoon or earthquake.
This year, we have altered our goals to focus on
getting more faculty members involved and
presenting more active events. For example, we
recently held a Somalian fiesta that aimed to not only
increase awareness about the famine affecting the
country, but also show Somalia in a brighter light
through a celebration of its food, music and culture.
We also plan to hold a series of seminars, starting
in February, focusing on topics such as the role of
non-government organizations (NGOs) and careers
in global health.
You have worked with NGOs in developing countries
providing healthcare to rural communities. What have
these experiences taught you?
Q
When I travelled to Uganda during my university
A
holidays in 2008, it was the first time I had
witnessed real poverty. I volunteered at a rural health
14
clinic operated by an American NGO, the Foundation
for International Medical Relief of Children. It was a
great way to get acquainted with the process of
healthcare delivery in rural, resource poor areas.
In 2009, I spent three weeks in Nepal working for
Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN). A common
problem for rural women in Nepal, as in many
developing countries, is they do not have enough
time to rest after having a baby. Right after delivery,
they are back on their feet and working in the rice
fields, because otherwise their families will starve.
This can lead to uterine prolapse, possibly resulting
in removal of the womb or incontinence. As we can’t
just tell these women to rest, we had to find
alternatives, like teaching them ways to train their
pelvic muscles to make them stronger.
I learned that solutions are never easy and you
can’t expect to make a big change in a short space of
time. Solutions don’t come from foreign NGOs, but
need to come from the people themselves. The great
thing about VIN is that it was staffed by local people,
so Nepalese communities trusted and welcomed it.
What do you plan to do when you graduate
from WCMC-Q?
Q I am interested in so many areas of medicine, so it
A
is difficult to decide a definite career path. I am
interested in healthcare relating to chronic diseases
such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension. I am also
interested in the issues of maternal mortality, infectious
disease and tropical medicine. I am not the type of
person who has just one issue they want to work on.
But what I do know is I want to continue my
commitment to helping others.
www.qf.org.qa
15
RESEarch.
Nobel Laureate Dr Robert H Grubbs
gave the keynote speech at POC
2012, hosted by Texas A&M
University at Qatar.
Scientists flock to TAMUQ
sponsored chemistry forum
Doha showcases its progressive polymer industry
to trailblazers in research and development.
W
hen more than 200 renowned
scientists and researchers converged
on Doha for a high-level international
chemistry conference it was much
more than a meeting of minds.
While all conferences are about the exchange of
ideas, this particular event allowed scientific experts
from around the globe to see first-hand how laboratory
theory could be transformed into industrial
applications worth millions of dollars.
Qatar is a leading nation in the production of
synthetic polymers, a family of compounds which
includes substances such as nylon, PVC and
polyethylene. Polymers are used to produce a huge
range of everyday items, from the cling film wrap found
in the average household kitchen to building materials
and car parts.
So it was fitting that the four-day 14th International
Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
Conference on Polymers and Organic Chemistry (POC
2012) was held in Doha, allowing scientists and
industry leaders to meet and discuss ideas.
Held from 6–9 January at the Renaissance Doha City
Center Hotel, POC 2012 was hosted by Texas A&M
University at Qatar (TAMUQ) under the patronage of
His Excellency Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada,
Minister of Energy and Industry.
16
36
Countries
represented at
POC 2012
It was the first time that the event had been held in an
Arab country, a mark of Qatar’s growing importance as
a leading polymer producer and as a research center.
IUPAC is considered one of the world’s most
prominent authorities on chemical sciences and their
application to industry, with its conferences some of the
most important on the international scientific calendar.
His Excellency Dr Al Sada told the conference that
the petrochemical industry had always been a primary
beneficiary of the scientific advancement and
innovative technologies of applied chemistry, which
enabled the industry to be more efficient and safer in
producing, transporting and consuming diverse types
of value-added petrochemical derivatives.
He said: “As part of the broader economic strategy
His Excellency Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, center, with some of the high-profile industry leaders and dignitaries in attendance at the event.
set out in Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and the National
Development Strategy, we will continue to utilize our
rich hydrocarbon resources and further develop the
petrochemical sector, consolidating Qatar’s position as a
major force in the industry.
“We see the future of the chemical industry evolving
in this region, creating innumerable opportunities,
fostering further investment and creation of knowledge
in many medium and small-scale downstream
industries.”
Dr Hassan S Bazzi, Associate Professor of Chemistry
at TAMUQ and Conference Chair, said the impressive
growth of Qatar’s polymer industry had run parallel to
an increasing amount of activity in research and
development, making Doha a suitable location in which
to hold a major chemistry conference.
“Qatar’s polymer industry has been progressing quite
well since the late 1990s, so we thought it was a natural
fit to bring this meeting here,” Dr Bazzi said.
