(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: The President of Qatar University (QU), Dr. Hassan Al Derham, inaugurated the International Conference on Sabkha in Qatar which kicked off yesterday. It will run until tomorrow.
Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), ExxonMobil Qatar and Qatar Airways are sponsoring the conference.
The conference provides an overview on the importance of sabkhas (Arabic for area of low-lying salty ground) as a natural resource and the urgency of protecting and preserving them.
The conference has gathered international scholars from the US, Europe, Australia, South America, and the Middle East to share the current state of knowledge on the topic and provide a historical background about the pioneering research on the sabkha sediments that started during the sixties of the last century when the first recent dolomite was discovered in the sabkha of Qatar in 1961.
Different sessions of the conference are dedicated to the physical and chemical characteristics of the sabkha ecosystem, and one session deals with its biological components, including the microbial mats. Microbial dolomite was addressed since dolomite is a very important reservoir in Qatar (the Khuff Formation), forming the main reservoir of the supergiant North gas field of Qatar. In addition, sessions on other bio-minerals, such as clay minerals, and the use of the biological components in soil remediation and archaeological site preservation are held.
The conference concludes with a round table discussion by researchers and key decision-making representatives, discussing the future of sabkha research and ways to develop the interdisciplinary nature of such research considering the importance of Qatar's sabkha as the only remaining well-preserved site in the world.
Prof Mariam Al Ali Al Maadeed, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at QU, praised the devoted efforts towards organising the conference that combines the expertise of international scholars on sabkhas and encourages interdisciplinary research on this matter.
Prof. Al Maadeed said:“The organisation of this conference reflects the commitment of Qatar University to study and protect the natural heritage of the country through innovative scientific research.”
Jagir Baxi, Vice President and Ventures Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar said,“I would like to thank Qatar University and its Environmental Science Center for putting together this important conference of which ExxonMobil Qatar is a proud sponsor. I am confident that it will provide opportunities to enhance the exchange of knowledge and new discoveries in the field of Geosciences and related fields.”
“As an active partner and member of the local community, we want to help increase the resilience of coastal ecosystems, including preservation of Qatar's beautiful sabkhas for generations to come. ExxonMobil Qatar is committed to work with the State of Qatar to find solutions and help ensure that the Qatar National Vision 2030 becomes a reality,” he added.