Forum for developing individual desalination systems begins

Muscat: The Water Research and Innovation award and Oman Challenge competition for developing the individual desalination systems during humanitarian disasters started on Wednesday at Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Sciences under the auspices of Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry.
Sayyid Badr delivered a speech in which he said that the joint initiative between Sultan Qaboos Higher Center for Culture and Sciences, The Research Council (TRC) in cooperation with Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) highlights the dire human need for supplying water for repeated post disasters.
He added that The Research Council (TRC) should enhance cooperation with MEDRC to ensure more water supply. He highlighted the importance of making the Sultanate a leading regional hub for water research and bringing about the best water solutions and research in the Sultanate.
Dr. Jamila bint Ali Al Hinaiyah, Director of Environmental and Bio- Resources Sector at TRC made a presentation on the strategic programme for water research, its aims, as well as implementing the first recommendation of the water research subsidy
programme.
Eng. Kevin Price Senior Science and Technology Advisor to MEDRC delivered a speech in which he unveiled the details of the Oman Challenge for Developing the individual desalination systems during emergencies.
Challenge
The challenge is supported and financed by Sultan Qaboos Higher Center for Culture and Sciences and supervised by TRC.
During the opening ceremony, the winners at the different categories of the second version of water research and innovation award at the TRC strategic water research programme were unveiled.
Professor Qasimov from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) won the scientific publication award for Ph.D holders. The scientific publication award for juniors award was withheld.
Eng. Tayibah bint Marzooq ibn Abdullah al- Harasiyah from the Public Authority for Electricity and Water won the innovation category award for his innovation titled ‘ introducing flexibility service in the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat as a Study Case.
At the junior innovator award the student team of Al Hawari bin Mohammed al- Azdi school at the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah came first with their innovation titled ‘ Bio-Water Filter’.Maha bint Said bin Salim al- Salmiyah from Hafsa bint Omar School at the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah came second with her innovation titled ‘ Magic Water Filter’.Shaima bint Sulaiman al- Habisyah from Al Zahraa Al Soqatriyah School in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah came third with her innovation titled ‘ Reservoir Application’.
The award organised by TRC and Sultan Qaboos Higher Center for Culture and Sciences in cooperating with the Ministry of Education aims at promoting the role of scientific research and innovation in finding solutions for water issues and raising awareness of water resources management fields.
The award is divided into two main categories, the first is for scientific publication for PhD holder and junior researchers and the second category for water innovation – innovation and junior innovator.
The opening ceremony was attended by Habib bin Mohammed al- Riyami, Secretary General of Sultan Qaboos Higher Center for Culture and Sciences.
Dr. Hilal bin Ali al- Hinai, Secretary General of TRC and a number of water researchers and students.