“Qatar is one of the world’s most rapidly advancing
centers for scientific research. Through the work of
premier universities, and thanks to partnerships with
leading organizations in the industrial, commercial and
government sectors, Qatar has become a thriving
marketplace for ideas, information and scholarship.”
Scientists from 36 countries were in attendance,
representing some of the most significant universities in
the world in terms of research and development,
including McGill University, Canada and the University
of California.
The high standing of the event was emphasized by
the participation of Nobel Laureate Dr Robert H
Grubbs as the keynote speaker.
Dr Grubbs, the Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor
of Chemistry at Caltech, was awarded the Nobel Prize
for Chemistry in 2005 alongside two fellow scientists
Through the work of premier universities,
and thanks to partnerships with leading
organizations... Qatar has become a thriving
marketplace for ideas, information and scholarship.
for the development of the metathesis method in
organic synthesis.
Metathesis is an organic reaction which allows
chemists to build custom-made molecules, paving the
way for the creation of new materials. Grubbs and his
research team developed effective new catalysts for the
process, which are more efficient and less wasteful than
those previously available. This has had huge
implications for the pharmaceutical and plastics
industries worldwide, leading to the development of
new drugs for treating disease as well as industrial
products which are more efficient and environmentally
friendly. For example, catalysts developed by Dr Grubbs
have been used to convert seed oils from corn and
soybeans into new generation ‘green’ fuels.
During his keynote speech, the world-renowned
organic chemist told conference attendees that one of
the most exciting aspects of his work was that he could
create a catalyst and other people around the world
could find new and interesting applications for it.
Dr Bazzi said Dr Grubbs was an example of a scientist
whose work had huge ramifications in everyday life,
which was highlighted by the fact that he had more
than 115 patents and 500 publications based on his
research.
The conference concluded with an awards ceremony,
during which Qatar Petrochemical Company Vice
Chairman and CEO Dr Mohammed Al Mulla was
honored with a leadership award.
www.qf.org.qa
17
arts.
A new
look for
Leonardo
Da Vinci
VCUQatar
Professor Jesse
Payne gets students
excited about the
renaissance master
in an unusual way.
Jesse Payne has spent
countless hours
re-imagining some of
da Vinci’s most
revered works.
W
alking into the
Virginia Commonwealth
University in Qatar
(VCUQatar) visitors are
regularly impressed by
the imaginative and thought provoking
work of its students. The school is quickly
becoming a center for creative inspiration
and progressive designs, which is in large
part due to the talent of its professors.
Jesse Payne, Art & Design Foundation
Assistant Professor is one such member of
staff who is using his talent to bring
excitement to the discipline of drawing.
The catalyst for his art came from
Leonardo Da Vinci’s series of ‘grotesque
heads’ drawings. Payne developed a
fascination with these pictures and put
together a series of caricature drawings of
disfigured people, rendering the pictures
largely accurately, but with his own subtle
differences incorporated.
“In most cases Leonardo’s drawings were
small, no more than two inches in height,
but my drawings are all rendered life size;
that is, the heads in my drawings are the
same size as ours,” said Payne.
No one knows what Da Vinci’s intentions
were for the grotesque heads or whether
they were drawn from life, from
imagination, or both. Nevertheless, the
pieces were immediately popular and often
copied, even while Da Vinci was still alive.
Some art historians speculate that it was Da
Vinci’s intention that developing artists
18
More than
100
‘grotesque heads’
pictures created
by da Vinci
Da Vinci’s original ‘grotesque heads’ drawings were no more than two
inches in height but Payne has rendered his versions life size.
copy his grotesque heads, of which he is
believed to have created at least 100.
“Leonardo’s heads are some of the most
copied drawings of all time, so perhaps in
some cases I am doing copies of copies,”
says Payne, whose drawings feature
elaborate detail not found in the originals.
Where Da Vinci suggested bad skin, Payne
depicted a particular dermatological
The
student
critique
condition in great detail. Where Da Vinci
showed the basics of a garment, Payne has
painstakingly illustrated the texture of the
fabric in intricate detail.
Payne’s pictures haven’t only proved a hit
with his students but also with the
international art community. His drawings,
carefully rendered in graphite, have been
published in the online version of
Juxtapoza, a leading monthly underground
arts and culture magazine.
But Payne’s interpretations deviate
somewhat from Da Vinci’s sketches. For
example, while Da Vinci’s pictures are
mostly drawn in pen and brown ink, Payne’s
drawings were made using various graphite
pencils, which give the artist more control
Amani Abbara
Interior Design student at
VCUQatar
I made my drawings
life-size to help achieve
a life-like quality to the work
and to engage the viewer more
in terms of interacting with the
work
over shade and tone. However, Payne
retained Da Vinci’s basic rules for the
presentation of the heads: the subjects are
seen from the top of the head to the middle
of the sternum or a line just below the
shoulder, and no backgrounds are
suggested.
he people depicted in Da Vinci’s
T
sketches are almost never facing the
viewer, a point that Payne considers
important. It fits with some opinions that
Da Vinci secretly observed the models,
instead of engaging with them face-to-face.
