QU’s CAM takes measures to combat coronavirus and continue research activities

THE Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) at Qatar University (QU) has ensured precautionary measures to continue scientific research at the centre in view of the coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in the country.

Dr Nasser bin Abdullah al Juffali al Nuaimi, director of CAM–QU, stated, “We have put in place mechanisms to protect our employees and keep the level of scientific research unaffected during this time in order to control the spread of COVID-19.”

Naimi said he had met with all the members of the centre to set up mechanisms for implementing the directives issued by the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management and Higher Management at QU to protect the employees of the centre and ensure research activities are unaffected.

Naimi said: “We have formed an emergency committee at the centre to consider the requests of researchers and adapt the work environment. We began with the emergency committee responding to all questions and inquiries of the researchers, technicians and employees related to the virus and the nature of their work in the current circumstances. Three people at a time are allowed in one office.”

With regard to the safety precautions of laboratory equipment, Dr Naimi said: “The centre has prepared a timetable in which all essential equipment function during weekdays. The timetable is set in a way that avoids any interaction between the technicians and others. The researchers and technicians perform the required analysis, and the results are sent via e-mail.”

Students and researchers have fixed timetable of working individually for four hours daily in the laboratory in order to keep them secure. The use of masks and disposable gloves and personal protection glasses are most important requirements in the laboratory. Tissue boxes are provided in each office and open-door policy is made during working hours.

The devices used are required to be assembled by the end and each individual should not exceed dight hours per week time period.

As for the mechanism of research work in the current circumstances, Dr Naimi said: “We encourage researchers at the centre to publish research of which data is ready, until the completion of the closure phase. We also encourage researchers to publish review papers as a temporary alternative to publishing scientific papers based on laboratory measurements.”

In addition, we also encourage researchers to write research projects for the current year and the next year so that they are ready and do not consume time after returning from the partial closure.

We have formed an emergency committee at the centre to consider the requests of researchers and adapt the work environment. We began with the emergency committee responding to all questions and inquiries of the researchers, technicians and employees related to the virus and the nature of their work in the current circumstances. Three people at a time are allowed in one office

Dr Nasser bin Abdullah al Juffali al Nuaimi