the Aggie Platform, summer 2011

VOL. 7, ISSUE 1 SUMMER 2011

Platformthe Aggie

Texas A&M University presents honorary degree to His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah

STAUNCH SUPPORTER

102 the Aggie Platform

SCENE

Published by the Office of Marketing , Communications and Events

Texas A&M University at Qatar

Volume 7, Issue 1, Summer 2011

Alicia HollandEditor

Brady CreelManaging Editor

Jamie ArrexiAssistant Editor

Elisabeth KentArabic Editor

Nicole SmithEditorial Intern

EDITORIALSwitch Media

PHOTOGRAPHERSAbdallah El BinniJuliette SawyerHussein SayedNicole Smith

Cover photo by Juliette Sawyer

Platformthe Aggie

Texas A&M Engineering BuildingEducation CityPO Box 23874, Doha, Qatartel. +974.4423.0010 fax. +974.4423.0011www.qatar.tamu.edu

It’s Time to Engineer a World of Difference.

2 ONCAMPUS

6 OUTREACH

8 GIG’EM

12 SPOTLIGHT

Building a Pipeline to Industry

16 NEWTECHNOLOGY

Aggies’ Driving Force

18 SPOTLIGHT

Creating New Knowledge 32 ACCOLADES

34 TEACHING ANDLEARNING Q&A with Rachel White

35 AGGIESINACTION

Ali Fayed ‘10, mechanical engineer

36 OUTANDABOUT

26 إطاللة عىلبناء معرفة جديدة

إطاللة عىل 31 بناء الكوادر البرشية للقطاعات الصناعية

يف الداخل

The May 2011 graduating class is diverse, featuring eight chemical engineers, 13 electrical engineers, 14 mechanical engineers and 20 petroleum engineers. The graduating class is 30 percent female and represents 16 countries. INSIDE


ONCAMPUS

TEXAS A&M at Qatar graduated 55 new engineers at the University’s commencement ceremony 5 May. The event was a milestone for the University, as it graduated its 200th new engineer and its 100th Qatari engineer.

Dr. Mark H. Weichold, dean and CEO, said, “Texas A&M at Qatar is exceedingly proud of this year’s graduates. Commencement is not the end of their journey, but the beginning, and we are confident this class will become leaders in their field and dedicate themselves to lifelong learning. While they have accomplished a great deal in the past four years, it is important for them to remember why they came to study here; they were bold students who wanted to make a difference in Qatar, the region and the world by finding new ways to solve problems and creating knowledge to improve the world around them. We expect remarkable things from them.”

The May 2011 class is diverse, featuring eight chemical, 13 electrical, 14 mechanical and 20 petroleum engineers. It is 30 percent female and represents 16 countries.

An honorary doctorate was bestowed upon His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, deputy premier and chief of Emiri Diwan, at the event. The honor was in recognition of his 30 years serving the oil and gas industry, his patronage of academics, and his pivotal role in bringing Texas A&M to Qatar, as well as his exceptional contributions to the University and to the engineering community.

The Deputy Premier addressed the ceremony, saying, “I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for this honor that I treasure, as it comes from such a prestigious University with a world-class reputation. I would also like to commend the major

in one of the world’s most rigorous engineering institutions into the industry with them, and never forget that character and integrity, more than anything, will never fail them. These students are responsible for building the future of Qatar and we expect great things from them.”

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, president of Texas A&M at Qatar, presented the honorary degree to Al-Attiyah, saying, “His Excellency was among the leaders who first suggested Qatar consider partnering with Texas A&M for a branch campus in Qatar, and he has been an eager and enthusiastic supporter since the first day the campus opened. He is a role model and source of inspiration for our students, an employer of our graduates, a patron of our research and a benefactor for many University outreach and engagement programs. Minister Al-Attiyah represents the finest example of a partner whose relationship with the University reaches all three pillars of our mission.”

University graduates 200th engineer and honors a steadfast supporter

role of this great University in graduating qualified personnel to contribute to the comprehensive development our beloved country is witnessing under the wise leadership of the Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

“It has also been keen on upgrading our education system and hosting branch campuses and institutes, including Texas A&M University, that give priority to quality education. It is an honor to be affiliated with this esteemed University.”

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Bin Saleh Al Sada, minister of Energy and Industry, also addressed the guests at commencement, saying, “As Chairman of the Texas A&M at Qatar Joint Advisory Board, it is an honor to be present as the University graduates its 200th new engineer and 100th Qatari engineer. This event is a milestone for the University and for Qatar, and I am immensely proud of this achievement. I encourage each student to take the lessons learned

His Excellency, Minister Al-Sada addresses the media after commencement

3the Aggie Platform

TEXAS A&M at Qatar launched its first master’s program on 26 Feb. at an event held at the Texas A&M Engineering Building. The program is the first of its kind in Qatar and will offer a master’s degree in chemical engineering. Master’s classes will begin this fall and applicants may enroll in the Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Engineering (M. Eng.) program.

“The goal of Qatar Foundation is to place knowledge at the center of our society and our economy,” said His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Al-Thani, vice president of education, Qatar Foundation. “The introduction of a master’s program at Texas A&M at Qatar will take us one more important step forward in this mission, and help make Qatar a hub of learning, a global research center and will strengthen our national economy. I believe this program will appeal to our own Education City graduates and to top graduates of other universities in the region and globally. It will certainly be appealing for some who may have already started their career.”

“There is no doubt that this graduate studies program will enrich Education City enormously and focus on issues that are of real importance to our country,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone

involved in getting this new program off the ground, including Texas A&M at Qatar’s Joint Advisory Board and my colleagues at Qatar Foundation, Dr. Fathy Saoud, president, and Dr. Ahmad Hasnah, associate vice president of Higher Education. They have worked on the development of this project from the very start. I would also like to thank our colleagues and partners at Texas A&M, in particular Dean Mark Weichold, for their tireless efforts.”

Dr. Mark H. Weichold, Texas A&M at Qatar dean and CEO, said “The Texas A&M at Qatar graduate studies program represents the start of a new era for Texas A&M, Qatar Foundation and the State of Qatar’s thriving industrial and commercial sectors, as the University seeks to further build the nation’s technical and scientific capacity through its talented human capital. Research is a fundamental element of this capacity building and this program will enhance the University’s dynamic research initiatives and take advanced knowledge into industry, the field and the energy sector.”

“Since 2007, Texas A&M at Qatar has graduated more than 150 engineers who now work throughout Qatar’s dynamic industry,” he said. “These Aggie engineering graduates have built upon Texas A&M’s outstanding reputation as a leader in engineering education in Qatar and the Gulf. We welcome these former students, as well as their industry peers, into this program to bring their practical knowledge to recent graduates. This

Texas A&M at Qatar launches graduate studies program program is a culmination of years of preparation and the

University would like to thank Qatar Foundation for its commitment to Texas A&M and our industry partners for their continual support of the University’s education mission and community development efforts.”

Qatar Foundation VIPs, including Dr. Abdelali Haoudi, vice president for Research, and Dr. Ahmad Hasnah, who also is a member of the University’s Joint Advisory Board, attended the launch. Qatar National Research Fund’s executive director, Dr. Abdel Sattar Al-Taie, was also in attendance, as were Texas A&M at Qatar faculty and staff.

The master’s program is the latest example of Texas A&M at Qatar’s commitment to address the needs of the country in partnership with Qatar Foundation, and is critical to the success of Texas A&M at Qatar’s ambitious research program.

Based on the efforts of its exemplary faculty, the University’s research program currently operates more than 100 projects of local, regional and international scope. It also contributes to the excellence of the University’s undergraduate program, which represents more than 450 students from three dozen countries.

The program will allow the University’s graduates to continue their education experience within the Texas A&M at Qatar system, as well as allow previous graduates working in the engineering industry an opportunity to pursue an advanced degree.

Texas A&M at Qatar hosted the Technology in Higher Education Conference on 1 Nov. 2010. Sponsored by Texas A&M at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar,

Northwestern University in Qatar and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, the conference was aimed at encouraging usage of technology in teaching and learning in higher education. It also served to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge on best practices and research in the area of academic technologies.

Keynote speakers for the day-long event were Dr. Diana Oblinger, president of EDUCAUSE, and Dr. Karen Murphy, associate professor emerita from the department of educational psychology at Texas A&M University.

CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON TECHNOLOGY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Keynote speaker, Dr. Diana Oblinger, encourages the use of technology at the Technology in Higher Education Conference.

Dean and CEO, Dr. Mark H. Weichold (left), shakes hands with Dr. Abullah Al-Thani, vice president for education and president of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, at the launch of the new graduate studies program on 26 February.


ONCAMPUS

Texas A&M at Qatar welcomed local and international industry representatives to the second annual Texas A&M at Qatar Safety Symposium on 15 – 16 March. The event, sponsored by the Ministry of Interior and presented under the guidance of His Excellency Sheikh Abdulla Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, minister of state for Internal Affairs, was held at the Texas A&M Engineering Building hosting more than 125 guests and speakers.

The program focused on some of the safety industry’s hot topics such as hazard identification, risk assessment, regulations, process safety management systems and emergency planning. It also addressed the lessons learned from major incidents and recent advances in process safety research.

TEXAS A&M AT QATAR welcomed the annual Doha Energy Forum back to the Texas A&M Engineering Building on 8 March with special guest, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, minister of Energy and Industry. The 2011 edition of this influential industry event, Energy Outlook 2030, focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the energy industry over the next two decades, especially in the aftermath of the recent financial crisis and the rise of Asia. The event was presented by Gulf Intelligence.

“The safety symposium was an excellent opportunity for Texas A&M at Qatar to spread the word about good safety and environmental practices, which is a part of our responsibilities,” said Dr. Luc N. Vechot, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M at Qatar and chair of the organizing committee of the safety symposium.

“We had 16 distinguished speakers from different key players in the field of safety, including regulatory institutions, industry and academia from Qatar, the United States and the United Kingdom, and offered a very rich program, which allowed the delegates to hear safety success stories, recent developments of safety research and about best practices,” he said.

International workshop puts focus on ethics TEXAS A&M AT QATAR hosted an international ethics workshop 11 – 12 May at the Education City Student Center.

Dr. Hassan Bashir, assistant professor of political science, and Dr. Eyad Masad, professor of mechanical engineering, in collaboration with Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, organized the two-day workshop.

The event, ‘Professional Ethics in a Globalized World: Towards a Unified East-West Perspective,’ brought together more than 30 leading scholars to discuss professional and cultural ethics, globalization of higher education, and Islamic approaches during intercultural and inter-disciplinary discussions, roundtables and panels.