Payne also believes that viewers would have
a much tougher time approaching the
drawings if the figures were looking
straight ahead, suggesting eye contact. He
preserved this aspect of Da Vinci’s
drawings, in part because he wanted
viewers to feel comfortable taking a close
look at his drawings.
“I made my drawings life-size to help
achieve a life-like quality to the work and to
engage the viewer more in terms of
interacting with the work,” he explained.
“Furthermore, I took it upon myself to
embellish these heads with various skin
conditions to make them more grotesque,
pushing the level of deformities, the blisters
and psoriasis to the point that they might
seem transferable, to the point where you
don’t want the subject to turn his or her
head and look at you or breathe on you. But
I want people to come closer to see the
detail I put in there.”
14521519:
Lifetime of
Leonardo da
Vinci
Art historians believe
Da Vinci may have
encouraged students
to hone their own
skils by copying his
‘grotesque heads’
drawings.
It is always challenging for a
student to comment on the
performance of his or her
professor. However, I like
Professor Payne’s art. I think it
clearly reflects a dazzling artistic
skill and a professional
understanding of colors, lines,
and composition. I still remember
his abstract paintings, a
melodious combination of colors
that recede and advance creating
a dynamic space that captivates
the imaginative mind. The
meaning or the subject of his
paintings and drawings are not as
layered as his colors or lines.
Professor Payne has different
approaches and skills. The main
source of inspiration was not
directly derived from his
paintings but from the creative
assignments we discussed and
worked on. Creating a course
that is characterized by a
thorough and well-defined
structure in addition to
productive diversity requires
ingenious and inventive thinking.
Omar Ezzeldeen
Arts Foundation student at
VCUQatar
Professor Payne’s style depends
on making the drawings very
personal. By doing so, the
artwork becomes much more
expressive, and that is what
attracts the viewer to it.
In the Grotesque Last Supper, he
expressed his own interpretation
of da Vinci’s drawings. By adding
more from his imagination to the
blisters and deformities, the
life-size portraits became more
grotesque than the original ones.
Professor Payne has even made
them more realistic so they seem
as if they could turn around at
any moment and look at the
viewer.
His use of various graphite
pencils reflects his mastery of the
art of drawing in pencil, and his
great understanding of surface,
light and shadow.
Professor Payne taught me
how to draw things the way I feel
fit. He always gave me guidelines,
which I would expand on and
process in my head to be able to
fully understand the concept so I
could illustrate it the way I see it.
In this way it becomes personal to
me.
I never got bored or annoyed
while working on a drawing - no
matter how long it took. Professor
Payne has pushed me beyond my
limits and had me explore new
media to use in my artwork.
This attention to detail is partly a result
of Payne’s apprenticeship to Odd Nerdrum,
a noted Norwegian figurative artist who he
considers the greatest technical painter of
our time.
Payne said: “I came back from my
apprenticeship a much better artist and
improved all the grotesque heads I had
already done.”
He recalls spending more than five hours
working on a small section of a shirt in one
of the drawings.
“Leonardo’s self-portrait - shown next to
my rendition- is believed to be his only
surviving self-portrait and perhaps the only
one he ever made. It is very faint and I
strived to keep that quality in my final
drawing,” says Payne.
Payne’s grotesque heads can be viewed at
his website www.jessepayne.com
www.qf.org.qa
19
Research.
HOLDING BACK
THE SANDS OF TIME
20
20.
Foundation
Special
report
A unique project conducted by
scientists at Weill Cornell Medical
College in Qatar is exploring ways to
protect vital infrastructure from the
relentless march of giant sand dunes.
ince the dawn of civilization, mankind has
S
sought to dominate his surroundings, changing
the landscape to create habitats in which
communities can thrive.
Successive generations of farmers and engineers
have used their ingenuity to create terraces upon
which to grow crops, dammed rivers and built
aqueducts to provide irrigation, and constructed
dykes to reclaim land from the sea.
www.qf.org.qa
21
Research.
Now a team of scientists from Weill Cornell Medical
College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), joined by colleagues from
the university’s campus in Ithaca, USA, are attempting
to develop ways to combat an as yet unsolved
geographical conundrum: how to halt the inexorable
movement of the huge sand dunes that sweep across
the world’s deserts.
The fine sands of these vast, mobile dunes - known as
barchans - migrate on the winds across desert regions,
engulfing anything that stands in their way.
While their awesome size makes them enduring
tourist attractions, they are also a nuisance, covering
roads, houses and, in much of the Gulf, threatening the
pipelines and oil refineries upon which the prosperity
of the region depends.
