The Qatar University (QU) Young Scientists Center (YSC) announces the successful projects of the National Science-Research Promotion Program-III (NSPP-III) that have been awarded research grants for the year 2023. NSPP-III, launched by the Qatar University Young Scientists Center in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies (VPRGS) in December 2020, is a pioneering initiative aimed at engaging Qatar's youth in meaningful research grant projects.
The program empowers young minds to harness their cognitive and creative abilities in critical research areas of national priority. It offers high school secondary and university-level students a unique opportunity to actively participate in scientific research under the guidance of esteemed researchers and academics from QU. This immersive experience not only enriches their research skills but also nurtures their metacognitive and critical thinking abilities, paving the way for promising careers in research and contributing to the nation's prosperity.
Since the launch of NSPP-III in December 2022, proposals have poured in from various colleges and research centers across QU. The range of proposals span a variety of fields such as materials science, medical and biomedical sciences, pharmaceuticals, engineering specializations, and more. Each proposal underwent a rigorous evaluation process, assessing its significance to the State of Qatar, its potential scientific impact, the strength of the research plan, and the suitability of research standards for participating students.
A specialized committee of reviewers diligently examined and audited all winning research projects, ensuring their distinctiveness and alignment with national and scientific priorities. The next phase involved the allocation of Qatari high school students to each research project. Admission to these projects was granted to tenth and eleventh-grade students, nominated by their respective schools on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additionally, each winning project features the participation of an undergraduate student from QU, selected based on an assessment of the student's application letter.
The winning projects are ‘The role of Nampt activator and NAD(H) in sepsis induced cardiac inflammation’ by Dr. Zaid Hussein Hasan Almaayah, College Of Pharmacy; ‘Development of Two Functional Foods for Children with Diabetes (Low-Glycemic Index Biscuits Coated with Chocolate) to Treat Anemia and Vitamin D Deficiency’ by Prof. Reema Tayyem, Professor of Nutrition; ‘Zebrafish as Animal Model for Testing Industrial Water’ by Dr. Maha AlAsmakh, College of Health Sciences; ‘Evaluation of rhizobacteria isolated from Limonium axillare rhizosphere to enhance the growth of Arugula’ by Prof. Mohammed Abu-Dieyeh, College of Arts and Sciences; ‘Blue energy generation using water salinity gradient in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant’ by Dong Suk Han, Center for Advanced Material; ‘Designing Spherical Solar PV To Trap More Energy’ by Amith Khandakar, College of Engineering.
Prof. Noora Jabor Al-Thani, Director of QU’s Young Scientists Center, expressed her immense pride and emphasized that this initiative's launch was a culmination of the center’s longstanding efforts in conceiving and executing various research programs. This program, she believes, holds tremendous potential to enhance the scientific capabilities of the young generation, fostering innovation and promising outcomes for a prosperous future.