Bashir, event organizing committee chair, said, “The International Workshop on Professional Ethics was a huge success and truly the first event of its kind in Qatar. More than 35 scholars from leading institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and Oman participated. These scholars represented a wide range of academic disciplines including engineering, philosophy, religious studies, ethics, politics, public policy, socio-linguistics, education and law.

“Due to the overall diverse nature of the event, there is no doubt that the workshop generated a wealth of information and there is no question that participants walked away with a lot to think about. They were truly impressed with the quality of scholarship and Qatar Foundation and Qatar National Research Fund’s dedication to revitalizing intellectual life in the region. All participants openly showed great interest in coming back to Qatar for a follow up event.”

Topics under discussion included engineering ethics, international law, globalization of higher education, moral decision-making in cross-cultural contexts, intercultural ethics, Islamic approaches to ethics and gender, globalization and ethics.

Texas A&M at Qatar hosts industry representatives at safety symposium

Energy Forum returns to Texas A&M at Qatar

His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada at the Doha Energy Forum 2011.

Dean and CEO, Dr. Mark H. Weichold, speaks to safety experts at the safety symposium.

5the Aggie Platform

Aggie IEEE student branch hosts congress Texas A&M at Qatar’s student branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) hosted the second IEEE Middle East Student Branch Congress 15-18 March.

The congress aimed to expose undergraduate students in Qatar and the Middle East to new technology and to update students about the latest electrical engineering trends. The IEEE is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. It is recognized worldwide, with more than 375,000 international members in 160 countries.

Mediation training offers new tools for managing conflictTexas A&M at Qatar conducted Conflict Management and Mediation training from 15-18 May. The training was led by Dr. Nancy Watson, founder and president of The Center for Change and Conflict Resolution, instructional associate professor in the Department of Education Psychology and director of Organization Development in the College of Education and Human Development.

Dr. Ceasar Malave, associate dean for International Programs at Texas A&M in College Station, co-led the training.

With the growth of the campus, the diversity of teaching and the University’s dynamic research activities, the opportunity for conflicts is natural. Through effective conflict management, the mediators hope to harness the energy of faculty and staff to better use new tools to manage conflict.

DR. BONNIE J. DUNBAR, a retired NASA astronaut who holds doctorates in mechanical and biomedical engineering, told students how her engineering education prepared her to fly five space shuttle missions and for a successful career in the aerospace industry at a lecture in the Texas A&M at Qatar Engineering Building on 28 March. The lecture was presented in collaboration with aviation giant, Boeing, and focused on encouraging students to pursue studies in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“It’s important to reach students, to open their

eyes to the possibilities technical careers offer and emphasize the importance of strong math and science skills in pursuing their dreams,” said Dr. Dunbar, who as executive director of Wings Over Washington –an affiliate of the Seattle-based Museum of Flight – is focused on bringing more youth into engineering.

“It’s equally important to connect with students who are close to entering the work force to provide continued encouragement, share practical experiences and engage in dialogue about the importance of balancing strong technical and leadership skills with real-world learning experiences,” she said.

The Doha Aggie Club (DAC) donated QR44,000 to the Texas A&M at Qatar scholarship fund on 4 May at a senior student luncheon at the Education City Student Center. The donation was provided through the proceeds of the 2011 Boot Scoot.

Jupiter Ramirez, DAC president, said, “DAC is fortunate to have Texas A&M at Qatar within the club’s area and, thus, we

have focused on providing donations to the University’s general scholarship fund. DAC, through its yearly social and fund raising event, Boot Scoot, allows the club to raise funds and donate to the University and other local associations. DAC donated QR44,000 this year, which is the highest amount since the donations process has been established. DAC believes that scholarship donations should be our highest priority.”

“I am sincerely grateful to the local community for supporting the fundraising efforts of the Doha A&M Club to make a difference for our Aggies,” said Dr. Eric Wilson, Texas A&M at Qatar student support services manager. “This generous scholarship donation will significantly impact Texas A&M at Qatar’s ability to reward its high achieving students by helping defray tuition costs.”

The 2012 Boot Scoot is tentatively scheduled for 10 Feb.

DOHA AGGIE CLUB DONATES TO SCHOLARSHIP FUND

NASA astronaut encourages Aggie engineers

Dr, Bonnie J. Dunbar, NASA astronaut speaks to students on the need for engineering in the world today on 28 March.

Texas A&M at Qatar’s newly trained mediators


OUTREACH

University hosts GCC Math OlympiadTexas A&M at Qatar hosted the GCC Math Olympiad in March 2011 as a joint initiative between the Office of Student and Community Relations and Omar Bin Al-Khattab Educational Complex for Boys.

This three-day event featured a math competition for students from grades 11 and 12 from GCC countries. Approximately 30 students participated and were given the opportunity to explore Texas A&M at Qatar.

The math exam was administered over two days and featured the “Dean’s Question,” a challenging problem for students to solve. A student from Saudi Arabia took first place, winning a scholarship to Texas A&M at Qatar. On the final day of the competition, the top three students received gold, silver and bronze awards, with each participants receiving a certificate of participation and other prizes.

Guests of honor at the award ceremony included cultural attachés and embassy representatives from GCC countries. Guests of honor and participating students had the opportunity to tour Texas A&M at Qatar and Doha. After the completion of the program, students were assisted in completing applications of admissions to Texas A&M at Qatar.

Texas A&M at Qatar hosted Diplomatic Day for regional embassy representatives to introduce them to the programs available at Education City in an effort to encourage more students from the visiting countries to consider attending Qatar Foundation programs.

The event, hosted at the Texas A&M Engineering Building 18 Feb., hosted embassy representatives from Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.

Dr. Mark H. Weichold, dean and CEO, Texas

A&M at Qatar, said “This event provides an invaluable opportunity to introduce our guests to the important and forward-looking initiatives Qatar Foundation and the branch campuses at Education City offer the region. Texas A&M at Qatar’s undergraduate studies, research projects and recently-announced graduate studies program are excellent examples of the exemplary internationally-respected programs Education City provides to meet the needs of the region.”

“Outreach efforts such as Diplomatic Day

Texas A&M at Qatar plays host to embassy representatives

1,500 students attend country’s largest engineering student recruitment at Texas A&M at Qatar

provide our embassy guests the occasion to directly interact with students of Texas A&M at Qatar and other Education City universities and discover what makes the programs we offer at Education City so vital and enriching,” he added.

The day included an address by Qatar Foundation’s director of Projects Management (Education Division), Saoud Al-Tamimi, a Q&A session, tour of the newly-opened Education City Student Center and lunch at Texas A&M at Qatar’s research rotunda.

TEXAS A&M AT QATAR hosted the second annual Qatar Engineering Day 12 - 13 Oct. 2010. In collaboration with Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), it welcomed 1,500 Qatari students in science programs in grades 11 and 12.

The goal of the event was to introduce Qatari students to each of the universities in Education City, Texas A&M at Qatar’s engineering programs and enlighten them regarding the need for engineers in Qatar. Students were made aware of the roles they can play in the development of Qatar and how they

can contribute to the country’s dynamic growth and continued success.

Dr. Mohamed Fathy Saoud, president of Qatar Foundation, opened the first day of events and encouraged students to take advantage of the world-class education offered at Texas A&M at Qatar and other branch campuses in Education City. His Excellency Abdulrahman Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, minister of Municipality and Urban Planning, spoke as the guest of honor on the event’s second day, addressing the students regarding the importance of engineering worldwide for both male and female students.

Qatari students from local high schools stand with officials at the Qatar Engineering Day.

Math Olympiad participants representing students from across the GCC met for the three-day competition.

7the Aggie Platform

Dean’s Leadership Series hosts Qatari business executivesIN AN EFFORT to enhance relationships between Texas A&M at Qatar and community partners, the University welcomes prominent members of the Qatari business community to the Texas A&M Engineering Building to meet Dean and CEO Dr. Mark H. Wiechold, faculty and students for installments of the Dean’s Leadership Series.

Recent visits have included Dr. Mohmmed Al-Mulla, QAPCO general manager, and Ahmad Al-Jolo, chairman of the Qatar Society of Engineers. These events offer visitors an opportunity to learn more about the University, its programs and ways in which the community can work with one another to support goals and projects.

Top 10 program reaches out to prospective studentsOSCR IN collaboration with the Office of Admissions hosted the annual Top 10 program the week of 5 Dec. 2010. Two schools per day visited the Engineering Building, each bringing 10 of its top students.

Designed to welcome the top 10 senior Qatari students from all high schools in the country, participants had the opportunity to complete an online admissions application, tour the Texas A&M Engineering Building, meet with faculty and students and view student projects.

A Q&A session followed led by Mariam Al-Mannaie, OSCR director, and Maha Ayyash, director, Office of Admissions.

Aggies invite Education City partners to honor Qatar National DayTEXAS A&M AT QATAR welcomed the Education City community to honor Qatar National Day on 16 December 2010. His Excellency Abdulrahman Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, minister of Municipality and Urban Planning, and Dr. Fathy Saoud, Qatar Foundation president, took part in the occasion and discussed the growth of Qatar, Education City and Texas A&M at Qatar. Guests enjoyed traditional music and gifts.

COMMUNITY DAY, the first industry recruitment event in Qatar, brought together industry leaders and human resource managers from around Qatar and the GCC on 22 Nov. 2010.

The event was a joint project between Texas A&M at Qatar and Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO).

Then-deputy prime minister and minister of Energy and Industry, His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiya, was the guest of honor and guest speaker at the event.

His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Bin Saleh Al-Sada, then-minister of state for energy and industry affairs, was present at the event, as was Dr. Mohammed Al-

Country’s first engineering industry recruitment event at Texas A&M at Qatar

Mulla, QAPCO general manager. Representatives from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also took part.

Community Day was designed to provide a forum focused on reconciling the needs and interests of the community in Qatar and the GCC region with the objectives of engineering education at Texas A&M at Qatar.

This event aimed at facilitating an increased awareness of what the University has to offer to the business community in areas related to graduates, programs and research initiatives. Participants learned more about the University’s students, institutional goals and, most importantly, about the University’s needs for their support as future employers of its graduates.

OFFICE OF STUDENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS hosted an Education City-wide celebration dedicated to the announcement of Qatar as the host country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on 5 December 2010. Faculty, staff and students from each of campus’ branch universities joined Texas A&M at Qatar at the Texas A&M Engineering Building to collect cultural gifts, participate in sword dancing and mark the monumental achievement for Qatar.

