www.qf.org.qa

In th

is is

sue

The monThly magazine of qaTar foundaTion

The art of musicQatar Philharmonic Orchestra goes from strength to strength as it celebrates four years promoting a greater understanding of classical Eastern and Western music

Designed for successTwo candidates graduated from QF universities make it through to the last 16 of television show Stars of Science with inventions which they hope will transform lives

Better deal for migrantsHow improving the working and social lives of Qatar’s non-national workers could provide benefits for the country as a whole in the long term

Qatar Foundation joint venture QSTec aims to be world-leadingintegrated solar enery company

Future looks

bright

issue 47 november 2012

A RECENT GRADUATE FROM WEill CORNEll MEDiCAl COllEGE iN QATAR, Nadia Merchant isfocusing on a future career in pediatric genetics. Having herself been born with a rare genetic disorder knownas acromesomelic dysplasia, her life’s experience and insight have become the defining forces behind her desire to help others with genetic disorders. Along the way, she has helped change perceptions and shatter many stereotypes often associated with people who have disabilities.

Qatar Foundation is proud to support young leaders like Nadia Merchant. Together, we are making Qatar a center of knowledge that is helping the entire world move forward. Learn more about Nadia’s work and discover the people of Qatar Foundation at qfachievers.com.

AS ONE OF QATAR’S BRiGHTEST MEDiCAl SCHOOl GRADUATES, NADiA MERCHANTiS lEARNiNG TO TREAT DiSEASES that have names most people can’t pronounce.

Nadia-foundation.indd 1 11/4/12 9:56 AM

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03. BrIefIng.Reaching new heights for ROTA; QF in the global media; Microsoft Qatar launches ‘YouthSpark’ global venture; Texas A&M University recently hosted ‘The Strategy and Design in Transition Metal-Catalyzed Reactions Symposium’; QFIS starts new Masters programs; Qatar Career Fair on again; New library opens at Qatar Academy; Qatar Airways CEO gives keynote speech; Children learn how to manage diabetes; QSTP tenant Cisco played host to an event highlighting region’s cyber security threats; QBRI hires head of Genomic Medicine Research Center; QFI Youth Ambassadors enjoy week-long New York trip; QNRF honors student researchers; JCC exhibits at world-class television industry event; Business lectures to be led by world experts

26.QSTec: Harnessing the power and potential of QatarOne company has ambitious plans to build a solar energy industry that will protect and preserve the country’s natural resources

29. calenDar.Guide to the most high-profile forthcoming events in the Qatar Foundation calendar

30.QF RadioSaad Al Hudaifi, QF Radio’s Media Center Manager, has his finger on the pulse of Twitter through a program dedicated to who’s tweeting and what’s trending

31.out to lunchSalem Al Marri, Government Affairs Co-ordinator at Qatar Foundation Human Resources, tells The Foundation how people are our greatest resource

14. feaTures.Forward Thinker – Crossing an energy frontierDr Rabi Mohtar, Executive Director of QEERI, outlines the institute’s vision for Qatar beyond fossil fuels

20.Future stars of scienceSeason Four of the reality-docu program Stars of Sciene features two QF graduates

24.Educating migrant workers on financial managementCould ensuring a better life for Qatar’s migrant workers ultimately provide benefits for the country as a whole?

November’s issue of The Foundation features full-length reports on the most high-profile recent events in the QF calendar, a round up of the latest news and in-depth profiles of some of the organization’s many centers, research projects, and initiatives

In this issue

09. InTellIgence.Her Highness visits US school pupils studying Arabic; Prime Minister of Bermuda visits; QF represented at UK’s largest science career fair; QF partners The Economist in presenting think-tank events

FoundationContents

By using recycled paper for this issue of The Foundation, the environmental impact has been reduced by :

1,720kg

of landfill44,898liters

of water

4,227kWh

of energy

2,795kg

of wood

186kg

of CO2 of greenhouse gases

1,863km

of travel in the average European car

Printed on recycled

paper

specIal reporT.

Another string to their bowAfter four years of rapid progression on the national and international scene, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra has carved out a significant niche in the arts community of Qatar

16.

