HIS MAJESTY’S FUND FOR 7 NEW PROJECTS

MUSCAT: The Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) announced seven new research projects selected for His Majesty’s Strategic Research Fund.

Speaking on the occasion of the 17th SQU Day, Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrooqi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research, said the projects include characterising a new phytoplasma disease threatening date palm production in Oman; seawater greenhouse as a sustainable agricultural solution in seawater-intruded areas in Oman; microbial electrochemical system for desalination through sewage treatment with simultaneous recovery of chemical resources and electrical energy; development of energy management system for dispatchable renewable power generation; high grade epithelial ovarian cancer: overcoming chemotherapy resistance with Omani marine compounds; elimination of polluted brine wellrecharge using solar-powered zeroliquid discharge brackish water desalination; and quantifying and mitigating potential environmental impacts related to the non-eustatic sea level rise along Oman coastal zone.

The 17th Sultan Qaboos University Day, commemorates the visit of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to the university on May 2, 2000.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ali bin Saud al Bimani, Vice-Chancellor of SQU, outlined the achievements of the university in various fields during the past one year.

He said the university has obtained three new patents during the past one year. The first concerns the production of value-added date syrup with the crystallisation of sugar (date honey) granted to researchers from the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences. DETAILS ON P3