SQU awards Royal Grant to 10 strategic research projects
Among the recipients were Prof Dr Aisha bint Salem al Harthi, recognised for her work on social innovation in Omani learning cities; Dr Jalila bint Saeed al Shukaili, who is developing newborn screening for immunological disorders; and Prof Dr Tasneem Pervez, focused on solar cells using locally sourced polymers.
Other researchers awarded include Dr Malik bin Mohammed al Wardi for an AI-driven drought prediction model, Dr Rashid bin Salem al Hajri for green hydrogen production and Dr Amira bint Khamis al Amri for her study on the socioeconomic costs of road traffic accidents.
Projects on carbon capture, digital archiving of Omani heritage, and national identity also received the grant.
Speaking at the event, Dr Amer bin Saif al Hinai, Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, said, 'We wanted this to be more than a celebration – a chance to consolidate SQU's research achievements that have strengthened Oman's regional and international presence in science and innovation.'
Dr Ghazi bin Ali al Rawas, Dean of Scientific Research, noted that the Royal Grant has supported nearly 4,500 projects with over RO78mn in funding. He credited the continued support of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik for driving Oman's research-led development.
The anniversary also included the International Conference on Scientific Research and Sustainability, which focused on sustainable funding and partnerships. An exhibition showcased SQU's research milestones and tools supporting scientific publishing and sustainability.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Muscat Daily
SQU developing AI-driven robot for autonomous building inspection
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – A research team at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) is developing an autonomous robotic system capable of inspecting multi-storey buildings without the need for human assistance, smart infrastructure or IoT connectivity. Funded by SQU's Deanship of Research and College of Engineering, the project is led by Dr Gulam Dastagir Khan, with Dr Muhammed Bilal Waris and Dr Taha bin Mubarak al Saadi serving as co-investigators. It brings together researchers from the departments of electrical and computer engineering and civil engineering. In its first phase, the team designed and tested a quadruped robot capable of operating standard lifts and navigating between floors using only onboard technologies. The robot uses a YOLOv11-based vision system, AprilTag markers for spatial alignment, and a robotic arm with four degrees of freedom to interact with elevator panels. Trials conducted in a four-storey building on the SQU campus demonstrated consistent sub-centimetre navigation accuracy. In the next stage, the robot will be equipped to carry out detailed building inspections. It will autonomously assess structural elements such as walls, ceilings and door frames, as well as safety infrastructure including fire alarms, extinguishers, sprinkler systems and electrical panels. The robot will also detect issues like leaks, cracks and insulation defects.
Observer
30-06-2025
- Observer
‘Ghost plume' found beneath Oman harmless
The huge column of hot rock, known as a mantle plume or a 'ghost plume', which rises from deep inside the earth beneath Eastern Oman, has been identified by experts as harmless, not causing any volcanoes or obvious signs on the surface like other plumes around the world. 'This discovery of the long-hidden plume of magma beneath Oman's Salma Plateau is important because it shows that there may be many more hidden plumes beneath continents, quietly shaping landscapes and even plate movements without creating volcanoes,' said Harith al Kubaisy, Research Assistant at the Earthquake Monitoring Centre, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). Scientists explain that these ghost plumes may carry heat from deep inside the earth to the surface, affecting how the planet cools down and evolves over time. This finding changes the way we think about the Earth's inner workings, as not all plumes are visible at the surface. 'Normally, mantle plumes are detected when they melt rocks and create volcanoes, like those seen in Hawaii or Iceland. But the Dani plume, as scientists have named it, stays hidden because Oman's crust is very thick (over 100 kilometres deep), preventing the hot material from reaching the surface to form volcanoes,' he added. First detailed in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, the finding reveals a new class of deep mantle plumes that shape continents silently, without the typical signature of surface volcanoes. While plumes typically leave a visible volcanic trail — like Hawaii's island chain—the Dani plume's evidence may have been erased by subduction activity in the nearby Makran zone. Still, researchers say this finding opens the door to discovering more 'ghost' plumes, particularly in regions with similar thick crusts, such as Africa. As seismic technologies advance, more silent subterranean forces shaping Earth's history may come to light. Researchers from different countries used data from earthquakes around the world, collected by a network of seismic stations in Oman and the UAE, to create 3D images of the Earth's interior. These images showed a large area where seismic waves travel more slowly, indicating the rock is hotter than its surroundings. The plume rises from more than 660 kilometres underground all the way up towards the crust. 'Although there is no volcanic activity linked to the Dani plume, scientists have found other signs of its existence. The land above it is slightly higher than surrounding areas, suggesting the hot plume is pushing the ground upwards from below, which is called dynamic uplift. They also noticed special changes in deep underground layers, which occur when temperatures are higher,' Al Kubaisy said. The study has also found that this hidden plume may have affected the movement of the Indian tectonic plate about 40 million years ago. The plume's heat and rising flow could have nudged the plate, slightly changing its direction as it moved towards Asia.
Observer
29-06-2025
- Observer
This device designed by Omani students slashes car emissions by 50%
MUSCAT: Students Omar bin Issa al Barmani and Tamim bin Yousef al Maamari, guided by their supervisor Majid bin Khalfan al Muqbali, have designed AEROCARBON — a low-cost, eco-friendly device that filters vehicle exhaust using fragments of barodite rock. The innovative filter works by triggering a chemical reaction between carbon dioxide, humidity, and the rock, converting the harmful gas into calcite, effectively reducing carbon emissions at the source. The student team from Naeem bin Masoud Basic Education School in Al Batinah North Governorate won first place in the environmental category at ITEX 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The invention underwent rigorous testing at Sultan Qaboos University, which confirmed its effectiveness in significantly cutting exhaust emissions. The compact system includes a car exhaust filter, circular mesh, Arduino board, screen and carbon emission sensor — making it both practical and scalable. It was also honoured with a special award from Saudi Arabia's Tuwaiq Academy, further cementing its regional significance. Al Barmani said: 'The AeroCarbon device reduces carbon dioxide emissions from vehicle exhausts by installing a special filter containing braudtite rock fragments which convert carbon dioxide into calcite, an indicator of carbon dioxide absorption from vehicle exhaust. The development of the invention went through several steps, procedures and practical experiments. These included testing the sample before and after the experiment in a specialised laboratory at Sultan Qaboos University. The results proved the device reduced carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere.' Al Maamari, said: 'The invention was selected from among the teams participating in the National Olympiad for National Innovations, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence through the Innovation and Scientific Olympiad Department in Al Batinah North Governorate. We received technical and scientific support through visits to the school, and through discussion sessions. The device achieved first place in the Sultanate of Oman in the field of scientific innovations in science and mathematics and represented the Sultanate of Oman at the ITEX 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Al Maqbali, the student team supervisor, said: 'Participation in the exhibition was an opportunity and a global platform to exchange experiences with creators and innovators from different countries of the world, and to view various projects in all diverse scientific fields. The exhibition is a global platform and a window for specialists in the fields of inventions and innovations, investors and businessmen specialised in this field. The two innovators aim to further reduce air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust fumes, utilise Oman's natural resources, use inexpensive, environmentally friendly alternatives to reduce air pollution in areas with high traffic density, and spread the culture of innovation among members of society. — ONA