CommuniCation DireCtorate

Rima IsmailPublications Manager, rismail@qf.org.qa, Tel: +974 44540960

Ghada SaadeHead of Translation and Editorial, gsaade@qf.org.qa, Tel: +974 44540961

PhotograPhy

Pages 1& 9 : Maher Attar/HHOPL, Aisha Al Musallam/HHOPL

For submission of articles and feedback:Contact us at foundation@qf.org.qa

Follow us on @FoundationMag and at facebook.com/TheFoundationMagazine

2

Foundation.WelCome letter

2

As we progress ever further towards realizing the Qatar National Vision 2030, growth in the area of developing a diversified economy has begun to accelerate at a breathless rate.

We at Qatar Foundation (QF) understand that the development of a competitive and diverse economy for our future relies on the ingenuity and forward thinking of our leaders in the present.

In the case of Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec), the leadership of this QF joint venture has been making headlines for the expected 2013 opening of a 1.2 million square meter polysilicon plant, which will produce the material considered to be the building block in developing solar power technologies.

Yet QSTec’s vision is not one of becoming a production giant – it is no less than committing to becoming the world’s international leader in the harnessing of solar energy in a decades-long plan that will see itself playing a part in every step of the solar chain, from producing raw materials to the installation of solar panels that will transform Qatar’s landscape.

This sense of ambition is emblematic of QF and the nation as a whole, as we seek to foster the ideal synergy between the breadth of our natural resources and knowhow while always pushing the boundaries of our imagination.

As the sun rises each day over Qatar, its constant and comforting presence is a reminder that our nation will experience many new dawns from now until the full realization of our potential in 2030.

Haya Khalifa Al NassrDirector of Communication, Qatar Foundation

Harnessing the sun’s power

3www.qf.org.qa

BrIefIng.a rounD-up of all The laTesT news froM qaTar founDaTIon

1.reaching new heights for roTa

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) Ambassador, has climbed to the summit of Mount Elbrus in Russia, the highest mountain on the European continental plate, in support of the Qatar Foundation member.

Conquering Mount Elbrus was Sheikh Mohammed’s sixth mountain challenge, having previously climbed the highest peaks in Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro), Western Europe (Mont Blanc) and Antarctica (Vinson Massif), attempted Latin America (Mount Aconcagua), and reached Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

Sheikh Mohammed said: “When I’m not climbing mountains, part of my mission and the reason I work with ROTA is to motivate young people to move beyond limitations and reach for their dreams.”

coMMunITy

reaching new heights for roTa

DevelopMenT

4

QF in the global media“The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) is an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, launched in 2009 under the aegis of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser,” reported the India Education Diary. “The strength of WISE is its broad multisectoral base for collaboration, fostering innovation and sharing sustainable and replicable best practices.”

InTernaTIonal

BrIefIng.

2.

A global initiative has been launched by Microsoft Qatar that aims to create opportunities for 300 million youths in more than 100 countries over the next three years.

Dubbed ‘Microsoft YouthSpark’, the company-wide initiative will include a range of citizenship and other company programs in partnership with non-profit organizations and world governments, while also promoting Office365, a venture that provides free technology tools for teachers.

“Through Microsoft YouthSpark we are making a commitment to help 300 million young people around the world achieve their dreams,” said Naim Yazbeck, Microsoft’s Country Manager in Qatar.

Microsoft qatar launches ‘youthspark’ global venture

3.

naim yazbeck, Microsoft country Manager in qatar.

www.qf.org.qa 5

careers

Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) recently hosted a reception to increase awareness of its programs. At the event, QFIS Dean Professor Dr Hatem El Karanshawy explained how QFIS serves to meet the needs of contemporary society by examining the world from an Islamic viewpoint.

The QFIS reception also brought together faculty and professors from its specialist research centers to talk about its new programs of Master of Arts in Islamic Studies with a Specialization in Religion and Comparative Thought, Master of Science in Urban Design and Architecture in Islamic Societies, and Master of Arts in the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies. Students started reading these degrees this fall.

qfIs starts new Masters programs

Texas a&M university recently hosted ‘The strategy and Design in Transition Metal-catalyzed reactions symposium’ to honor Texas a&M university at qatar’s (TaMuq’s) new adjunct faculty – professor robert grubbs, victor and elizabeth atkins professor of chemistry, california Institute of Technology and nobel laureate in chemistry 2005.

speaking of the impact Dr grubbs will have in qatar, Dr Mark h weichold, Dean and ceo of TaMuq, said: “having him in qatar and interacting with students, faculty, staff and, importantly, industry partners, will add to the depth and breadth of experience and the creation of new knowledge in the country.”

eDucaTIon

4.

