Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences 

Date: 13 & 14 Nov 2024

WHAT IS QULSS ABOUT?

Welcome to the 17th Edition of the Qatar University Life Sciences Symposium (QULSS), hosted by the esteemed College of Arts and Sciences. This annual event, organized by the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, has consistently provided a platform for cutting-edge discussions and invaluable insights into the dynamic field of life sciences.

Attendees, comprising students, faculty members, researchers, and stakeholders primarily from Qatar, converge to explore the latest advancements and emerging trends in life sciences. With each edition, the symposium continues to evolve, attracting between 150 to 200 passionate participants united by a shared dedication to scientific exploration.

For its 17th edition, QULSS extends its reach beyond borders, inviting both international and regional participants to join us in shaping the future of biotechnologies and fostering a sustainable circular bioeconomy. With an anticipated attendance of 200 participants, this edition promises to be a dynamic convergence of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.

This event is establishing a platform that facilitates researchers, scientists, policymakers, and industry professionals to acquire knowledge, converse, and thus initiate partnerships. This symposium will promote innovation and sustainable development. Novel biotechnological solutions will be achieved by increasing creativity and the capability to innovate among members of a certain community.

Qatar is overtaking other countries in the science and technology fields, particularly in the areas of food, agriculture, marine, and environmental technologies. A full-fledged biotechnology system is implemented to probe and innovate technologies in various sectors, including food and beverage, biopharmaceuticals, and agri-tech. The industry is rapidly changing through research, development, and innovation. This area is growing very fast, and new capabilities are being introduced to integrate financial, institutional, and industrial bodies to pursue commercial ventures and societal advancement through biotechnology. QULSS2024 will highlight the key developments in biotechnologies in Qatar and showcase national capabilities in dealing with human health and environmental sustainability.

WHAT IS QULSS THEME?

1. Agricultural and Food Biotechnology
2. Bioremediation and Bioenergy for a Sustainable Environment
3. Marine Biotechnologies and Aquaculture
4. Entrepreneurship for Building Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy
5. Transfer of Biotechnologies and Start-up Creation

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF QULSS 2024?

1. Emphasize the potential of biotechnologies in advancing a circular bioeconomy.
2. Highlight the significant promise of biotechnologies in Qatar’s future, especially in research and development.
3. Explore innovative applications of biotechnologies and their integration into industrial sectors.

QULSS 2024 SCHEDULE

• DAY 1: Wednesday 13th November 2024
• DAY 2: Thursday 14th November 2022

08.00-09.00	Registration & Reception
OPENING CEREMONY
09.00-09.05 09:05-09:10 09:10-09:30	- Prof Fatima Al-Kubaisi Dear of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS-QU) - Prof Mohammad Al-Ghouti Head of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (CAS-QU) - Eng. Hamad S. Al-Shamari Director of Agricultural Research Department, Ministry of Municipality, Qatar	Priorities of Research in Biotechnology in Qatar
Session 1: AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY Moderator: Prof Samir Jaoua
09:30-10:10 (40 min)	Prof Yowahan Son Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, South Korea	Nature-based solutions for sustainability: Focusing on vegetation introduction in arid regions
10:10-10:40 (30 min)	Prof Essaid Ait Barka Vice-President Delegated to the European Alliance INVEST, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France	Unlocking Resilient Agriculture: Exploring Beneficial Bacteria-Plant Interactions Against Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
10:40-11:10 (30 min)	Prof Slim Tounsi General Director, Center of Biotechnology, Sfax University, Tunisia	Circular Bioeconomy for Sustainable Agriculture through biopesticides development
11:10-11:30 (20 min)	Dr Iman Salah Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University	Prosopis juliflora waste-to-value: leaf extract effectiveness against Mango post-harvest diseases
11:30-12:00	Coffee break and Refreshments
Session 2: BIOREMEDIATION AND BIOENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT Moderator: Prof Mohammed Abu-Dieyeh
12:00-12:40 (40 min)	Prof Ibrahim Banat School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK	Microbial Biosurfactants: Trends and Potential Application in Environmental, Agricultural, and Biomedical Industries
12:40-13:10 (30 min)	Dr Suhur Saeed Water Management head at ExxonMobil Qatar	Biochar and Microbes: Sustainable Technologies for Bioremediation of Industrial Effluents
13:10-13:40 (30 min)	Prof Mohammad Trigui Head of the research Laboratory “Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development”, Sfax University, Tunisia	Moving towards a sustainable circular bio-economy in the agriculture sector
13:40-14:00 (20 min)	Dr Haneen Al Dous Postdoctoral Associate in Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar	Novel approach in treating industrial wastewater using metal-organic framework nanoparticles impregnated with biosurfactants
14:00-15:00	Lunch
All day	Poster session