Aggies celebrate Qatar’s winning 2022 FIFA World Cup bid

Dean Weichold, His Excellencies, Minister Al-Attiyah and Minister Al-Sada with government and industry

VIPs at Community Day.

Education city faculty, staff, students and guests stand to celebrate Qatar National Day.

Aggies celebrate, in honor of the 2022 FIFA world cup bid acheivement on 5 Dec. 2010.


GIG’EM

THIRTY-EIGHT TEXAS A&M AT QATAR students participated in the first-ever Catalyst workshop at Education City on 6 Nov. 2010. The full-day workshop was designed to help students understand

Aggies lead with integrity, disregard the impossible14 STUDENTS from Texas A&M at Qatar spent six days in Al-Khor developing their leadership capacity at the annual Education City-wide LeaderShape Institute. The event, 3 – 8 Jan., featured Dr. Steve Wilson as a “family cluster” facilitator with other professionals from across Education City. Recent Texas A&M at Qatar graduate, Ahmed Manzour, supported the institute by serving as one of the on-site coordinators.

Catalyst workshop teaches students to challenge boundaries

how to contribute to groups they care about, challenge themselves with new possibilities and initiate an action plan for becoming a catalyst in their personal, professional and organizational lives.

Aggie Ring Day

Catalyst workshop attendees celebrate community engagement.

Aggies celebrate the honored Ring Day tradition.

9the Aggie Platform

TEXAS A&M AT QATAR students traveled to Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy, summer 2010 for the annual Champe-Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar along with students from College Station. Seminar participants took part in leadership workshops, cultural experiences, team-building activities and visits to important historical sites throughout Italy. The seminar provides a unique opportunity for Aggies to learn more about themselves and develop their leadership capacity.

Summer leadership seminar crosses

cultures

Aggies honor their own

FOR 2011 MAKE a Difference Day, 30 Aggies joined students, staff and faculty from across Education City on 5 Feb. in service to the local community through projects at five different sites in Doha. Make a Difference Day was a collaborative effort among student affairs departments in each branch campus, Qatar Foundation Campus Life and Reach Out to Asia (ROTA). Projects completed included painting at a local school, animal care at the Qatar Animal Welcare Society shelter, activities for the elderly at a local care facility, a literacy outreach at a local park and beach clean-up.

Community service makes a differenceMAKE A DIFFERENCE

DAY WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG STUDENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENTS IN EACH BRANCH CAMPUS, QATAR FOUNDATION CAMPUS LIFE AND ROTA

Texas A&M at Qatar students commemorate fallen Aggies at the 2011 muster.

Aggies work hard to give back to the Qatar Community on Make a Difference Day.


GIG’EM

TEXAS A&M AT QATAR’S Debating Society received top honors at the fourth Qatar Universities Debating League in early March. Held at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M at Qatar students Alya Al Harthy, Hisham Uddin and Taha Syed received Outstanding Speaker awards for their performances.

Sixteen teams from local universities participated in four rounds of debating with the Aggies standing first place in the first round, second in the second round and first place in both the third and fourth rounds. The win marked the first time Texas A&M at Qatar won a debating tournament.

The Council of Debating Engineers (CODE)

at Texas A&M at Qatar concluded another year of debating at the Qatar Debate Nationals on 2 Apr. Eight members of CODE were awarded Outstanding Speaker Medals. (These medals are in addition to previous accolades such as receiving a Best Team trophy from earlier competitions.)

Debating Society wins top honors

38 Aggies participated in the third annual Education City Leader

Workshop hosted 25 Sept. 2010. The event organized 130 students as a collaboration between Qatar Foundation Campus Life and Education City Student Affairs staff members to give students the opportunity to develop leadership skills by giving them practical training. The training featured workshops on team dynamics, communication, advertising, environmental and organizational sustainability, service learning, professionalism and event planning.

WORKSHOP PROVIDES PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Aggies recommit to honor code

THE WIN MARKED THE FIRST TIME

TEXAS A&M AT QATAR WON A DEBATING TOURNAMENT.

Students display Aggie spirit as they sign the Texas A&M Honor Code.

11the Aggie Platform

TEXAS A&M AT QATAR’S annual chili cook-off, organized by Student Affairs, attracted more than 170 tasters and 12 teams for the 2011 competition on 13 Jan. Teams of staff, students and faculty competed for the ultimate title of “Chili Master.” Better Chili Through Chemistry took the top award with team members Benjamin Cieslinski, Ali Bawazir, Syed Taha and Anam Waheed. Lamma Najjar, Ahmad Jichi, Hussein Jichi and Ahmed Anwar Al-Lawati won the award for Tastiest Chili. The OMG team – made up of Maha Deghbag, Dina Hammada, Abdullah Taha and Ihab Rizk – took the prize for Best Theme.

Better Chili Through Chemistry wins 2011 cook-Off

MORE THAN 60 Texas A&M at Qatar students participated in a service event last fall to recognize and appreciate the Texas A&M Engineering Building security and cleaning staffs who contribute to the Aggie community each day. Student volunteers packed lunches and made cards addressed to each of the 70 workers and delivered them with their personal thanks. This event was part of Gig ‘Em Week and aimed to introduce students to the Aggie core value of selfless service.

Aggies give thanks

Aggie students hand out packed lunches to workers to show

appreciation for their efforts.

The OMG team competes for

Best Theme prize.


SPOTLIGHT: ENGINEERING PATHWAYS

Building a Pipeline

to IndustrySTRONGER LINKS WITH INDUSTRY ARE IN THE PIPELINE WITH THE ARRIVAL OF DR. KENNETH HALL AT TEXAS A&M AT QATAR AS ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH

AND GRADUATE STUDIES



IN A CAREER SPANNING 45 YEARS, nearly 40 of which he has been affiliated with Texas A&M University, Dr. Kenneth Hall arrived in Qatar at the beginning of April with ideas

on how the already strong program offered at the University could be improved.

Originally from Oklahoma, Hall has divided his career between academia and the energy industry, particularly companies involved with hydrocarbons. He feels stronger links can be forged between Texas A&M at Qatar and companies working in the country.

Hall said, “I can see all sorts of things we could be doing for industry and I can see some reluctance to take the last step. I need to get rid of the quite natural suspicion between industry and universities; it exists everywhere.”

“I have worked closely with industry and enjoy it, because when I conduct fundamental work, it is very sterile if it does not have an application. I look to do work that has an immediate application as soon as I finish it. I like finding out what industry’s problems are, while in the University I enjoy relative freedom to do the work I want to do.”

Various challenges now exist in his current position, Hall believes, but first and foremost is the Research and Graduate Studies Program. “The research program is already very robust,” he said. “They have brought in an enormous amount of money, mostly from Qatar National Research Fund

(QNRF), as well as industry in the country. My background in natural gas and oil should help that.”

An aspect that is particularly important is that the work Texas A&M at Qatar conducts continues to address the issues facing Qatar. He said, “Each department here at the University has specific projects that are all pinned to issues in Qatar. These are not just academic projects. They look at what the country needs and have developed projects that address the issues Qatar faces.

“The country says it has a problem, the department says it can come up with a solution and in the meantime they get to work on the fundamentals of the issue. One project that is most visible is the Qatar Sustainable Water & Energy Utilization Initiative project, where they are looking

into ways to ensure a stable supply of usable water.”Other challenges include improving workflow in

the Texas A&M Engineering Building. “I think that the service functions like information technology, marketing and human resources are fractured too much,” he said. “I would like to get them all in one place as much as possible. Service functions must talk to each other, but at the moment they must run all over the building to do that.”

IN ADDITION to his role as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Hall will also be the associate vice chancellor and associate director of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), which manages engineering research projects. In his role, Hall will be able to offer administrative help to the program.

SPOTLIGHT: ENGINEERING PATHWAYS


He said, “TEES has projects here and that is a problem, because no one here can do things like sign checks. I can assist them with projects and advance them, and as Associate Director I will be able to smooth the flow of projects between here and College Station.”

It is because of both his practical engineering and research experience and his administrative roles that Hall was chosen for his current positions. His career has seen him working on many projects that have gone on to revolutionize existing methods of energy production.

His work on thermodynamics led to the creation of an apparatus able to measure the densities of fluids with temperatures between 100K and 500K with pressures up to 200 megapascals.

Hall said, “Before this, there was really no top-quality data for fluids under those conditions that typically exist when drilling into deep ocean reservoirs. However, my lab can measure those data. When you drill into a reservoir at high pressure, you had better know what the fluid properties are or you are liable to see drill pipes shoot out of the platform or a Deepwater Horizon event occur.”

OTHER WORKS of which he is proud include a patented method of turning natural gas into gasoline by first going through a process of turning it into ethylene. More recently, he started working with biofuels, realizing he could take ethanol, remove a water molecule and be left with ethylene. “You could then make it into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel or many

other products,” he said. “This could be interesting, because instead of using ethanol as a fuel you could turn it into other fuels and you could then use the existing distribution base plus vehicles already designed to use it.”

Texas A&M at Qatar’s dean and CEO, Dr. Mark H. Weichold, commented on Hall’s arrival to the Doha community, saying, “Dr. Hall is no stranger to Texas A&M at Qatar. He has visited the Qatar campus more than two dozen times for various academic and research activities over the past eight years, and he has been instrumental in supporting Texas A&M at Qatar from his leadership posts in College Station. I have known and worked with Ken for many years, and I can assure you that his energy and enthusiasm will help keep us moving forward.”

ONE PROJECT THAT IS MOST VISIBLE IS THE QATAR SUSTAINABLE WATER & ENERGY UTILIZATION

INITIATIVE PROJECT, WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING INTO WAYS TO ENSURE A STABLE SUPPLY OF USABLE WATER.”


NEWTECHNOLOGY

IMAGINE A VEHICLE that could travel more than 1,000 kilometers on one liter of fuel. How can such a range be obtained? This is the challenge presented by the Shell Eco-Marathons hosted

across North America, Europe and in Asia, and attended by teams from around the world. This year the challenge was taken on by senior students at Texas A&M at Qatar as part of their senior capstone design course. The course culminated with their participation in the European Shell Eco-Marathon this past May at the Laustiz Eurospeedway in Germany.

