QU’S YOUNG SCIENTISTS CENTER LAUNCHES SECOND EDITION OF DECEMBER ALADAAM INITIATIVE

The Qatar University Young Scientists Center (QU-YSC) launches the second edition of December Aladaam 2021 Initiative, in continuation of the success in its first edition last year. The December Aladaam Initiative is a national initiative that was initially launched by the center in 2020. It aims to promote national values, patriotism, loyalty and love of belonging to the homeland, and celebrate Qatar National Day throughout the month.

The initiative brings together QU students from various disciplines to express their love and pride for the homeland through short films that are shared with the community.

The theme of the initiative for this year is new and distinctive and reflects the slogan of this year's National Day, which is ‘Ancestral Meadows: A Matter of Trust’, as it highlights the importance of preserving the environment and to preserve the heritage of our ancestors in general. The initiative highlights the connection between modern studies and past heritage and how to preserve the legacy of previous generations. This includes healthy habits and ancient traditions that, with time, were proven correct.

The initiative also highlights the role of research projects at QU and the role they play in preserving Qatar’s environment, such as the establishment of an agricultural research station, which helps protect the biodiversity of palm trees and other plants. In addition, the QU Biology Field plays host to a number of studies and researches revolving around rare plants.

The initiative also shines a spotlight on several other topics such as the use of local desert plants, traditional social activities in Qatar, pearls for decoration and treasury, weddings between the past and present, and architecture and construction in ancient Qatari heritage.

Information will be shared with the community through short films that will be published on the QU-YSC social media platforms, including YouTube. Eleven QU students from various colleges participated in the initiative, most notably the College of Health Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Pharmacy and the College of Dental Medicine. In each episode of the initiative, a student will present a different scientific aspect related to their university major and show the extent to which it is related to heritage, environment, and the traditions of the ancestors.

Prof. Noora Al-Thani, Director of QU-YSC commented saying, “The Qatari people have always been known by their loyalty, belonging and pride, and with their close connection to the heritage of their ancestors, which carries with it distinguished experiences and legacies. The Young Scientists Center is a research center that belongs to a leading university in the field of research and studies. We launched the initiative this year to combine Qatar's ancient past with its distinguished present, and the initiative is a tool to document QU scientific research and studies, which links heritage and ancestral practices to keep up with the modern era.”

Prof. Noora thanked the sponsors, the Ras Laffan community outreach program, and partners, UNESCO, the Doha Office, and the Qatar National Committee for Education, Culture and Science.

Source: QATAR UNIVERSITY