Session 3. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGIES AND AQUACULTURE Moderator: Prof Jassim Al-Khayat 09:00-09:40 (35 min) Prof Sergey Dobretsov UNESCO Chair in Marine Biotechnology, Centre of Excellence in Marine Biotechnology, Sultan Qaboos University-Sultanate of Oman) From ocean to innovation: sustainable frontiers in marine biotechnology 09:40-10:00 (20 min) Dr Propbir Das Research Associate Professor/ Algal Technology Program/ Center for Sustainable Development, Qatar University, Qatar The application of aquaculture wastewater-grown microalgal biomass and catering waste as feed ingredients for sustainable aquaculture 10:10-10:20 (20 min) Dr Victor Rosas Aquaculture Nutrition Specialist, Postdoctorate in Shrimp cultured in Bioflocs Systems, Environmental Sciences Center, Qatar University Replacement of by-product fishmeal with insect meal in diets for Penaeus vannamei: effects on growth and health 10:20-10:45 Session 4. ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR BUILDING SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY 11.00-11.20 Dr Mohammad Ismail Ibrahim Latest innovations in drug synthesis and production 11.20-11.40 Dr Ashwag Binmahfooz Gene Editing for Next Generation Food 11:40-12.05 Dr Anis Larbi Sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility and flexibility: key elements of biotechnology for R&D, manufacturing and QC 12:05-12:25 Prof Ahmed Ali Khalifa Walking the Circularity Talk: Evidence from Case studies and Research 12:25-13:00 Session 5. Biotechnologies for transfer of technology and start-up creation (Panel discussion) 13:00-13:20 Closing, gift given to the keynote speakers & awards to the winners

Organizing Committee

Prof. Nabil Zouari

Symposium Coordinator

Professor in Qatar University

Prof. Samir Jaoua

Professor in Qatar University

Prof. Mohammed Abu-Dieyeh

Professor in Qatar University

Prof. Mohammad Alghouti

Acting Department Head

Professor in Qatar University

Prof. Sami Sayadi

Professor in Qatar University

Prof. Said Sif

Professor in Qatar University

Sameera Shanawaz Shaikh

Teaching Assistant in Qatar University

Dr. Farzin Shabani

Assistant Professor in Qatar University

Abeer Al-Mohannadi

Senior Lab Technician in Qatar University

Fatima Ali M A Al-Hajri

Administrative Coordinator in Qatar University

Dr. Hayat Al-Jabiry

Assistant Professor in Qatar University

Dr. Mohamed Alsafran

Assistant Professor in Qatar University

Registration

Registration has now closed.

Submission guidelines:

The deadline for submissions is November 7, 2024, at 11:59 pm.

The poster file must be submitted in PDF format, while the abstract file should be in Word format.

There are no specific rules for your posters; you are welcome to use your own template and design.

Abstract Guidelines:

• Email Accuracy: Ensure that the email addresses for both the primary author and co-authors are accurate.
• Font: Use Times New Roman, 12pt, justified, with single spacing for the text.
• Main Title: The title should be in bold, centered, and written in a 14pt font size. Leave two lines after the title.
• Authors: List the authors’ last names followed by their first names and the initial of their middle names (if applicable), without titles.
• Affiliations: Provide the affiliation after each author’s name. The email address of the First Author is mandatory.
• Main Text: The abstract should follow the structure of Introduction/Purpose, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. It should be limited to one page, approximately 400 words.
• References: Limit references to no more than five, following a standard referencing style.

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