FOURTEEN MECHANICAL and three electrical engineering students, under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Conkey, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, along with Dr. Dan McAdams, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, with mechanial engineering design students from College Station, addressed the challenges of designing and building a vehicle incorporating a range of technologies allowing their vehicle to travel as far as possible on a single liter of fuel. The project spanned two semesters from fall 2010 through spring 2011. During this time,

AGGIES’ DRIVING FORCE

Texas A&M University at Qatar students entered a race with a difference – not how fast but, how far their vehicle could go on one liter of fuel.

the students divided the project into separate sub-systems and specified design objectives for each sub-system. Students also met with sponsors to raise funds, bring in material resources, and attended many public events, such as the Doha Motorshow and the first Mid-East Turbo Symposium, showcasing their work. Sponsors supporting the project included Salaam International, Qatar Science & Technology Park, Qatar Shell GTL-Limited, GE Oil and Gas, Future Pipe Incorporated and Digital Imaging.

Conkey said, “A project of this magnitude provides a great opportunity for personal and professional growth for the students. Although important to their experience as young engineers, it is very hard to quantify. They learn the importance of setting up channels of communication, ensuring communication is clear between design divisions and moving the project forward in a timely fashion to meet a goal.”

“Also, students don’t always get everything you need to know from a textbook. There are times when students learn by getting hands-on with things such as dealing with vendors, manufacturers and internal operational procedures.”

The Texas A&M at Qatar team competed in the GTL-Fuel Powered Urban Vehicle category of the European Shell Eco-Marathon. The decision to use gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel, which is similar to diesel, was based on a number of things. First, that GTL fuel is produced in Qatar and is environmentally friendly, burning much cleaner and more efficiently than traditional diesel. Additionally, many of the teams used traditional gasoline/petrol engines and only a few chose to use GTL fuel.

The vehicle students built had to meet very specific event regulations. Although it did not have to be road legal in the technical sense, it had to be,

The Aggie Shell Eco-Marathon team poses in front of PEARL before the competition in Lausitz, Germany.


in essence, a practical, road-worthy vehicle. That meant the vehicle had to have a complete set of front and rear lights, windscreen, brakes, mirrors, doors, luggage space and the ability to carry at least two passengers.

One of the most difficult parts of the marathon is making it to the competition, as there are many technical specifications the car must meet. For example, technical inspection officials place the car on a 20-degree slope to test the front and rear brakes independently. If the brakes hold, then it passes. If they do not hold, the car fails and is not allowed on the racetrack.

DESIGNING A vehicle to obtain high fuel efficiency is a challenge with numerous factors that need to be accounted for. Factors such as the exterior shape of the vehicle, power/engine management, feedback to the driver, braking, and friction in components all contribute to the vehicle’s efficiency of the vehicle. With these goals, the primary goal for the Texas A&M at Qatar team’s first year of competition was to set a baseline for future development.

To keep the car as light as possible the team used aluminum for the chassis and fiberglass for the body. In keeping with the requirement to make the car practical, it was shaped like a small hatchback. The engine was an off-the-shelf German product often used in portable generators and had the original fuel tank removed, so as to incorporate an approved Shell Eco-Marathon tank. The transmission and electronics were either designed by the students or purchased after a careful selection process and modified for use in the car design.

One of the main challenges the students experienced was fitting the components together. Conkey said, “Large projects require that it be divided into different tasks, which results in teams

working on different components such as structure, power transfer, controls and safety and containment. This means that everybody has to make sure those components can interact seamlessly, whether the project is constructing a building or making a computer work, or, in this case, a vehicle. In a sense, that is one of the most important lessons the students get out of a project like this.”

“The bigger challenges for the students were how to interface the chassis, shell, steering system, and the engine and power train while each area also required them to integrate the purchased parts with those designed in-house.”

Although the design and understanding of how components fit together was initially done using Solidworks©, actually having the parts in hand and seeing the limits of the initial design often required the students to make improvements to their design or develop a completely new approach to the problem. However, a primary outcome of their capstone design class at Texas A&M at Qatar is for students to learn how to address these issues when they arise.

THE SHELL ECO-MARATHON was held at the Lausitz racetrack in Germany from 26 – 28 May. Eleven students (10 were from the original design team and one junior) from Texas A&M at Qatar, one student from the College Station campus, and two professors went to the track with the vehicle. The goals for the first-year design effort were two-fold. The first, and most important, goal was to clear the two levels of technical inspections at the track. Completed, the second was to get the car out on the track.

The first goal was completed successfully after two inspection tries (shedding excess weight from the car chassis and body) with mandated fuel system modifications. The second goal was partially completed as test runs were made, but the vehicle developed transmission problems in the closing minutes of the final day of the competition.

IN ADDITION to preparing the vehicle, the team members had the opportunity to visit other teams, conduct interviews with a number of international media firms, meet the president of Shell Global and alumni from Texas A&M University and participate in other social events.

The Aggie engineers never let problems stop them. Dr. Bryant said, “The Aggie 12th Man tradition was very evident with the team’s effort this first year. A day-and-a-half of delay in shipping, brake problems, transmission failure, chain tracking. Every time they conquered one problem, something else seemed to pop up, but they kept on working and solving these problems even with the very long days and lack of sleep. They learned more in that one week than most students will in years. They also made great and lasting friendships and know that they represented their University with a great effort.”

A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE

PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH FOR THE STUDENTS.

The Shell Eco-Marathon team takes break from competition near the racetrack in Germany.


Texas A&M at Qatar’s new graduate studies program will take learning in Qatar to new heights and enhance

the future of the country.

CREATING NEW

KNOWLEDGE

SPOTLIGHT: ENGINEERING EDUCATION


19the Aggie Platform 19the Aggie Platform


MORE THAN THIS, both the research conducted by graduate students in the program and the futures of Qatar and the University will be enhanced; Qatar’s by receiving cutting-edge solutions for the challenges it faces, and the University’s by enhancing its reputation further within the wider world through the creation of new knowledge.

Two key players are now at Texas A&M at Qatar to drive the Graduate Studies Program forward: Dr. Ken Hall, associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies, and Dr. Eyad Masad, assistant dean for Research and Graduate Studies.

Hall explained why the introduction of the master’s in chemical engineering and future graduate programs is so important. “The desire of Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation, as we understood it, was that this would be a Western-style University. Western-style universities are research universities. Any famous university from around the world becomes famous because of its research. The students benefit from that because

they can say they went to a certain University and the way the faculty keeps up to date in what is going on in their field is by doing research.

“If you want a University from which students can be proud to say, ‘I went to this University,’ and if you want to have some recognition, you need research. The faculty also needs students to work on their projects, so they can expand their horizons.”

In addition to this, a master’s graduate can offer so much more to Qatar compared to those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Hall said, “A person with a bachelor’s degree can go out and work in industry. They can do a good job and some will be good enough to solve particularly difficult problems. A master’s student going out into industry will immediately be able to work on much more difficult problems. These students will generally be from the upper level of undergraduate students. If you have a Ph.D program, these people go out and create knowledge.”

“Hydrocarbon resources are huge here, but they

are finite. When they run out, you need to have people who have already been thinking about the problem and how the country and economy can be made sustainable in the long term.”

MASAD SAID the graduate courses would allow students to specialize, whereas the undergraduate courses are more about providing broad knowledge. This ability to specialize is of particular importance to Qatar, as the courses will be tailored to the country’s needs and will include disciplines like energy, reactor design and the environment, all of which have strong links to the oil and gas industries.

The real benefit to both the country and Texas A&M at Qatar will come through the research the master’s students undertake. The knowledge – and patents – that will be created will not only benefit Qatar, but the wider world, and will subsequently add to both the financial and knowledge economies of the country.

For this to happen there has to be strong links with industry and a deep understanding of what industry’s problems are.


THE FUTURES OF QATAR and Texas A&M at Qatar are intertwined with the launch of the University’s new Graduate Studies program. Texas A&M at Qatar’s master’s of chemical engineering is designed to take advantage of Qatar’s close

links with the oil and gas industries, both mainstays of the Qatari economy. The University already offers undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering, but the new program will take the level of learning to new heights.


Masad said the master’s program would facilitate this in a number of ways. First, if Texas A&M at Qatar needed to conduct research before the launch of the program, the University would have to recruit research assistants from elsewhere, as undergraduates can only do so much. By having a master’s program, the research assistants are already there, as the students need to work on projects as part of their degree requirements. Second, because the master’s students will be experienced professionals and high-flying recent bachelor’s graduates, it is expected they will already understand the issues facing industry and have their own ideas for research that needs to be done.

THE MASTER’S PROGRAM also fits in well with the work of Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), which essentially acts as an administrative body between Texas A&M and Texas A&M at Qatar and the companies needing research work.

Masad, TEES’ Qatar Division director, said TEES has already had significant successes, facilitating the creation of new technologies that have improved existing gas-to-liquid processes, producing better



PARTICIPANTS COULD TAKE A COURSE IN THE US OR THE UK, BUT OUR COURSES WILL BE APPLIED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF QATAR.

systems for wireless communications and creating improved road-building materials.

With researchers soon to be based in-house, the work of TEES will be made easier. In addition, both TEES and the master’s degrees will contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030. By creating new solutions and technologies, they will develop the knowledge-based economy that Qatar desires, so that its prosperity will continue after the oil and gas have run out.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH all of this are outreach programs through which Texas A&M at Qatar will offer highly specialized courses, some lasting just a few days, for industry professionals either wanting to refresh their knowledge or learn about a very specific field.

Masad said, “The courses will upgrade the participants’ knowledge to meet the challenges of today and the future. Participants could take a course in the US or the UK, but our courses will be applied to the specific needs of Qatar. We can go deep into

professionals’ requirements and we can also develop a course specifically for them, if needed.”

“This is continuous education that we’re talking about. I am very excited about this, as the surveys we have done show that there is a need and desire out there.”

HOW HALL and Masad work together may well affect the success of the program. Masad said part of his role will be to assist Hall in kick-starting major research projects. For example, both believe work needs to be done regarding the corrosion of materials because of the region’s experience with salinity or natural gas corrosion, but the skills they each bring to the graduate program and TEES are slightly different.

“Dr. Hall has huge experience and with the depth of knowledge he has, he is a role model,” said Masad. “When I look at what he had done in his career, that is a motivation for me. What do I hope to add? I believe I have energy and a good understanding of the issues affecting the region. I grew up in Kuwait, so

what is happening around me is in my blood. I offer energy and enthusiasm.”

With the new degrees already launched and the first intake of students expected in September, Hall and Masad are already looking to the future. Hall said, “The research agreement said that over an eight-year period we will have four programs with the master’s degree, but I do not think that approach is in the best interest of the country. In the first place, it does not cost more to start them all at the same time. It would just bring in more students faster and increase the reputation of the University faster. Starting a Ph.D program here would accelerate that even more.

“Part of my job is to convince Qatar Foundation that an accelerated implementation of graduate programs is in their best interest. I intend to do my best, as it is in their best interest, and I do not think it will be a huge job.

