Water Research and Innovation Award Forum gets underway

Muscat: The Water Research and Innovation Award Forum began on Tuesday under the patronage of Dr. Fu’ad bin Ja’afar Al Sagwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Present at the opening ceremony were Habib bin Mohammed Al Riyami, Secretary General of the Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science (SQHCCS), Dr. Hilal bin Ali Al Hinai, Secretary General of The Research Council (TRC), Dr. Rahma al-Mahrooqi,
Deputy Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, academics and scholars The forum is organised by the SQHCCS and TRC. It aims at finding solutions to water issues and raising awareness of various water fields.
Promoting innovation
The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries stressed the importance of the Strategic Water Research Programme, which aims to promote innovation and research in the management of water and its sustainability in the Sultanate in all sources of whether traditional or treated water, or rainwater and regulating all uses of these sources.
He added that the agricultural sector uses more than 80 per cent of water and therefore its use and management is very important.
He pointed out that the research conducted by researchers and participants in the forum is impressive and need incubation and support until such research reach the stage of commercial production while other researches are promising in their uses. The Sultanate has a good management of water system.
The winners
The forum also included honouring winners of the third edition of Water Research and Innovation Award. In the scientific publication award in the PhD holder’s category, the award was given to Dr. Azizallah Azadi and his team from Nizwa University, and Dr. Rangargh Salfaraj and his team from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). The scientific publication award for non-PhD holders, the award was given to Faisal bin Rashid al-Marzouqi from SQU. In the Innovation Award (Innovation Category), the first place was blocked and the second place was given to Dr. Farouk Sabri Majli from SQU and his team and Dr. Mohammed Abdul Hakim Al Sa’adi from Nizwa University. The third place was given to Shamsa bint Mas’oud al-Sa’adi from the Integration of Advanced Technologies Institute.
In the innovation award (Young Innovator Category), the first place was given to Imad bin Amer Al Ramimi and Al Baraa bin Khalfan al-Badawi from Azan bin Tamim School of in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah. The second place went to Doha bint Khalid Al Amri and Maithaa bint Khalid Al Sa’eedi from Barka bint Thalabah School for Basic Education in the Governorate of Muscat. The third place was given to Noor bint Mohammed Al Ma’ashani and Balqis bint Mohammed AlMa’ashani from Shihit Primary School for Girls in the Governorate of Dhofar. The fourth place was given to Rahma bint Said Al Barwani and Al Reem bint Salem Al Habsi from Al Zahraa Al Suqtariah School in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah. The fifth place was given to Jenan bint Abdul Basir Al Farsi from Al Qurm Beach School for Girls in the Governorate of Muscat.
Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser al-Rawahi showed a presentation on the strategic water research program, which included many topics namely innovation and technology in water science, water resource management, sustainable water supply and water treatment.
The programme includes The Research Council (TRC), the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Public Authority for Water and Haya Water Company.
Eng. Zahir bin Khalid Al Sulaimani, Chairman of the Omani Water Society, said: “There are many efforts exerted by the public and private sectors and civil society organizations to find solutions to the problems of salinisation through the construction of dams to feed the underground reservoirs and programs for the wastewater treatment, the establishment of desalination plants and linking them to ensure water security for emergency situations”.
He added that the Omani Water Society has contributed to finding solutions to water problems through rationalization, awareness or protection of water resources, in addition to research and studies related to water desalination or small desalination plants for farmers and overcoming waste problems, as well as finding non-renewable alternative sources for farmers.