A team of scientists comprising Visiting Assistant
Professor Dr Renee Richer, Senior Biology Lecturer Dr
Christopher Ogden and Research Assistant Sara Abdul
Majid from WCMC-Q, along with Professor of
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dr Michel
Louge and Dr Anthony Hay, Associate Professor in the
Department of Microbiology from Weill Cornell’s
Ithaca campus, won the award for the Best
Environment Research Program of the Year at the QF
Annual Research Forum 2011 for their project
investigating the presence of bacteria within dunes and
the capacity these microbes have to bind the sand
together, slowing the rate of erosion. The three-year
project began in 2011 and is now entering its second
year.
Dr Louge explained the nature of barchans dunes. He
said: “Barchan dunes capture grains of sand brought to
them by the wind. The dunes’ unique shape causes
sand grains to swirl around them and rest on their
Dr Anthony Hay,
Associate Professor
in the Department
of Microbiology at
Weill Cornell
Medical College’s
Ithaca campus.
Dr Renee Richer and Research Assistant Sara Abdul Majid test a piece of the equipment
the team uses to monitor CO2 levels in the dunes.
downwind face. When enough grains have
accumulated, the face develops an avalanche, which
causes the dune to move relentlessly forward.”
The avalanche face of barchan dunes is crescentshaped, terminating in ‘horns’ at both ends. Sand blown
to the horns is lost downwind but the dune is
constantly replenished with more sand blowing onto it.
Dr Louge continued: “Because barchan dunes
capture as many grains as they lose through both horns,
their size does not grow appreciably.
“Instead, barchans advance slowly but tenaciously,
engulfing roads and refineries.
“Eventually, because there is no longer a source of
sand upwind, these dunes will end up in the sea.”
Qatar’s barchans are found only in the southeastern
region of the country and are currently a disappearing
natural habitat, owing to the northwesterly Al Shamal
winds that scour the landscape and carry the sands
away over the sea.
Research Assistant Sara Abdul Majid gave an
overview of the study.
She said: “It was thought that there were no living
organisms within dunes because of the extreme heat
and the very dry conditions. We have been taking
samples from the dunes, extracting DNA and then
analyzing it to discover what types of microorganisms
live there.”
he study has discovered that, far from being
T
completely sterile, colonies of bacteria are able to
survive in barchans at depths between 15-30cm, owing
to the cooler, moister and UV-protected sand below the
surface. The particular types of bacteria that have been
discovered – Arthrobacter and Marmonicola – are
commonly found in soil and help to bond the material
together, reducing the rate of erosion.
Dr Richer explained the process in more detail. She
said: “Microbial communities, besides being exciting
biologically and ecologically, produce biofilms. Biofilms
are in general polysaccharide (carbohydrate
molecules) secretions that ‘cement’ sand and soil
grains together, forming a structure that is more
able to resist erosion and may play other roles in
the dune.”
typical length of a
As well as testing for the existence of
barchan dune
microorganisms in the sand, the study also
involved exhaustive monitoring of the
100m
22.
The team’s weather station
comprised a wind vane, an
anemometer (for measuring
wind speed), temperature and
humidity gauges.
15-30cm
Dr Michel Louge and Dr Renee Richer raise the team’s
weather-monitoring station.
Official title of
WCMC-Q’s study
n ‘Halting the Erosion of Qatar’s Barchan
Dunes: A Study on the Synergy Between
Ripple Motion, Moisture Retenetion and
Microbial Growth within Barchans and How
it Can be Explited to Stop the Erosion of an
Active Dune’
Dune facts
nT
he front side of a barchan dune is known
as the ‘slip face’
nT
he slip face lies at an angle of
approximately 35 degrees, while the
upwind side lies at approximately
15 degrees
nB
archan dunes are crescent-shaped and
terminate in ‘horns’ at each end
nB
archans are typically up to 100 meters in
length but can coalesce to form ridges
hundreds of kilometers long
nT
he speed of a barchan dune’s advance is in
inverse proportion to its length. For
example, a 75m-long barchan will move
about 10m in a year, while a 750m barchan
move only 1m in a year
characteristics of the dunes. Probes were used to
record the temperature and humidity of the sand just
below the surface over prolonged periods of time,
building up a detailed profile of the dune during both
the day and night. The movements of dunes were also
mapped and, by cross-referencing the data, the team
was able to draw a correlation between migration
speeds and the presence of microorganisms.
This phenomenon has a number of potential practical
applications, said Dr Richer.
“Here in Qatar the sand dunes are an important
tourist attraction and sand is a resource for industry,”
she explained.
“But in other areas of the Middle East and North
Africa, moving sand dunes consume agricultural areas
and settlements. Halting or slowing the movement
would help protect these sensitive areas.”
depth at which
bacteria is
found in dunes
Dr Christopher Ogden and Dr Michel
Louge inspect equipment on the dune.
www.qf.org.qa
23
community.
Hitting the right
Qatar Music Academy holds conference on
24
24.
A
school held a music therapy training
workshop to promote the technique in Doha.