5.

6.

attendees at symposium included, from left: Dr hassan s Bazzi, Mr nasser fahed al hajri, Dr Mark h weichold, Dr robert grubbs, Dr Mohamed yousef al Mulla, r Bowen loftin, h Joseph newton, Dr Karan watson.

Plans now in place for Qatar Career Fair 2013

7.Plans for the 2013 Qatar Career Fair are beginning to take shape, with online registration open for participants between 18 November and 13 December, 2012.

The annual event, for which Qatar Foundation is one of the organizers, is a prime opportunity for employers and educational providers to connect with young Qataris looking for work, training or further education.

Participants in this year’s fair included more than 100 government agencies, private companies, educational institutions and other organizations.

The 2013 Qatar Career Fair will take place from 1 to 6 April at the Qatar National Convention Centre. For further information visit www.qatarcareerfair.com.qa

The recent opening of a spacious new primary library at Qatar Academy has been met with great excitement by students and teachers at the school.

Aside from the enlarged space from the previous library and the ever-expanding collection of the library’s books, audio visual materials and other learning resources, the most significant change this year is the implementation of intershelving.

“The library term for it is ‘intershelf’,” Primary Librarian Selma Kennedy explained. “In 2012 we’ve put the English and Arabic collections together, side by side, so children who want something about, for example fish, will have choices in both languages.”

new library opens at qatar academy eDucaTIon

professor Dr hatem el Karanshawy, Dean of qfIs.

6

qDa uses fun activities to help children learn about monitoring their diabetes and encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, gave an inspirational speech on leadership and the airline’s success story at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar as part of the Dean’s Lecture Series.

More than 500 people, including deans, professors, students and local officials, were in attendance for Bakar’s address.

His speech highlighted Qatar Airways’ business and leadership strategy and how the country’s national carrier will contribute to the implementation of Qatar’s National Vision 2030.

He said: “To me, success is not about what you create for yourself. It is what you leave for others to appreciate and admire.”

qatar airways ceo gives cMu-q keynote speech BusIness

BrIefIng.

Little Cooks, a support program organized by Qatar Foundation member Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), has enrolled 35 children aged between 6 and 11 on this year’s scheme.

The youngsters are accompanied by 18 school nurses and three nursing supervisors from the Supreme Council of Health to sessions at QDA. While the nurses discuss the latest advice on diabetes care, the children learn about managing their diabetes through a range of fun activities, such as learning to prepare healthy snacks. Program Manager Sharoud Al Jundi Matthis said: “Our objective from this continual program is to support the newly diagnosed children and raise their awareness about how to take care of themselves and when to ask for help from adults.”

children learn how to manage diabetes healTh

8.

9.

akbar al Baker, qatar airways chief

executive officer.

www.qf.org.qa 7

research

World-renowned genomics expert Dr Philippe Froguel has been hired by Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) to head its planned Genomic Medicine Research Center.

A pioneer in the field of genomic medicine and the study of the genetic composition of living organisms, Dr Froguel’s recent research concerns the existence of the so-called ‘skinny gene’, which posits that genetic abnormality is the cause of extreme skinniness, rather than psychological factors.

In 1992, Dr Froguel became the first to identify the Type 2 diabetes gene. It was this discovery that led to his ongoing study of obesity, a subject particularly relevant to Qatar due to the nation’s high rate of diabetes.

10.

11.

Qatar Foundation International (QFI) Youth Ambassadors from Qatar and the US were recently granted a special audience with Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiya, Executive Chairman of the Qatar National Food Security Programme.

The meeting was part of a week-long, six-person QFI Youth Ambassador trip that involved participation in a Global Citizenship-themed educational exchange surrounding the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking on the role of the QFI, Al Attiya said: “It will take the young people of the world to deliver the science, innovation, and community participation required for the road ahead.”

qfI youth ambassadors enjoy week-long new york trip vIsIT

From left to right: Tim hursen, shaikha al suwaidi, Tamadher al Kubaisi, fahad bin Mohammed al attiya, executive chairman of the qatar national food security programme, abdulla al Ishaq, Mohammed al Thani, and olivia McDowell.

cyber security threats to the region were discussed at event.

