The College of Science and Engineering (CSE), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), hosted its Annual Research Open Day 2019, which aimed to nurture scientific research while creating an integrated ecosystem that encourages the exchange of innovative work. 

The event, which concluded today, aimed to instill in the HBKU community a spirit of research and highlight CSE as a leading research and knowledge hub where scholars, researchers, and industry partners will come together to exchange ideas, share findings, and discuss future collaborations.  

CSE’s Annual Research Open Day began with a welcome speech delivered by Dr. Mounir Hamdi, dean of the college. The event’s eight research pillars of artificial intelligence and data analytics; cybersecurity; energy and resources; health and human-centered technologies; logistics and supply chain management; nanotechnology; sensing, communication, and networking; and water, food, and environment were introduced by Dr. Amine Bermak, professor and associate dean, to a highly engaged audience. 

A panel discussion on “University Research: Successful Paths to Technology Transfer, Licensing, and Commercialization” was moderated by Dean Mounir. The panelists included His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al-Sada, former Minister of Energy and Industry; Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, former Minister of Information and Communications Technology, and Chairperson of the Qatar Satellite Company; and Dr. Richard O’Kennedy, Vice President for Research, Development, and Innovation at Qatar Foundation, and HBKU Vice President for Research. 

A formal announcement on the ORYX GTL Awards was made with a subsequent seminar on the advancement of graduate education. The event also witnessed the inauguration of a national survey on public perception on the re-use of treated industrial water initiated by The Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development. 

Dr. Mounir Hamdi said: “CSE is committed to facilitating the exchange of innovative ideas and research findings. The Annual Research Open Day is an important event that unites members of the research community, who are given a platform to engage on relevant topics and showcase current research projects. The event serves as meeting point for academia and industry to collectively pursue shared objectives and celebrate the diverse research that enriches Qatar’s scientific landscape.” 

Dr. Dena Al-Thani, associate professor at CSE, said: “This is a significant milestone for HBKU’s CSE, and we’re immensely proud of the work of our students throughout the course of their studies at the university. The work presented here today is a microcosm of the tools, techniques, and research they have been working on as they forge ahead with their degrees. It is an opportune avenue for them to express their work and advance knowledge in key areas.”

Meanwhile, research demonstrations and presentations highlighted technology proof-of-concepts as well as key RDI activities and accomplishments within CSE. More than 30 demonstrations representing the dynamic work of CSE’s students and faculty were on display. The projects tackled the themes of sustainability and ICT, including food security decision platforms, Qatar traffic accident predictors, wireless mesh health monitoring wristwatches, children autism spectrum disorder detectors, and others.

CSE regularly hosts events to nurture a research culture in Qatar and showcase the expertise and research being carried out within HBKU’s community.   

The Annual Research Open Day was held at Multaqa (Education City Student Center) on Tuesday, April 30 from 9 am to 5 pm. 

For more information on CSE, please visit cse.hbku.edu.qa.