Qatar Music Academy worked with Hamad
Medical Corporation (HMC) to explore how it can
be used to treat anxiety and other conditions.
The school will become the hub of Qatar’s music therapy
program as its staff promotes international best practice to
music therapists across the country.
Dr Abdul Ghafour Al Heeti, Acting Director of Qatar Music
Academy and Chairman of the music therapy steering
committee, said: “Music therapy is for the benefit of the entire
population and therefore it is vital that we also include other
medical, educational and community development
institutions.
“As Hamad Medical Corporation is the primary healthcare
organization in Qatar we decided to collaborate with it, along
with Al Shafallah, Al Noor Institute and Al Mada.
“This will enable us to make Her Highness Sheikha Moza
bint Nasser’s vision a reality by involving the whole
community in the development of the music therapy project.”
Music therapy can be used to treat a wide range of
conditions, including anxiety, autism, epilepsy, eating
disorders and learning disabilities.
The technique can boost self-esteem, cognitive functioning
and social and motor skills through voicework, movement and
improvisation with musical instruments.
t can benefit people of any age and cultural background
Ischools,
and can be delivered in a wide variety of settings, including
prisons, hospitals, day centers and hospices.
Dr Al Heeti added: “A qualified music therapist evaluates the
needs and abilities of clients in order to recommend relevant
treatment that may include creating, moving or simply
listening to music.
“The therapeutic use of music can help individuals who may
have difficulty in expressing themselves to find avenues for
communication. Often, the individual can gain confidence and
strength through this form of therapy that may help them in
other areas of their life.”
Healthcare professionals attended a week-long workshop in
which they were introduced to the music therapy concept.
notes
the benefits of music therapy.
www.qf.org.qa
25
community.
We are true believers that
music therapy will flourish in
Qatar and it will help individuals
and communities become more
productive, forward looking and
healthy
QMA invited health
care professionals
from across Qatar to
attend its music
therapy workshop.
The 20 participants included staff from HMC, Al
Noor Institute, Al Shafallah Center for Children with
Special Needs and Qatar Assistive Technology Center
(MADA).
The music therapy program was approved by Her
Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser on 19 October,
2010 and Dr Al Heeti said extensive research had been
conducted into its use in Qatar.
He said: “As one of the first achievements of this
committee, we hosted an inaugural music therapy
training workshop, initiated by Hamad Hospital, with
the aim of introducing the concept of music therapy to
medical professionals in Qatar.
“Twenty-seven attendees participated in this weeklong event at QMA.
“At the opening session, members of the press were
invited in order to raise awareness of music therapy and
our project among the local community.”
He added: “The vision is to provide music therapy
services of the highest quality to children and adults
with special needs in Qatar.
“Qatar Music Academy will play a pivotal role in the
accomplishment of this vision. Our main role will be a
facilitative one, helping to recruit the best music
therapists, engaging with industry experts to obtain the
necessary advice and also evaluating music therapy
provision.”
Dr Al Heeti said that the training of future music
therapists – particularly those of Qatari origin – would
be emphasized.
Issa Boulos, Head of Arab Music at Qatar Music
Academy and a member of the Music Therapy Select
Committee, said: “Like any other therapy, the process
that an individual goes through to overcome certain
difficulties can be long, extensive, and frustrating. As
music therapy also deals with diverse cases where age
and severity of the problem are also part of equation,
music therapy has an edge over other fields because of
the nature of music as an art form.
26
“There is little doubt that music is the most popular
of all art forms. It has various virtues – some relate to
the tools of expression it provides, the doors to familiar
grounds that it facilitates, and the hands-on experience
both in its physical and mental shapes.
“Music has been used for thousands of years in
cultural ceremonies and rituals and its role in society is,
to this day, pretty powerful and meaningful. We are true
believers that music therapy will flourish in Qatar and it
will help individuals and communities become more
productive, forward looking and healthy.”
The music therapy workshop launch was held at
Katara, presided over by Dr Al Heeti and Dr Wafa Al
Yazeedi, Acting Chairman of HMC’s Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation Department.
oth have provided key leadership to the
B
introduction and ongoing development of music
therapy in Qatar.
Talking about the program’s launch, Dr Wafa said:
“Through this initiative, the Department of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation at HMC is offering local
allied health professionals the opportunity to learn
more about music therapy as an established form of
expressive therapies in the promotion of good health
“We are looking to provide professional music
therapy in the near future as part of a comprehensive
set of allied health services for the benefit of our
patients at HMC.
“For this to happen, we need to encourage more
credentialed professionals who have completed an
approved music therapy program to begin to provide
this service.”
Tony Thomas, an occupational therapist who
attended the course, said: “When I first started I was
one of the people who were quite skeptical about
whether it could work.
“I have learnt a lot during the week about what music
therapy can do for people with injuries – even children
with autism or similar problems.
“The basic premise of the course was not to become a
music therapist but to learn about it and come out with
a very clear understanding.