12.

qatar science & Technology park tenant cisco recently played host to an event that highlighted the region’s cyber security threats.

attended by customers and technical experts, the meeting featured keynote speeches from cisco executives, who stressed the importance for businesses to be aware of security threats.

“security threats continue to rise. last year there were 2.6million identified threats worldwide, and this figure has been predicted to increase to 5.7m by 2013,” said Dr fadi Makki, general Manager and Director of cisco qatar.

“The trend is the same in this region, which is why businesses need to be security aware.”

QBRI hires head of Genomic Medicine Research Center

8

15.

13.

The emergence of China as an economic superpower was the topic of the first talk in a new Distinguished Lecture series organized by HEC Paris in Qatar.

Presented by Professor Jacques Gravereau, Chairman of the HEC Eurasia Institute, the lecture examined China’s role as the ‘factory of the world’, a major overseas investor and a huge consumer of raw materials.

Joshua Kobb, Chief Operating Officer of HEC Paris in Qatar, said the institute aimed to bring some of the world’s best and most knowledgeable speakers to Qatar to share their expertise with the local business community on a range of subjects.

Business lectures to be led by world experts InDusTry

professor Jacques gravereau presented the lecture series.

research

Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) chose to conclude the second cycle of its Secondary School Research Experience Program (SSREP) by hosting an awards ceremony for student researchers.

Held at Georgetown University –School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) under the patronage of Faisal Alsuwaidi, President of Research and Development at Qatar Foundation, 89 student researchers were awarded for achieving an average research project score of 80 percent or above.

The ceremony also marked the beginning of the third cycle of SSREP, while it was announced that the recent cycle of the program saw an increase of award-winning projects from 20 in its inaugural year to 55 in its second cycle.

QNRF honors student researchers

BrIefIng.

Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (JCC) showcased some of its latest in-house productions at this year’s MIPCOM and MIP Junior exhibitions in Cannes, France. The Qatar Foundation member presented a selection of its programs including Shams & Rams, Nan & Lili, Power Struggle and The Flying Saucer to representatives from various television companies. The event offered the opportunity for the channel to investigate opportunities for collaboration with global industry players.

Haya Khalifa Al Nassr, JCC’s Acting Executive General Manager, said: “The wide respect the channel enjoys today speaks volumes about its understanding of children’s needs and its ability to produce quality programs that meet and exceed audience expectations.”

MeDIa

Jcc exhibits at world-class television industry event

14.

www.qf.org.qa 9

InTellIgence.eXplorIng qf InsTITuTIons, InITIaTIves, proJecTs anD evenTs In DepTh

H er highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation

(QF), made a special visit to a group of US elementary school students recently.

The youngsters are studying Arabic at their school, thanks to Qatar Foundation International (QFI), which is a US-based member of QF founded by Her Highness to promote education and encourage collaboration across geographic, social and cultural boundaries.

The schoolchildren, who attend the PS 368 school in Harlem, New York City (NYC), welcomed Her Highness to their classroom as they

participated in an Arabic lesson. Her Highness said: “I enjoyed hearing the children speak in Arabic so enthusiastically, and it was lovely to see that most of them are not of Arab origin, which means the language reaches families and communities who have not been exposed to our culture previously.”

Harlem’s PS 368 is the first public elementary school in NYC to offer Arabic language classes that reach more than 200 students. The program is sponsored by QFI and managed by the NYC-based educational non-profit Global Language Project (GLP).

Her Highness, who was in New York in her capacity as a global education advocate, also joined an interactive cultural

eDucaTIon

Qatar Foundation-supported scheme teaches youngsters appreciation of language and culture.

program conducted by QFI partner Al Bustan Seeds of Culture, which gIVES students the opportunity to sing in Arabic accompanied by a group of professional musicians playing traditional Arabic instruments.

Al Bustan Seeds of Culture is a non-profit group in Philadelphia dedicated to presenting and teaching Arabic language, arts and culture.

Muneera Al Badi, a QFI post-graduate fellow from Qatar and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, presented Her Highness with an Arabic language wheel that Al Badi developed herself to help new students learn Arabic.

Maggie Mitchell Salem, QFI

200

Executive Director, explained how the program is providing a vital opportunity to pupils.

“This program will prepare students to be part of the next generation of global leaders by giving them transferable language skills that they can leverage when seeking opportunities in higher education and the work force,” she said. “This program can ultimately alter the trajectory of their lives.”