“The recruiters in the industry say they never need graduate students, but as soon as they are there they snap them up.”


إطاللة عىل ... هندسة التعليم

يمكن للمشاركني تلقي إحدى الدورات يف الواليات املتحدة أو اململكة املتحدة، إال أن دوراتنا سيتم تطبيقها لتلبية االحتياجات الخاصة بدولة قطر.

ويش�ر مس�عد، مدي�ر ف�رع حمط�ة تكس�اس للتج�ارب اهلندس�ية يف قط�ر، إىل أن املحط�ة حققت نجاح�ات مبهرة يف اآلونة األخرة. كام سامهت يف إنشاء تقنيات جديدة كان هلا أثر يف تطوير عمليات تس�ييل الغاز الطبيعي، وإنتاج أنظمة أكثر كفاءة يف جمال االتصاالت الالس�لكية، باإلضافة إىل إنشاء مواد متط�ورة لبن�اء الط�رق. قريب�ا س�يتخذ الباحث�ون م�ن حمط�ة تكس�اس للتجارب اهلندس�ية مقرا لعملهم، ما سيسّهل من مهمة املحطة. وباإلضافة إىل ذلك، سيساهم برنامج املاجستر وحمط�ة تكس�اس للتج�ارب اهلندس�ية يف حتقي�ق رؤي�ة قط�ر

الوطنية 2030. ومن خالل قيامهام بابتكار حلول وتقنيات جديدة، سيساهم االثن�ان يف تطوير االقتص�اد القائم عىل املعرفة الذي تس�عى دولة قط�ر إىل بناءه، كي يس�تمر ه�ذا االقتصاد مزدهرا لف�رات طويلة

عقب نضوب خمزوهنا من النفط والغاز الطبيعي.

باإلضافة إىل هذه املبادرات، تقدم جامعة تكساس إي أند أم يف قط�ر برامج تواصل توفر من خالهل�ا دورات تعليمية عالية التخص�ص. وُتعقد بعض هذه الدورات عىل م�دار أيام قليلة فق�ط، وتس�تهدف خ�راء الصناع�ة م�ن الراغب�ن يف حتديث خراهت�م ومعرفته�م، أو الراغب�ن يف التعرف ع�ىل جمال حمدد

للغاية.وأوضح مس�عد قائال: "س�تؤدي هذه الدورات إىل حتديث خ�رات املش�اركن وس�وف تعينهم ع�ىل مواجه�ة التحديات

الراهنة واملس�تقبلية. يمكن للمشاركن تلقي إحدى الدورات يف الوالي�ات املتح�دة أو اململك�ة املتحدة، إال أن دوراتنا س�يتم تطبيقه�ا لتلبي�ة االحتياج�ات اخلاص�ة بدول�ة قط�ر. يمكننا تس�ليط الضوء ع�ىل املتطلب�ات التعليمي�ة خل�راء الصناعة، لتلبي�ة دورات مصمم�ة خصيص�ا تطوي�ر أيض�ا ويمكنن�ا

احتياجاهتم، إذا دعت احلاجة لذلك". وتاب�ع قائ�ال: "نحن نتحدث هن�ا عن أحد أن�واع التعليم املس�تمر. وإنني س�عيد للغاية حيال هذه الدورات خاصة وأن االس�تطالعات الت�ي أجريناها أظه�رت وجود رغب�ة واحتياج

حقيقي ملثل هذه الدورات".

قد تؤثر طريقة عمل هول ومس�عد م�ع بعضهام البعض يف م�دى نج�اح الرنام�ج، وأوض�ح مس�عد أن جزءًا م�ن دوره يقت�ي مس�اعدة هول يف إط�الق مرشوع�ات بحثية ضخمة. عىل سبيل املثال، يرى كالمها رضورة تنفيذ مزيد من املرشوعات املتعلقة بتآكل املعادن نظرا لتجارب املنطقة يف امللوحة وأكسدة الغاز الطبيعي، بيد أن كالمها سيسهم بمهارات خمتلفة قليال للتج�ارب تكس�اس وحمط�ة العلي�ا الدراس�ات برنام�ج يف

اهلندسية.وقال مس�عد: "يمتلك الدكت�ور هول خرة هائلة، ويرضب بعمق معرفته نموذجا يقتدى به. إن األعامل التي قدمها خالل مس�رته الطويل�ة متنحن�ي حاف�زا. هناك م�ا يمكنن�ي إضافته للرنام�ج، وأعتق�د أن ل�دي الطاق�ة والفه�م اجلي�د ملواجه�ة

القضايا التي تواجهها املنطقة. لقد نش�أت يف الكويت، لذلك أع�رف الكثر عن األش�ياء الت�ي حتدث يف املنطق�ة. إنني قادر

عىل تقديم طاقتي ومحايس هلذا الرنامج".انطلق برنامج املاجستر مقدما لطالبه ختصصات جديدة، وم�ن املتوقع أن تنضم الدفعة األوىل من الطالب إىل الرنامج يف ش�هر س�بتمر املقبل. ويتطلع هول ومس�عد إىل بداية الرنامج ويق�ول ه�ول: "تش�ر اتفاقي�ة البح�وث إىل أنه بعد ف�رة ثامين س�نوات س�يكون لدينا أربعة برامج تابعة لش�هادة املاجس�تر، ولك�ن ال أعتق�د أن هذا النهج ه�و األفضل ملصلح�ة الدولة. وبداية، لن ت�زداد التكلفة إذا بدأنا تقديم مجيع الرامج يف وقت واح�د. ألن هذا س�يؤدي إىل انضامم مزيد م�ن الطالب وبصورة أرسع، م�ا س�رتقي بمكان�ة اجلامع�ة بش�كل أرسع. وإذا بادرن�ا بإط�الق برنام�ج للدكت�وراه فس�يؤدي ذل�ك إىل ترسي�ع ه�ذه

العملية أكثر وأكثر".وأض�اف قائال: "إن جزءًا من عميل يتضمن إقناع مؤسس�ة قط�ر بأن تطبي�ق برامج الدراس�ات العليا برسعة س�يصب يف مصلحة املؤسس�ة. وأنتوي أن أب�ذل قصارى جهدي، ألن ذلك حتام س�يكون يف مصلحتهم، وال أعتقد أن هذا سيتطلب مني

عمال شاقا. "تقول جهات التوظيف يف الصناعة أهنا لن حتتاج مطلقا إىل تعي�ن احلاصل�ن عىل ش�هادة املاجس�تر، ولك�ن فور خترج ه�ؤالء الط�الب وحصوهل�م ع�ىل مؤهالهت�م، تق�وم ال�رشكات

بتعيينهم عىل الفور".


وحل�دوث ه�ذا األم�ر، جي�ب أوال بن�اء رواب�ط وطي�دة مع املج�االت الصناعي�ة وحتقي�ق إدراك ش�امل للمش�اكل التي

تواجهها الصناعة. وأوضح مس�عد أن برنامج املاجستر من شأنه تيسر هذا

األمر عر عدة طرق. يف املقام األول، إذا احتاجت جامعة تكس�اس إي أند أم يف قطر إىل إجراء بحوث قبل إطالق الرنامج، فس�ينبغي عليها تعي�ن مس�اعدين بحثي�ن م�ن م�كان آخ�ر، ألن الط�الب اجلامعي�ن ليس باس�تطاعتهم القي�ام هبذه امله�ام إىل جانب دراس�تهم. ولك�ن يف ظل وجود برنامج للامجس�تر، س�يكون مساعدو البحوث متواجدون بالفعل، إذ يتوجب عىل الطالب العم�ل يف مرشوع�ات بحثي�ة كأح�د املتطلب�ات الدراس�ية

للحصول عىل شهادة املاجستر.ثاني�ا، وب�ام أن طالب املاجس�تر ه�م جمموعة م�ن اخلراء املحرف�ن واحلاصلن عىل ش�هادات البكالوريوس مؤخرا من جامعات مرموقة، فم�ن املتوقع أن يكون لدهيم بالفعل إدراك لنوعي�ة العقب�ات الت�ي تواجه الصناع�ة، وربام يك�ون لدهيم

أفكار خاصة حيال البحوث الواجب إجرائها.

يرتب�ط برنامج املاجس�تري ارتباط�ا وثيقا بالبح�وث التي جترهيا حمطة تكس�اس للتجارب اهلندس�ية، والت�ي تعد بمثابة ج�رس إداري يرب�ط ب�ن جامعة تكس�اس إي أن�د أم وجامعة تكس�اس إي أن�د أم يف قط�ر وال�رشكات الراغب�ة يف إج�راء

مرشوعات بحثية.


تمنح الجامعة شهادة البكالوريوس يف اهلندسة الكيميائية والكهربائي�ة وامليكانيكي�ة وهندس�ة الب�رول، إال أن برنامج املاجستر اجلديد سرتقي بمستوى التعلم يف اجلامعة إىل آفاق جدي�دة. واألكث�ر من ذل�ك أنه س�يلعب دورا مه�ام يف تعزيز البح�وث التي جيرهيا خرجيو اجلامعة أثناء دراس�ة املاجس�تر،

كام سرسخ من مكانة دولة قطر واجلامعة مستقبال. ومن هذا املنطلق، سوف حتصل الدولة عىل حلول متطورة للتغل�ب عىل التحديات التي تواجهها، فيام س�يعزز الرنامج م�ن املكان�ة املرموقة الت�ي حتتلها اجلامعة يف األوس�اط العاملية

عر بناء علوم معرفية جديدة. تضم جامعة تكس�اس إي أند أم يف قط�ر حاليا اثنن من األساتذة البارزين لإلرشاف عىل برنامج الدراسات العليا ومها الدكت�ور ك�ن ه�ول، العميد املش�ارك للبحوث والدراس�ات العلي�ا والدكت�ور إي�اد مس�عد، العمي�د املس�اعد للبح�وث

والدراسات العليا.وح�ول أمهي�ة برنام�ج املاجس�تر يف اهلندس�ة الكيميائية وبرامج الدراس�ات العليا األخرى، أوضح هول قائال: "كانت رغبة صاحبة الس�مو الش�يخة موزا بنت نارص رئيس جملس إدارة مؤسس�ة قط�ر، كام فهمناها، أن تكون ه�ذه اجلامعة عىل الط�راز الغ�ريب. من املعروف أن اجلامع�ات ذات الطراز الغريب ه�ي جامعات بحثية يف املق�ام األول، إذ تكتس�ب أي جامعة

