QU observes International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Qatar University (QU) recently held the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022 under the theme: “Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us.” The celebration was launched as part of season 2 activities of the Research Wednesday Seminar Series organised by QU Research and Graduate Studies Centre. In her welcome address, Prof Mariam al-Maadeed, vice president, Research and Graduate Studies, applauded the role of Qatar in achieving important steps in terms of laws and legislation as well as providing women with various types of support and opportunities, opening the doors for education and employment, and enabling them to reach high positions and leadership. Dr Anna Paolini, director of the Unesco Regional Office in Doha and Unesco Representative in the Arab States of the Gulf and Yemen, said: "Building collective and local competencies and providing opportunities for women, men, girls and boys to reach their full potential is of paramount importance to meet today's challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, deteriorating ocean health, and epidemics."The keynote speakers were Dr Mai al-Ghanem, senior biologist, Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Municipality, and Dr Marwa al-Ghanem, head of the Environmental Laboratory Department -- Monitoring Department and Environmental Laboratory at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change participated in this year's event.The event included a panel moderated by Dr Noora al-Shamari, senior research assistant at the Environmental Sciences Centre, QU, with the participation of Reema Tayyem, professor of Human Nutrition at the College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Zahrah Saif al-Abri, research assistant in Unesco Chair on Aflaj Studies-Archaeohydrology, Nizwa University, Oman, Mashael Almas, engineer at the ConocoPhillips Global Centre for Water Sustainability, Noor Bader, research assistant at the Centre for Advanced Materials, QU and Fatima al-Mesnad, head of Community Awareness and Development, Kahramaa.The event included an honouring ceremony of a number of female researchers at QU who were distinguished by their research efforts on the topics of coronavirus as well as honouring Dr Nuura Adam Abdi, research associate at QU Biomedical Research Centre, winner of the 2021 L’Oréal-Unesco Prize in Dubai. The event ended with a statement by Munera al-Kuwari, administrative affairs expert at the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.