More than

Students learn Arabic at Harlem’s

PS 368 School in New York

her highness visits new york school pupils studying arabic

her highness visits new york school pupils studying arabic

10

InTellIgence.

her excellency Mrs paula cox, prime Minister and Minister of finance of Bermuda, meets eid al sayed, acting Manager of events and head of protocol and visitor relations at qatar foundation, on a recent visit.

Qatar Foundation (QF) welcomed Her Excellency Mrs Paula

Cox, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Bermuda, together with a delegation of senior government officials and representatives of Bermuda’s public and private sectors.

The Prime Minister was welcomed at the Qatar Foundation Visitor Center by Eid Al Sayed, Acting Manager of Events and Head of Protocol and Visitor Relations, during a recent state visit.

Her delegation viewed a 3D scale model of the main QF campus and was shown details of future projects as well as of existing ones.

HE Prime Minister Cox, Bermuda’s Premier since October 2010 after taking over the role from Ewart Brown, also enjoyed a short presentation that outlined the vision and mission of QF.

After receiving a crystal trophy to commemorate her visit, she spoke to QF Radio.

“I think you say it all when you talk about unlocking human potential. You can’t win in life without education,” said Her

Excellency, who had previously held the position of Minister of Education in her country’s government and also a corporate lawyer.

“Through Qatar Foundation, Qatar is setting a foundation for progress and future growth of the country by investing in the development of young people. This represents a great idea. I found it most impressive.

“I believe there is tremendous potential and capacity for development between our two countries – not just in terms of commerce and finance but in terms of education. We have more in common than not.”

Her Excellency Mrs Paula Cox leads delegation on visit to QF vIsIT

Prime minister of bermuda hails qatar foundation

n HE Mrs Paula Cox, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Bermuda

n Dr Sharif Aboul Naga, Hospital Director of the Children’s Cancer Hospital 57357, Cairo

n HMC leadership Professor Vladimir Koziavkin Director, of International Clinic of Rehabilitation

n Mr Robert Harrison, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University

n A delegation from the Kuwait Diplomatic Institute

n A delegation from Embassy of Ecuador

VIPs who visited QF during October

11www.qf.org.qa

Resources. Both agreed that the event had been a huge success for QF.

Dr Arredouani said: “It was a fantastic experience. I had the chance to meet many jobseekers and talk to them about QF and its ambitious projects.

“Also, the main benefit for QBRI was to make people aware of the institution and our research areas. While many had heard of QF, fewer were aware of QBRI’s work and what we hope to achieve.

“Overall we received huge interest from many scientists and about 100 résumés for

positions ranging from research associates to principal investigators.”

Meanwhile, Farajalla felt that the response to QF by attendees demonstrated the prominence QF holds within the scientific community.

She said: “Science and Research is one of the core

functions of Qatar Foundation. We believe that attending this yearly expo, which is targeted at the scientific community, ultimately will help us to achieve our recruitment goals by specifically approaching and engaging with qualified scientific staff to fulfill open positions in the science and research area.

“It feels nice to realize the fact that, yes, QF is becoming an employer of choice to a wider global candidate base. We were personally proud to be QF representatives and satisfy the curiosity of the candidates.”

London event gives Qatar Foundation opportunity to discuss recruitment goals.

QF represented at UK’s largest science career fair

C onsidered a prime opportunity for Qatar Foundation (QF) to

introduce potential newcomers to its fold, the annual Naturejobs Career Expo took place in London and brought a wealth of attendees to the UK’s largest career fair and conference for the scientific community.

Representing QF was Dr Abdelilah Arredouani, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) scientist, and Hanan Farajalla, Head of Recruitment Planning for Qatar Foundation Human

careersQF is becoming

an employer of choice to a wider global candidate base

12

Qatar Foundation (QF) has embarked on an exciting new

relationship with The Economist Group (TEG). QF and The Economist are partnering on ‘The Ideas Economy’, a series of international discussion events that gather together audiences of key decision-makers, academics, and policymakers to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the world. The series tackles many themes central to Qatar’s ongoing

Six Qatar Foundation employees were invited to attend the initial meeting in New York, which focused on developing human capital.

highlight its dedication to developing human capital, both locally and abroad.

Commenting on the agreement, Qatar Foundation’s Director of Communication Haya Khalifa Al Nassr said, “We are very proud of Qatar Foundation’s new partnership with The Economist Group, which provides invaluable and fresh insight into the pivotal issues facing the region and their implications on the wider world.