مرموق�ة حول العامل ش�هرهتا ومكانتها بفض�ل البحوث التي جترهي�ا. وهذا أم�ر مفيد للط�الب الذين س�يقولون أهنم أمتوا تعليمه�م يف جامع�ة معينة، وأن الكلي�ة اعتمدت عىل إجراء البحوث لتظل عىل اتصال دائم بأحدث املستجدات يف جماهلا

العلمي".ث�م تاب�ع قائ�ال: "إذا أردت احلص�ول ع�ىل جامع�ة يفخر طالهبا عندما يقولون أهنم "درسوا يف هذه اجلامعة"، وإذا أردت احلص�ول ع�ىل التقدي�ر العلمي، فحت�ام س�تكون بحاجة إىل البح�وث. حتت�اج الكلي�ة أيض�ا إىل أن يعم�ل الط�الب ع�ىل

مشاريعهم البحثية ليتمكنوا من توسيع آفاقهم العلمية".باإلضاف�ة إىل ه�ذا، س�يكون باس�تطاعة احلاصل�ن ع�ىل ش�هادة املاجس�تر تقدي�م املزي�د م�ن املس�امهات لدولة قطر مقارن�ة باحلاصلن عىل ش�هادة البكالوري�وس فقط. وأضاف ش�هادة ع�ىل احلاص�ل الطال�ب "بإم�كان موضح�ا: ه�ول البكالوري�وس العم�ل يف املج�االت الصناعي�ة، وباس�تطاعة ه�ؤالء الطالب القيام بعمل جيد، وبعضهم س�يكون متميزا

وقادرا عىل حل بعض املشاكل الصعبة". "أم�ا طال�ب املاجس�تر، فبع�د التحاقه بأح�د املجاالت الصناعي�ة فس�وف يتمكن ع�ىل الفور من حل مش�اكل أكثر تعقي�دا. وغالب�ا م�ا يك�ون ه�ؤالء الط�الب مم�ن يمتلك�ون مس�تويات عالية أثناء الدراسة اجلامعية. ولكن إذا كان لديك

برنامج لدراسة الدكتوراه، فهؤالء هم الطالب الذين سيقومون ببناء املعرفة".

واس�تطرد قائال: "ال حتتاج الدولة فقط إىل العامل الذين ال يفك�رون ألنفس�هم، فهي بحاج�ة ألن تفك�ر يف االجتاه الذي تري�د امُل�ي في�ه قدما. متتل�ك دولة قط�ر م�وارد ضخمة من اهليدروكربون�ات، ولكنه�ا س�تنفد يف هناي�ة املط�اف. وعندما تنته�ي هذه امل�وارد، جيب أن يكون لديك أش�خاص عاكفون الدول�ة تس�اعد حل�ول وإجي�اد التحدي�ات مواجه�ة ع�ىل

واقتصادها ليكون مستداما عىل املدى البعيد".

م�ن جانبه قال الدكتور مس�عد أن دورات الدراس�ة العليا س�وف تتيح للط�الب إمكانية التخصص يف جم�االت حمددة، بينام متنحهم الدراسة اجلامعية األساسيات العامة يف املجاالت

اهلندسية.وتش�كل هذه التخصص�ات أمهية خاصة لدول�ة قطر، إذ س�يتم تصمي�م ال�دورات وفق�ا الحتياج�ات الدولة وس�وف تتضم�ن جماالت مث�ل الطاق�ة، وتصميم املفاع�الت والبيئة،

ومجيعها جماالت ترتبط ارتباطا وثيقا بصناعة النفط والغاز.أم�ا الفائ�دة احلقيقية التي س�تعود ع�ىل الدول�ة وجامعة تكس�اس إي أند أم يف قطر، فس�تأيت من خالل البحوث التي جيرهي�ا طالب املاجس�تر. ولن تقت�ر فائدة املعرف�ة وبراءات االخراع النامجة عن ه�ذه البحوث عىل دولة قطر وحدها، بل س�تفيد الع�امل بأرسه وستس�اهم فيام بعد يف تطوي�ر االقتصاد

املايل واملعريف للدولة.

مس�تقبل دولة قطر ومس�تقبل جامعة تكساس إي أصبح أن�د أم يف قط�ر أكث�ر ارتباط�ا بع�د إط�الق اجلامعة لرناجمها اجلديد للدراس�ات العليا. وُصمم برنامج املاجستر يف اهلندسة الكيميائية من جامعة تكساس إي أند أم يف قطر ليستفيد من الروابط الوثيقة بن دولة قطر وقطاعي النفط والغاز، اللذان يشكالن عامد

الصناعة القطرية.



برنامج الدراسات العليا الجديد يف جامعة تكساس إي أند أم يف قطر سوف يرتقي بالتعلم يف دولة قطر إىل آفاق جديدة وسيلعب دورا

محوريا يف تعزيز مستقبل الدولة.

بــنــاء مــعرفـــة

جــديـــــدة






للتجارب اهلندسية التي تدير املشاريع البحثية اهلندسية. ومن خالل هذا الدور اجلديد، س�يتمكن هول من تقديم الدع�م اإلداري ملس�اعدة املحطة وأوضح قائ�ال: "لدى حمطة تكساس للتجارب اهلندسية عدة مرشوعات هنا، وهذا يمثل مش�كلة ألنه ال يوجد أي ش�خص هنا يمكنه القيام بأش�ياء مث�ل توقي�ع الش�يكات. يمكنن�ي تقدي�م املس�اعدة هل�ذه املرشوعات وتطويرها، وباعتباري املدير املشارك، سأمتكن من تس�ير العم�ل يف املرشوعات بسالس�ة بن ف�رع اجلامعة هنا

وكوليدج ستيشن".ونظ�را مل�ا يمتلك�ه من خ�رة عملي�ة يف جمال اهلندس�ة، وخرات�ه البحثي�ة ومهام�ه اإلداري�ة، وقع االختي�ار عىل هول ليشغل املناصب احلالية. وخالل مسرته احلافلة، عمل هول يف مرشوع�ات عدي�دة كان من ش�أهنا إحداث ث�ورة هائلة يف

الطرق احلالية إلنتاج الطاقة.وس�امهت أعامل�ه يف جم�ال الديناميكا احلراري�ة يف تطوير جه�از قادر ع�ىل قياس كثافات الس�وائل يف درج�ات حرارة

ت�راوح ب�ن 100 إىل 500 كلفن وحتت ضغ�ط يصل إىل 200 ميجا باسكال.

وق�ال هول: "قبل هذا اجله�از، مل يكن هناك يف الواقع أي بيانات عالية اجلودة للس�وائل املتواجدة حتت هذه الظروف، والت�ي جي�ب توافره�ا عن�د التنقي�ب ع�ن النف�ط يف أع�امق املحي�ط. إال أن خمتري لديه القدرة عىل قياس هذه البيانات. عندما تنقب يف مستودع نفطي عند مستويات ضغط عالية، جيب أن تعرف مسبقا خصائص السائل وإال ستجد نفسك معرض�ا لرؤية أنابيب التنقيب وهي تتطاير بعيدا عن منصة اس�تخراج النفط أو حدوث ت�رسب نفطي يف عرض املحيط

."DEEPWATER HORIZON كام حدث يف منصةتتضم�ن األعامل التي يفتخر هبا ه�ول، طريقته احلاصلة عىل براءة اخراع لتحويل الغاز الطبيعي إىل بنزين عر حتويله إىل إيثيل�ن أوال. ومؤخ�را ب�دأ ه�ول يف العم�ل ع�ىل الوق�ود احلي�وي، م�دركا أن بإمكان�ه اس�تخدام اإليثان�ول، ث�م عزل

جزيء املياه ليحصل يف النهاية عىل إيثيلن.

وأوض�ح قائ�ال: "يمكن�ك بعد تل�ك اخلط�وة حتويله إىل البنزي�ن أو الدي�زل أو وق�ود للطائ�رات أو منتج�ات أخ�رى متعددة. وهذا أمر مثر لالهتامم، فبدال من استخدام اإليثانول كوقود، يمكنك حتويل�ه إىل أنواع أخرى من الوقود. ويمكنك حينئذ اس�تخدام قاعدة التوزيع احلالية باإلضافة إىل املركبات

املصممة بالفعل الستخدامه".من جانبه عّلق الدكتور مارك ويكهولد، العميد والرئيس التنفيذي جلامعة تكساس إي أند أم يف قطر عىل وصول هول إىل الدوح�ة قائ�ال: "الدكت�ور هول لي�س غريبا ع�ن جامعة تكساس إي أند أم يف قطر، إذ زار حرم اجلامعة يف قطر ألكثر من عرشين مرة للمش�اركة يف فعاليات أكاديمية وبحثية عىل مدار األعوام الثامنية املاضية. ولطاملا كان ش�خصية حمورية يف تقدي�م الدعم جلامعة تكس�اس إي أن�د أم يف قطر من خالل مناصب�ه الريادي�ة يف كوليدج ستيش�ن. عرفت هول وعملت معه لس�نوات طويل�ة، وأؤكد لكم أن طاقته ومحاس�ه س�وف

يساعداننا يف املي قدما نحو املستقبل".

من بني أبرز هذه املرشوعات مبادرة املياه املستدامة واستخدام الطاقة يف قطر، والتي يبحث القائمون عليها سبل ضمان توفري مخزون ثابت من املياه الصالحة لالستعمال.


