05 May MEDRC Announces winners of the ‘Omani Young Water Researchers Award’
MEDRC has announced the winners of the ‘Omani Young Water Researchers Award 2022’ at an official ceremony held under the auspices of H.E. Stella Kloth, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Oman.
Established by MEDRC and sponsored by the Omar Zawawi Establishment L.L.C, The Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Oman, the Omani Young Water Researchers Award highlights the exceptional work of young water researchers at undergraduate and postgraduate level in Oman.
H.E. Stella Kloth, Ambassdor of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Oman said: “Although the Omani Young Research Award will be awarded to the winners; all your research in the water sector is crucial to support the sustainable future we are all striving towards. Therefore it is important for the Netherlands to promote research in the field of water to continuously improve water efficiency and protection from water, thereby contributing to SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation). The changing context of our climate requires adaptation for all countries to come up with innovative ways for protection and using water resources in efficient ways. The research of the Young Omani Water Research Award showed me the awareness and the high potential of Omani researchers in water management and a promising future for the country.”
Speaking at the award ceremony, MEDRC Center Director, Ciarán Ó Cuinn said: “This initiative celebrates the great achievements of the next generation of Omani water scientists. All applicants and research projects were world-class, focusing issues of environmental and economic importance. The future is bright for Omani water research!”
He added: “We are particularly proud to partner with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on this Award. The Netherlands is such a world leader in the water sector and we are delighted to work with them to support excellence in water research. I want to recognise the long partnership with Omar Zawawi Establishment L.L.C, The Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company for their ongoing support and guidance in this wonderful initiative and the development of Omani excellence in water research”
The winners announced this year are as follows:
Postgraduate Category:
1st Place: Abdullah Sulaiman Al Fazari, Florida Atlantic University, USA, for the research paper titled “Detection of Water Leaks in Water Distribution Networks Using Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite Data in Muscat, Oman”
2nd Place: Shahad Mattar Al Yaqoubi, Sultan Qaboos University for the research paper titled “Fresh-saline water dynamics in coastal aquifers: Sand tank experiments
with MAR-wells injecting at intermittent regimes”
Undergraduate Category
1st Place: Najwa Abdulwahid Al Bulushi, Sultan Qaboos University, for the research paper titled “Functionalized Graphene based Carbon Nitride 2D Nanosheets for the Effective Separation of Oil and Water from Oil contaminated wastewater”
2nd Place: Buthaina Mohammed Al Moqbali, International Maritime College Oman for the research paper titled “Water treatment by graphene/g-C3N4 material under solar light”
Wastewater Research Category
1st Place: Said Humaid Al Saidi, Sultan Qaboos University, for the research paper titled “Amoxicillin removal from medical wastewater using an eco-friendly aqueous two-phase extraction system”
2nd Place: Zainab Khalfan Al Haji, Sultan Qaboos University for the research paper titled “Arsenic and Bromate Removal from Water Using Date Palm and Mesquite Biochar”
The Young Omani Water Researchers Award winners won a paid trip to attend and participate in the Aquatech Amsterdam Exhibition in the Netherlands. A valuable experience that will give them the opportunity to network, share their research findings and exchange knowledge with a the global water community.