“This initiative marks the beginning of a relationship between TEG and Qatar

Foundation, which share common values and goals. While TEG informs readers across the world about current social and economic developments, Qatar Foundation continues to pursue its mission of

parTnershIp transformation into a knowledge-based economy, such as technological innovation, talent retention and human capital development.

‘The Ideas Economy’ is one of The Economist’s most prominent series of events. The opportunity for QF to endorse the series has proved an important means of building the Foundation’s global profile with opinion leaders, and demonstrating its strong commitment to innovation and personal empowerment. It also presents an opportunity for QF to

InTellIgence.

W ith an astonishing array of housing developments under

construction in Qatar – not to mention more than 800 additional buildings planned within Doha’s city center alone – environmental sustainability is on the minds of the key players within Qatar’s hospitality sector.

In preparation for the upcoming 18th Conference of the Parties (COP18) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Qatar Green

qf partners with The economist for prestigious series of conferences

3collaboritive events between QF and The

Economist

www.qf.org.qa 13

‘unlocking human potential’ through innovative educational endeavors. Over the course of the next year, the relationship will flourish through a series of engaging discussion-based events and student internship programs.”

The first QF-sponsored event – ‘The Ideas Economy: Human Potential’ – was hosted in New York at the end of September 2012 and brought together prominent thinkers to explore the issues surrounding this topic. The Economist Group is known for being the leading source of analysis on international business and world affairs, and this first event was chaired by The Economist’s US Business Editor and New York bureau chief, Matthew Bishop, alongside Management Editor and Schumpeter columnist, Adrian Wooldridge.

QF’s dedication to supporting individuals to fulfill their potential reaches across all areas of the organization’s work, so six QF employees were selected to attend this first event. Their mandate was to gather valuable insights and ideas and bring these back to share with their colleagues at QF. Staff went through a detailed application process and the successful applicants were

selected for showing tenacity, proactivity in their thinking and a strong understanding of the importance of the topic.

The staff selected represented a cross-section of QF’s activities, from RAND-Qatar Policy Institute (RQPI) to HEC Paris Executive Education to Capital Projects. The expectation was that the conference would be an opportunity to gather ideas and establish relationships that could then be explored in a professional capacity for the long-term benefit of QF.

Ahmed Baghdady, Research Project Manager, RAND-Qatar Policy Institute (RQPI), one of the successful QF applicants, said: “For me, the most poignant idea was the need to collaborate in the working environment. From the perspective of QF, unlocking human potential is key to QF’s vision and I feel that valuing the contributions of each individual is not just applicable to Qatar, or even the region, it is a worldwide perspective.”

In addition to the benefits that the partnership has reaped for QF’s global profile and QF staff, QF students will also have the chance to get involved with future events in the series. They have been given the opportunity to be part of the ‘Idea Gatherers Program’, where they will work with writers, journalists and other prominent thought leaders to gain unique perspectives in innovation and key skills, such as how to

QF employees selected to attendBack row, left to right: Mohamed abuelgasim, corporate Development Manager – qatar and the Middle east, hec paris executive education; haajerah Khan, Business support co-ordinator, capital projects Directorate; ahmed Baghdady, research project Manager, ranD-qatar policy Institute; Misam Jaffer, graduate Trainee, qatar science leadership program.Front row, left to right: Basmah ali, career Development Manager, georgetown university – school of foreign service in qatar; adrian James, program co-ordinator for Tutorial services, Texas a&M university at qatar.

conduct research and produce high-quality written materials. The first part of the program takes place in conjunction with ‘The World in 2013’ series event, which will be held in New York next month.

This is a pivotal event in The Economist’s annual calendar where trends and predictions for the year ahead are highlighted and unique global perspective across the spheres of business, finance and economics, technology, sport, media, arts, culture, and beyond are shared.

Future QF-sponsored events in this series are ‘Innovation’, to be held at the University of California, Berkeley in March 2013, and ‘Information’ in San Francisco in June 2013.

QF’s involvement with this series is a clear indication of how the organization is contributing to Qatar’s reputation as a major player on the world stage.

This initiative

marks the beginning of a relationship between TEG and Qatar Foundation, who share common values and goals

14

forwarD ThInKer.