مس�ريته املهنية املمتدة ع�ىل مدار طوال

45 عام�ا، ق�ى الدكت�ور ه�ول ما يقارب 40 عام�ا منها يف العمل مع جامع�ة تكس�اس إي أن�د أم، ولكن�ه وصل إىل دول�ة قطر يف بداي�ات ش�هر أبريل حاماًل أف�كارًا جديدة لتطوي�ر الرنامج القوي الذي تقدمه اجلامعة مس�تعينا بخراته الطويلة يف جمال

اهلندسة والبحوث.قّس�م الدكتور هول، ال�ذي ينحدر من والي�ة أوكالهوما، مس�رته الوظيفي�ة ب�ن احلي�اة األكاديمي�ة وقط�اع الطاق�ة، وخاصة ال�رشكات العاملة يف جمال اهليدروكربونات. ويش�عر بأن هناك إمكانية لبناء عالقات وطيدة بن جامعة تكس�اس

إي أند أم يف قطر والرشكات العاملة يف الدولة.الت�ي األش�ياء مجي�ع أرى أن "يمكنن�ي ه�ول: وق�ال باس�تطاعتنا تقديمه�ا للصناع�ة، ولكن�ي أرى أيض�ا بعض ال�ردد ألخذ ه�ذه اخلطوة األخ�رة. أريد أن أختل�ص من هذه الش�كوك التي تعد أم�را طبيعيا ب�ن الصناع�ة واجلامعات،

فهي سائدة يف كل مكان". "عمل�ت ع�ن كث�ب يف املج�االت الصناعية واس�تمتع بذل�ك كثرا، فعندما أق�وم بتأدية العمل األس�ايس أجده غر مثم�ر إن مل يكن له تطبيق عميل، لذا أحبذ تأدية األعامل التي متتل�ك تطبيقات عملية فورية بمج�رد االنتهاء منها. كذلك أحب أن أتعرف عىل املشاكل التي تواجه املجاالت الصناعية، وعندم�ا أكون يف اجلامعة فأس�تمتع باحلرية النس�بية يف تأدية

األعامل التي أرغب يف القيام هبا".يعتقد هول أن منصبه احلايل يواجه عدة حتديات يف الوقت الراه�ن، إال أن أكث�ر وأه�م م�ا يش�غله ه�و برنام�ج البحوث والدراس�ات العلي�ا، وأوض�ح قائ�ال: "برنامج البح�وث قوي بالفعل، واستطاع احلصول عىل قدر كبر من التمويل، معظمه من الصن�دوق القطري لرعاية البحث العلم�ي، باإلضافة إىل

ال�رشكات الصناعي�ة يف دول�ة قطر. ومع خ�ريت يف جمال النفط والغاز الطبيعي سأمتكن من املساعدة يف تطوير الرنامج".

وي�رى هول أن العمل الذي تقوم به جامعة تكس�اس إي أن�د أم يف قط�ر يتس�م بأمهي�ة خاص�ة ألن�ه يم�ي قدمًا يف مواجهة التحديات الت�ي تواجهها دولة قطر، وأضاف قائال: خاص�ة مرشوع�ات اجلامع�ة يف هن�ا قس�م كل "يمتل�ك تتمح�ور مجيعه�ا حول القضايا الكامن�ة يف دولة قطر. وهذه ليس�ت مرشوع�ات أكاديمي�ة فقط، إذ تق�وم أقس�ام الكلية بالبح�ث يف احتياج�ات الدولة وتطوي�ر مرشوعات ختاطب

التحديات التي تواجهها".وتاب�ع بقول�ه: "عىل س�بيل املث�ال، تقول الدول�ة أن لدهيا مشكلة ما، فرد القسم قائال بأنه يمكنه العثور عىل احلل، ويف تلك األثناء يعمل الطرفان عىل حتديد األسباب الرئيسية هلذه املش�كلة. ومن بن أبرز هذه املرشوعات مبادرة املياه املستدامة واس�تخدام الطاق�ة يف قط�ر، والت�ي يبحث القائم�ون عليها سبل ضامن توفر خمزون ثابت من املياه الصاحلة لالستعامل".

تتضمن التحدي�ات اجلديدة التي يواجهها هول حتس�ن س�ر العمل يف مبنى اهلندس�ة بجامعة تكساس إي أند أم يف قطر، واس�تطرد قائال: "أعتقد أن أقس�ام اخلدمات مثل تقنية املعلومات، والتس�ويق واملوارد البرشية تعمل بشكل متباعد، وأود أن أمج�ع بينه�ا يف م�كان واحد بقدر املس�تطاع. جيب أن تتح�دث أقس�ام اخلدم�ات م�ع بعضه�ا البع�ض، ولكن يف الوق�ت احلايل يتوج�ب عليها أن هُت�رع إىل كافة أنح�اء املبنى

للقيام بذلك". وتاب�ع بقوله: "باإلضافة إىل ما س�بق، قمت بعدة جوالت داخ�ل خمترات اجلامع�ة، ويف بعض األحي�ان وجدت أن من ال�رضوري اس�تخدام ه�ذه املخت�رات بص�ورة أفض�ل. ق�ام املصممون املعامريون بتشييد مبنى مجيل، ولكنه ليس عمليا

بام يتفق مع متطلبات مبنى للهندسة".للبح�وث مش�ارك كعمي�د منصب�ه ع�ن وفض�ال والدراس�ات العلي�ا، سيش�غل ه�ول أيض�ا منص�ب نائب رئي�س اجلامع�ة املش�ارك واملدير املش�ارك ملحطة تكس�اس

إطاللة عىل ... مسارات الهندسة


إطاللة عىل ... مسارات الهندسة


بناء الكوادر البرشية للقطاعات

الصنــاعيــةيعتزم الدكتور كينيث هول بناء روابط قوية بني جامعة تكساس إي أند أم يف قطر واملجاالت الصناعية يف الدولة بعد وصوله إىل الدوحة وتقلد منصبه الجديد كعميد مشارك للبحوث والدراسات العليا يف الجامعة.


ACCOLADES

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY at Qatar hosted the awards ceremony for its 2011 Visualization Development Competition (VDC11) on 19 April at the Texas A&M Engineering Building. The third annual installment of the competition was organized by the University’s ITS Research Computing group and sought to increase awareness of the benefits of visualization within both research and teaching communities.

First place was awarded to Dr. Reza Sadr, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Rana Khader, mechanical engineering research assistant, for their team’s project, ‘Near-wall Effects on Nano-Particle Motion in a Microfluidics System.’ Dr. Annie Ruimi, Texas A&M at Qatar assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and her team’s ‘3D Visualization of Looping, Tangling and Knot Formation of Surgical Threads’ won second place.

The call for proposals was extended to Education City, Qatar University and local industry. Dr. Othmane Bouhali, director of Research Computing at Texas A&M at Qatar, explained the competition’s process, saying, “VDC11 received 13 proposals outlining the project’s goal, research and/or teaching benefits and type of support needed. Competition participants included Qatar Museum Authority and Birmingham University, Qatar Statistics Authority

Sadr and Ruimi take top honors in VCD11

QATAR NATIONAL RESEARCH Fund awarded Texas A&M at Qatar $27.51 million in grants across 30 research programs with the announcement of its Cycle 4 funding in late May. 70 percent of the lead project investigators for these awarded projects are based in Qatar, which underlines the importance the University places on creating a research culture in Qatar and building the State’s research capacity. These projects are in collaboration with institutions from Qatar and around the world, and seek to achieve the objectives of addressing Qatar’s research priorities and promoting Qatar as a source for new international knowledge.

Dr. Kenneth Hall, associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies, noted the University’s efforts to create new knowledge in Qatar, stating, “Texas A&M at Qatar is proud to launch these research projects in collaboration with experts in Qatar and international institutions. The University’s success rate in the Cycle 4 awards underlines its efforts to build research capacity in Qatar and contribute to the creation of new knowledge. The University’s fundamental mission is to be a valued resource to the State of Qatar and it has done this by design

QNRF awards Texas A&M at Qatar $27.51 million

through emphasizing that the core work must occur in Qatar. We are tremendously proud of our faculty and their achievements in this NPRP cycle.”

Texas A&M at Qatar submitted 94 proposals and achieved a 32 percent success rate with these awards. The average success rate for the recent cycle was 23 percent.

Dr. Eyad Masad, assistant dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Texas A&M at Qatar, discussed the University’s commitment to helping Qatar achieve the goals outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030, saying, “All these projects are completely relevant to Qatar priorities and they will contribute to offering technical solutions and building research capacity.”

NPRP is the funding program for Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) and is an annual event that awards research project funds for project periods of one to three years.

Its proposal funding ranges from $20,000 to $350,000 per year. NPRP supports QNRF’s goal of promoting a culture of research in Qatar and provides a transparent and measurable system for judging project proposal criteria. QNRF is supported by Qatar Foundation.

Texas A&M at Qatar hosted the first Tau Beta Pi (TBP) international initiation in

April. Four TBP officers from College Station traveled to Doha to assist in the induction ceremony in which 19 initiates joined the Texas Delta(q) Chapter of Tau Beta Pi. Anas Al Bastami was elected as president of the Doha chapter.

TAU BETA PI WELCOMES 20 TEXAS A&M AT QATAR INITIATES

and Qatar University, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and Texas A&M at Qatar.

The groups worked for 13 weeks with Texas A&M at Qatar’s visualization experts to achieve their project goals and bring them to life with 3D technology. The event provided an opportunity for these communities to utilize the University’s Immersive Visualization Facility (IVF) or “Cave,” a complete visualization environment for running and viewing complex graphical applications which allows the researcher to see and manipulate data in immersive 3D detail. It is one of the few facilities of its kind in the region, offering researchers an opportunity to conduct ultramodern advanced research.

Weichold recognized as Regents ProfessorTEXAS A&M AT QATAR Dean and CEO, Dr. Mark H. Weichold, was recognized as a Regents Professor in early February. The Regents Professor award recognizes Texas A&M University System faculty who have made outstanding contributions to their University and to the people of Texas. With this new title, Dean Weichold joins an elite rank of Texas A&M faculty who have made a profound impact on the University.

This is an extraordinary honor, as only five Texas A&M faculty members were named Regents Professor this academic year. Since the Regents Professor title was established in 1996, only 131 faculty members in the entire Texas A&M System have been given that distinction.

Dr. Reza Sadr Dr. Annie Ruimi


2010 faculty and staff honors announcedEXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE and longstanding service were honored during the 2010 faculty and staff awards in April. Honorees were recognized for five and 20 years service, STAR awards, faculty excellence, research excellence, teaching excellence and Dean’s Meritorious Service.

Those honored included: Five year service awards - Abdallah Al Mardawi, Randa Al-Qudah, Dr. Mahmood Amani, Mohammad Bilal Babar, Dr. John Bryant, Dr. Dragomir Bukur, Michael Collins, Hala El-Dakak, Ghalia Farzat, Leila Jaber, Dr. Houshang Masudi, Geeta Megchiani, Yassin Nour, Nikola Petrovic, Adel Saeid, Sami Said and Suzette Van Greune. 20 year service award – Nancy Small.

STAR awards – Sarah Aboulhson, Khadija El Cadi, Benjamin Cieslinski and Windy Lala.

Faculty Excellence award – Dr. Hassan Bazzi.Research Excellence award - Dr. Miloj Belic,

awarded the annual Faculty Research Excellence award; Dr Moin Ahammed and Dr. Kamel Tourki, awarded the Research Fellow Excellence award; Anas Al-Bastami, engineering student, awarded the Dr. Richard Ewing Undergraduate Student Award for Research Excellence; and Mehrnoosh Sanefir, an engineering student, awarded the Dr. Richard Ewing Graduate Student Award for Research Excellence.

Teaching Excellence award (presented by the Association of Former Students) – Dr. Nesrin Ozalp.