“It is definitely something I would advocate for use in
the State of Qatar.”
ARTS.
Inspiring a love of Arabic
Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud’s
book, Al Qursan, is the first
novel by a Qatari to be
launched by Bloomsbury
Qatar Foundation
Publishing. Published in late
2011, the novel’s name
translates as The Pirate and
its author hopes it will inspire
a new generation of Arabs to
embrace the art of writing in
their own language.
I
n the early nineteenth century, a British
ship is on its way to deliver a precious sword
from the British High Commissioner to Ibrahim
Pasha, Commander of the Egyptian Army. This
gift is meant to persuade Ibrahim to ally with the
British against the tribes in the Gulf. However, the
ships of Arhom Bin Jaber -‘The Pirate’ - attack the
mission, leading to the exciting pursuit of Bin Jaber
by the British fleet.
This is the story that Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud,
Executive Director, QF Publishing Center, tells in
his first published work: Al Qursan, or The Pirate.
Explaining the inspiration for the novel, Al
Mahmoud said: “Major events and names in this
book are true but details are of the imagination.
“I think it will be controversial in a small way
because I think some people will not distinguish
between fiction based on a true story and a nonfictional historical event. It’s sometimes very
difficult to explain that it’s not a reference book - it’s
a novel, though through reading it people will get a
lot of information.”
While researching the novel, Al Mahmoud studied
everything he could find on the subject, from books
and old manuscripts, to lectures which he attended.
But the narrow range of source material available
made him concerned that only one point of view of
the region’s past has survived.
He said: “Most of the history written about this area
is by British officers or British officials. Very little
genuine content was written by people in the area.
“Despite this, my aim was to accumulate all the
available information in a novel that people would
find interesting, that would make the history come
alive and make it easier to understand.”
As the first native adult author to be published in
Qatar, Al Mahmoud now hopes that the culture of
writing will take hold more strongly in the Arab
Author Abdulaziz Al
Mahmoud says his aim
was to enhance local
knowledge of Qatar’s
history by presenting it
in an exciting and
entertaining context.
World so that the Arab perspective on historical
events will be recorded.
“I think we lack that culture because it’s not
implemented in our education system,” said Al
Mahmoud.
“This is changing in those countries where they are
investing money in reforming education, but it takes
time to happen.”
Al Mahmoud, an engineer and journalist who
previously served as editor-in-chief of the newspapers
www.qf.org.qa
27
arts.
Al Mahmoud has begun work on a second book
to follow Al Qursan and hopes to inspire young
Qataris to develop a love for the Arabic language.
Al Qursan by
Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud
Chapter 6: The British
Governor’s office,
Bombay
My aim was to accumulate all the available information
in a novel that people would find interesting, that would
make the history come alive and make it easier to understand
Al Sharq and The Peninsula, has begun
writing a second book and hopes his works
will inspire a new love for the Arabic
language among young people in Qatar.
obin Fetherston, Assistant
R
Professor, English Liberal Arts &
Science at Virginia Commonwealth
University in Qatar, teaches literature to
students hailing from all over the Arab
World and beyond.
Echoing Al Mahmoud’s hopes, she said: “I
was very happy to hear the book was
published in Arabic because even students
are concerned with people losing fluency in
the language. It wouldn’t be lost but instead
what is happening is that there is a
combination of Arabic and English that is
arising. On Qatar radio an expert in
language development called it ‘Arabish’.
28
“I think that it’s fine to have something
like that but only if people are also fluent
in their native tongue.”
Robin sees this as a real watershed
moment for Qatar.
She said: “I think Arabic is a beautiful
language and fiction appeals to the
imagination in a way non-fiction does not.
“Fiction appeals to the sense of
becoming human and the thinking,
feelings and imagination of the reader
helps us connect with one another.
“Through reading fiction we start to
understand other people who have had
experiences we haven’t shared but that
we can experience with them vicariously
and safely. Through fiction we don’t have
to go through the pain or suffering –we
can gain their wisdom by observing the
characters rather than having to do it
ourselves. This is the beauty of fiction.”
The Governor reached for the
sword that was in a sleek wooden
box, and held it out for Captain
Sadler.
The box was decorated with
striking pictures and an intricate,
unfamiliar script. But it was the
scabbard that caused the officer’s
eyes to widen as he took in the
array of encrusted jewels and
precious gems. Sadler drew the
sword gently, his fingers tenderly
running over the inscriptions
engraved on the blade as though
sensing cuts in the softest silk.
“Good Lord!” he exclaimed with
awe. “I’ve never seen anything
like it.”
“Yes, Captain,” said the
Governor. “It’s worth a small
fortune. One of a kind, actually. It
was meant as a gift for His
Majesty, but given the situation in
the region, we’ve decided to put it
to better use.”