Dean’s Meritorious Service awards – Office of Student and Community Relations in conjunction with the Office of Admissions and Dr. Eyad Masad.

Faculty receive promotions and rolling contracts

SIX MEMBERS of the Texas A&M at Qatar faculty were awarded rolling contracts and/or promotions in April, effective 1 July. The promotions and rolling contracts recognize the outstanding record of academic achievement of the University’s faculty.

Dr. Hussein Alnuweiri was awarded a five-year rolling contract in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program, Dr. Ashfaq Bengali was promoted to professor of chemistry with a five-year rolling contract in the science program, Dr. Mansour Karkoub was awarded a five-year rolling contract in the mechanical engineering program, Dr. Patrick Linke was promoted to associate professor of physics with a three-year rolling contract in the chemical engineering program, Dr. Hyuchul Nha was promoted to associate professor of physics with a three-year rolling contract in the science program and Dr. Khalid Qaraqe was promoted to professor of electrical and computer engineering with a five-year rolling contract in the electrical and computer engineering program.

DR. NESRIN OZALP, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Dr. Annie Ruimi, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received Best Project awards for 2010 at the Qatar Foundation Annual Research Forum dinner and award ceremony in December 2010. Ozalp took Best Project award in Best Energy and Environment Research Program of the Year for her work with ‘Smart Solar Reactor for Co-production of Hydrogen and Industrial Grade Carbon Under Any Weather Conditions.’ Her project focuses on the commercialization of the novel solar reactor in two phases in collaboration with Franhofer Institute of Germany. Ruimi took Best Project Award in Best Computing Research Program of the Year for her ‘What Do Drillstrings and Surgical Threads Have in Common?’ Her work focuses on the use of computational tools based on the Cosserat theory of rods to predict the correct configuration of structures designed for applications from drilling to suturing. Research programs selected received a grant of $100,000 to continue their research efforts.

Ozalp and Ruimi win best research project awards

Griffin named associate professor emeritusDR. RICHARD GRIFFIN, associate professor of mechanical engineering, has been given the title of associate professor emeritus by the Board of Regents for his distinguished service to Texas A&M University. Griffin served as program chair for the mechanical engineering program until his recent retirement.

His research areas have focused corrosion and education. In corrosion, he has worked with environmental cracking, coatings, erosion and lifetime prediction. In his career in education, Griffin pursued the introduction of technology, as well as active learning and teaming in the engineering classroom.

Hanley publishes in art journalDR. HOWARD J. M. HANLEY, Texas A&M at Qatar strategic initiatives liaison, has published an article in The British Art Journal concerning an overview of the British paintings in the Doha Orientalist Museum. ‘Through British Eyes: Paintings from the Doha Orientalist Museum’ focuses on the museum’s substantial exhibition of Victorian art and reflects the British fascination with the Middle East in the 19th century. Hanley notes that then, as now, the Middle East was central to world politics. The British Art Journal is the research journal of British art studies.

Dr. Richard Griffin

Dr. Nesrin Ozalp


TEACHINGANDLEARNING

What opportunities does your department offer to students? The Department of Student Affairs offers many student opportunities to learn outside the classroom. Most students are involved in at least one student organization, participate in leadership workshops or our educational programming such as the Student Leadership Exchange, International Education Week or Doha Debates. We also collaborate with other branch campuses to offer Education City-wide opportunities such as the Student Leader Workshop, LeaderShape and Make a Difference Day. Regarding extracurricular activities, how do they contribute to the overall academic experience? While it may seem counterintuitive, students involved in extracurricular activities are better students academically. Given that involved students have a lot of demands on their time, they are forced to manage their time more efficiently. Additionally, students who are involved in extracurricular activities are competitive candidates for jobs upon graduation. Employers are looking for academically successful students who can work well within groups and demonstrate leadership qualities.

Could you explain the concept of Aggie core values? How are they expressed through programs? How do they contribute to the Aggie community?The six Aggie core values – excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service – are a framework in which all Aggie community members

can further understand the purpose of their role within the University. During orientation we begin to use this language to help new students think about the Aggie college experience. We charge each student to uphold these core values and exemplify them even after they graduate. Each of the Department of Student Affairs programs is tied to at least one of these core values. This year we have even asked student organizations to think about their events in terms of which core values their events represent. In the future we hope to have a leadership certificate program anchored to the core values. I feel the common language of Aggie core values between our students, faculty and staff reminds us of and connects us to the University’s purpose, as well as ties us closely with those in College Station.

How important is leadership development to a student’s growth?Understanding one’s capacity for leadership is one of the greatest learning outcomes for college students today. Through involvement in the classroom, student organizations, participation in leadership programs and personal reflection students can learn about their role as leaders for positive social change. As students develop they further understand that they can have significant impact on individuals, within groups and in our ever-changing global society.

Do all programs contribute to personal development in some way? How do they work to expand and improve a student’s strengths?All of the opportunities the Department of Student Affairs offers are intentionally focused to help develop

the whole student—physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially and occupationally. By helping students develop in each of these five areas we are giving students a chance to expand their understanding of their individual strengths. To assist students to become more self-aware of their strengths we are using a program called StrengthsQuest. The StrengthsQuest model is based on positive psychology and the premise that one has more success in maximizing natural talents, rather than focusing energy on overcoming weaknesses. As more students start to understand their strengths we hope to engage faculty and staff in supporting the students in academic and personal success using this model.

What is ‘education in action?’‘Education in action’ is the concept that learning happens outside the classroom and is enhanced by active involvement within a community. By engaging with new ideas and fellow students in intentional and meaningful ways we create a learning environment for experiential education.

How do programs like OrgSync enrich the extracurricular environment?OrgSync, is an online portal system that connects students and their organizations. Similar to Facebook, OrgSync encourages communication and the sharing of ideas about various methods of engagement within our campus and the Education City campus as a whole. All events and updated student involvement information is compiled and easily accessible. Starting in the fall of 2011, we hope to unveil our co-curricular transcript. This would serve a similar function as an academic transcript, but highlight involvement and learning students have been active participants in during their time at A&M. Students I have spoken with about this idea are very excited.

Where can students apply more energy to get the most from these programs?I feel students should get involved early in their college career with anything and everything that interests them. As students start to figure out their nuanced interests they can take on additional levels of responsibility. Showing up is the hardest part. Many students do not know what they are missing and only realize it too late, after they’ve graduated. I really enjoy meeting with students individually to help them decide what they want to explore and really delve into.

How has your program evolved since your arrival?Since I arrived in August 2009, I’ve seen the students take more ownership for traditions and become actively engaged in the A&M and Education City campus. One excellent example is the Student Body Government (SBG) Traditions Council role in the Ring Day and Muster programs. These events were once run by staff members, but are now planned and executed by student members. Currently, they are planning new and exciting initiatives for College Station traditions with a Qatari twist.

Rachel White, program coordinator for Student Engagement, works to instill Aggie values and leadership skills in Aggie students through programs promoted by the Department of Student Affairs. She comments on the importance of building the extracurricular skills of future engineers and how this enhances their student experiences, as well as develops their leadership capacities.

Engineering well-rounded Aggies

Rachel White, second from left, at the 2010 SALSA awards.


ALI FAYAD Born: 8 February 1988

From: Lebanon

Program: Mechanical Engineering

ExtraMural: ASME student branch secretary (spring

2009), vice president (fall 2009), president (spring 2010)

Representative of class of 2010 in SBG (2009-2010)

Class of: 2010

Company: Al-Shaheen Well Services Company, a joint venture

between Weatherford International and Al-Shaheen Energy

Services, a subsidiary of Qatar Petroleum

Current Job Title: Well Planner

AGGIESINACTION

TEXAS A&M AT QATAR

BUILT AND DEVELOPED MY SOFT SKILLS, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT THING AT THE WORKPLACE IN ADDITION TO THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION I RECEIVED.

How did your experience at Texas A&M at Qatar prepare you for your current job responsibilities?A big part of my job responsibilities is to deal with clients, so the technical and non-technical communication skills I learned at Texas A&M at Qatar are crucial. I also learned to give my best no matter what the job is and to quickly adapt to new situations.

Were you active with student organizations or activities while you were a student?I served in three progressive American Society of Mechanical Engineers, (ASME) student branch positions and was a member of the volleyball team when it was formed in the spring of 2010. I also went to College Station on the spring Leadership Exchange program when I was a freshman, and I have been always involved in activities with the exchange students from main campus.

What is your five-year career goal?My plan is to get promoted to drilling engineer within a few weeks. I want to work as a drilling engineer for another two to three years and then I want to transfer to the field or get a master’s in drilling engineering.

Were you a sponsored student?No, my parents paid for my education with the help of the financial aid offered by Qatar Foundation and two Texas A&M at Qatar scholarships.

How is your sponsor getting value from your education?My parents are especially proud that I graduated with honors and am working with a respectable company. Financially, I am supporting myself, paying my student loan and helping with the household.

What projects are you working on work?I’m planning different oil wells to be drilled in

Dukhan and doing all the engineering calculations related to them. I am also mentoring a Texas A&M at Qatar student intern with the help of my supervisor.

What do you miss most about Texas A&M at Qatar?I miss being around my friends. I miss staying after classes and studying until late at night.

How did the University build your skills and confidence?Texas A&M at Qatar built and developed my soft skills, which turned out to be a very important thing at the workplace in addition to the technical education I received. As an example, by the time I graduated, I was comfortable giving presentations

to a big crowd. One of the very important skills I developed was the ability to work under pressure and deliver good quality work.

Are you a hands-on worker?My current position is an office job, so I don’t’ get to do hands-on work. However, I’ve always been a hands-on worker.

What is your favorite memory as a student?My favorite memory is when my class was gathered at my classmate’s wedding. I felt like I was with family.

What piece of advice would you give the class of 2011 entering in September?Time management is critically important. It will help you get good grades and have more free time for fun.

Ali receiving his degree

from Texas A&M President,

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin.


OUTANDABOUTGoing somewhere exciting? Take your Texas A&M at Qatar T-shirt and your camera and send photos to [email protected] for publication in the Platform’s Out and About feature.

Abdullah Taha stands on Kyle Field during his first trip to College Station to participate in the Student Leadership Exchange.

Dr. Ghada Salama visiting the Great Wall during her trip to China.

Justin Harbor explores Bol, Croatia


Texas A&M Engineering Building, Education CityPO Box 23874, Doha, Qatar

tel. +974.4423.0010 fax +974.4423.0011www.qatar.tamu.edu

It’s Time to Engineer a World of Difference.

the Aggie Platform, summer 2011

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