The officer was still busy
scrutinizing the blade, so the
Governor patted Sadler’s arm to
attract his attention. “This sword
is the key to your mission,
Captain,” he added. “You cannot
succeed without it. Let me explain
what I mean….”
CALENDAR.
A guide to qatar foundation events taking place in the coming months
february 2012
Qatar International
Conference on Stem Cell
Science and Technology
Qatar National Convention Centre
27 February – 1 March
www.qf-research-division.org/
stemcell2012
Jointly organized by QF and
the James A Baker III Institute
for Public Policy at Rice
University, Houston, Texas,
the event will bring together
scientists, advocates,
educators, policy makers and
government representatives to
share knowledge on stem cell
science and policy.
Al Shaqab Auction and Open Day
This is the only occasion during the year when Al Shaqab sells its horses, making
the auction an attraction for breeders and VIPs from around the world. Visitors
to the esteemed equestrian center are welcome to tour the barns and the breeding
and show section before the auction starts at 6.30pm. Breeders from around the
world will attend and there will be 30 – 35 horses of Al Shaqab’s pure-bred
Arabian bloodlines to bid on. Al Shaqab, 25 February, 2012, www.alshaqab.com
March 2012
Violin Showpieces
Qatara Philharmonic
Orchestra
Katara
3 March, 7.30pm
qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org
Andreas Weiser will conduct a
series of performances of
classic violin pieces including
Rossini’s William Tell
Overture, Brahms’ Hungarian
Dance No.1, Rachmaninoff’s
Vocalise for violin and
orchestra, and Verdi’s Ballet
from Aida.
The guest artist for the
evening will be Czech violinist
Jiri Vodicka.
Various art classes
VCUQatar
5 March – 5 April
www.qatar.vcu.edu
Classes begin on 5 March with
an introduction to ceramic
mosaics on Mondays and
Wednesdays, running until 28
March. A class on clay murals
taught in Arabic will be held
on Sundays and Thursdays
from 11 March – 4 April, while
classes on silver jewelrymaking will be held each
Thursday from 15 March – 5
April.
Prices for classes range from
QR800 – QR1,400.
6th International Conference
on Environmental Mutagens in
Human Populations
Qatar National Convention Centre
26 – 29 March 2012
www.icemhp-2012.org
The QF-organized conference
will bring renowned scientists
from around the world
together at QNCC to identify
solutions to a range of health
problems caused by
environmental factors.
April 2012
Qatar Career Fair
Qatar National Convention Centre
1 – 5 April
www.qatarcareerfair.com
The fair offers Qatari students
education, recruitment,
training and personal
development opportunities,
enabling them to strengthen
their skills, pursue careers and
embrace the challenges of
national development.
There will also be activities
and competitions including a
photography contest and
prizes for the most compelling
career stories.
Fashion Show 2012
VCUQatar
19 April, 7.30pm
www.qatar.vcu.edu/events
Senior students at Virginia
Commonwealth University in
Qatar (VCUQatar) present
their annual fashion show.
Tickets are available free of
charge on the door from
6.30pm on a first come, first
serve basis.
Due to anticipated strong
demand, guests are
encouraged to arrive as early
as possible.
Georgetown Young Leaders
Seminar in Qatar
Georgetown University – School of
Foreign Service in Qatar
20 – 23 April
http://qatar.sfs.georgetown.edu
Middle Eastern, North African
and South Asian countries are
in the midst of dynamic
political and economic change.
This seminar aims to bring
together 15 to 20 emerging
leaders from these regions to
examine the most pressing
global trends and international
issues affecting them,
including the Arab Spring and
the rise of India.
May 2012
SPE International Production
and Operations Conference
and Exhibition
Qatar National Convention Centre
14 – 16 May
www.spe.org/events/poce/2012
Held under the patronage of
His Excellency Dr Mohammed
Saleh Al Sada, Qatar’s Minister
of Energy and Industry, the
Society of Petroleum
Engineers (SPE) International
Production and Operations
Conference and Exhibition
will feature seven panel
sessions considering topics
such as upstream and
downstream production,
human capital development
and carbon management.
www.qf.org.qa
29
QF Radio.
Follow QF Radio on
QF Radio’s programs can now be
downloaded via iTunes.
The station can be found under Radio
> International > QF Radio.
Sunday – Thursday
A daily
snapshot of QF
Covering subjects from health and well-being to
technology, film and the arts, QF Radio’s Corners
show offers a daily dose of entertainment and news
from every part of QF, presented by Nabil Al Nashar
and Laura Finnerty.
C
orners airs live from 6-7pm
Sunday to Thursday, with
Laura and Nabil presenting
the show on alternate days,
before uniting to co-anchor
the weekly round-up program each
Thursday.
Featuring live interviews with guests
and callers, the show delivers news from
every corner of QF on a wide variety of
subjects, as Laura explained.
“It’s a real mix of information from
Qatar Foundation, the universities and all
the projects that are going on. We also
bring in international news and end with
a light-hearted, uplifting item,” she said.
“The general feel of the show is fun and
light-hearted – our slot is in the evening
so listeners will either be on their way
home or will be at home after a day at the
30
office or university, so they are in the
mood to relax while being entertained.”
Laura presents the Sunday show when
the topic is health and wellbeing, and the
Tuesday program on local people with
special talents, while Al Nashar presents
Monday’s technology show and the news
program on Wednesdays. The pair jointly
anchor the end of week round-up show
on Thursdays, which also features movie
reviews by Al Nashar. The last 20 minutes
of each program is devoted to bizarre
news from all over the world.
Al Nashar said: “There are so many
interesting projects happening at QF that
we are able to cover a very wide spectrum
of subjects.
“It’s great because it keeps the show
fresh and interesting, and the listener is
informed as well as entertained.”
01:00 Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Music
02:00 Oud Music
03:00 Classical Music Pieces
04:00International Orchestra Music
05:00Piano Music
06:00English News
07:00 Bright Morning
09:00International News
10:00 English News
11:00 Sports Global
12:00 English News
13:00 Cinema this Week
13:30 Economic News
14:00 International News
15:00 The Voice of the Youth
16:00 Sports Global
16:20 Economic News
16:30 International News
17:30 Nothing is Impossible
18:00 Corners
19:00 Sports Global
19:20 International News
19:30 Economic News
20:00Straight Up
21:00 Legendary Artists
22:00 English News
23:00 Audible Whispers
23:30 Economic News
23:40 Sports Global
Friday – Saturday
00:00International News
00:15 Economic News
01:00 Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Music
02:00Oud Music
03:00Classical Music Pieces
04:00International Orchestra Music
05:00Piano Music
06:00English News
07:00 Sports Global
07:30 Economic News
09:00International News
12:00 English News
13:00 Cinema this Week
14:00 Our Present in their Past
15:00 Waiting for Pearls
16:00 Our Present in their Past
17:00 Waiting for Pearls
18:00 English News
21:00 Legendary Artists
23:00 Audible Whispers
Out to Lunch With...
Each month The Foundation meets a young professional to learn about
their career, their inspiration and the person behind the role.
Abdulla Faraj
Al Abdulla
W
anybody I meet, from workers
on the street to people at
ROTA, but it is the
Prophet
Mohammed
(Peace be upon
Him) whom I
value the most.
children helped by
This is because he
ROTA initiatives
has perfection in
worldwide
just about
everything, from
religion and knowledge to
humanity and morals.
I hope that Qatar and Islamic
countries will become a model
for good in all these areas and
provide a main source of
science and research,
knowledge and technology to
the region and the wider
world.
48
Million
orking as Monitoring &
Evaluation Specialist at Reach
Out To Asia (ROTA), Abdulla Al
Abdulla’s job involves carefully
scrutinizing the organization’s
many community projects in
Qatar and abroad to ensure
they are achieving their goals
and meeting the high standards
expected by QF.
Q
I’m responsible for
A
monitoring and evaluating
systems and frameworks
Q
I would very much like to
A
meet Sheikh Jassim Bin
Mohammed Al Thani, the
If you could meet a famous
personality who would it be?
What do you like about
your role?
founder of the State of Qatar.
All the Qataris united under
his wisdom, which let the
State of Qatar rise up strongly
through great challenges and
with modest resources.
across ROTA’s activities inside
and outside of Qatar. I like the
way it’s an open invitation to
work with all layers of the
organization and share results
that benefit people.
What makes
you smile?
Why is it important to get young
people involved with ROTA?
Q One of our main areas is
A
involving youth as a
potential power for the
present and future.
This not only helps the
communities they work in but
also gives them the
opportunity to improve their
life skills and lifestyle by
participating in ROTA youth
conferences, sport events,
volunteering programs and
many other activities.
What is your greatest
achievement?
Q I think that every
A
achievement in our lives is
a combination of several
factors that other people have
been involved in somehow.
Q Every morning is a
A
blessing. I have my faith,
my family, my friends and my
“One of our main areas
is involving youth as a
potential power for the
present and future. This
not only helps the
communities they work
in but also gives them
the opportunity to
improve their life skills.”
Our achievements would not
be possible without the help
of others.
I think my greatest
achievement is still to come
and will be during my work
for Qatar Foundation.
Who inspires you
to achieve?
Q There are many people
A
who inspire me. I like to
learn anything good from
work commitments.
I also get a great amount of
pleasure from reading, which
is one of my main pastimes.
Recently I have been reading
Too Nice for Your Own Good:
How to Stop Making 9 SelfSabotaging Mistakes by US
author Duke Robinson, which
says it’s actually a good thing
to say ‘no’ sometimes.
I am also a big fan of
technology - I love the way it
has changed everyone’s life for
the better. It has made my life
much easier and helped me to
stay organized and master my
professional life.
www.qf.org.qa
31