Crossing an energy frontier

Crossing an energy frontier

Exploring the potential for alternative energy sources and ways to better protect Qatar’s environment is the crux of the work being carried out at one of Qatar Foundation’s (QF’s) newest research bodies. The Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI) will play a strong role in QF’s preparation for the 2012 UN Climate Change Conference. Dr Rabi Mohtar, Executive Director of QEERI, outlines the institute’s vision for Qatar beyond fossil fuels.

qeerI is focused on alternative energy research, in particular the possibilities for solar energy. how do you

see the development of solar energy use in qatar?The potential is tremendous. While Qatar is sitting on a wealth of oil and gas, the prospects for land to be

used for alternative energy production in the future are enormous.

Consider the example of Germany, which receives much less solar radiation than Qatar, yet is leading the world in solar technology and kilowatts of electricity generated from solar power.

We have the natural solar resources and we are building research capacity. We also have the inspiration of the visionary leadership within Qatar and Qatar Foundation, along with the guidance of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Research Strategy, the latter of which has specifically highlighted solar energy as a priority for the nation.

Eventually, we will build the capacity to be able to integrate solar energy into the country’s electricity grid.

However, our current focus is the use of solar energy for desalination, a project we are working on with the support of major stakeholders in Qatar and a leading Spanish research partner.

As water is in such short supply for Qatar and surrounding countries, generating water using clean energy is one of the biggest challenges that this region has to face.

We are also interested in developing ways to harness solar energy to cool buildings, as more than 60 per cent of our electricity is used for air conditioning.

Using solar energy to power desalination and cooling would make a huge difference in terms of cutting energy bills and reducing Qatar’s carbon footprint.

This is not only a project but an integrated vision to move Qatar beyond its oil and gas economy and realize the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

qeerI’s philosophy is based around integrated research. how does this work in practice?QEERI’s vision is based on a holistic approach regarding the interconnection between water,

energy and food as a framework for integrated sustainability research. This integrated vision and strategy has inspired policy and research communities worldwide.

The basic concept is that, to optimize any system, you need to look at the overall system rather than just one particular component.

So, if you are looking at ways to increase food production, you should also take into account the impact on water supply, energy supply, carbon emissions and land acquisition.

This philosophy of integrated research is embedded in all QEERI projects. For example, while many of the solar energy collectors in the world use water to cool the plant, we are looking into ways to use air, as well as hybrid water-air systems, to take into account the scarcity of water in Qatar.

The second main component of our philosophy is a focus on indigenous research. We want to build our local human capacity in order to generate knowledge and knowhow in Qatar and for Qatar.

what are the main challenges that need to be met for solar energy to be a viable, significant power source

for qatar?The level of investment in solar energy in this region is huge. Unfortunately, at this stage, all of the

technology needs to be imported as there is little capacity for local research.

QEERI is developing a research program so that we can solve technical questions about solar energy here in Qatar, taking into account our particular weather and meteorological conditions.

To provide an analogy, if you own a Nokia cell phone, or a Blackberry or an Iphone, it doesn’t matter if you are in Doha or in Tokyo or Vienna as the cell phone would still work.

For many reasons, our energy research is much more ingrained within the environment we live in, so you cannot import technology and expect it to operate effectively if it has been originally designed for Spain, Germany or the US.

There is also an industrial limitation. We are building research capacity in solar energy, and the next challenge is to build an industrial base so that technology developed in Qatar at lab or pilot scale can progress to the manufacturing stage.

another key focus of qeerI is the protection of the natural environment. can you provide an overview of

this work?We are working on baseline environmental data such as air soil water biodiversity. We are also looking at ways to

incorporate all of this into an integrated framework to make projections and assist policy-makers to make better decisions based on informed scientific knowledge. There has been very little systematic, long-term, geographically specific baseline data of this kind available in Qatar previously.

I have been involved in integrated environmental research for many, many years across several continents. One observation I have made is that dry areas of the world are less known compared with temperate zones. What we are trying to do in QEERI is develop data and knowledge that is not just useful for Qatar, but in some cases could be informative for dry countries in the region and around the globe.

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It’s nearing nine o’clock on a Wednesday morning at Katara Cultural Village. The

bustle of business in Doha swirls around us, but that’s far from the mind of Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Stage Manager Nasser Al Nasseb, who wears a relaxed expression as he stands backstage at the Opera House.

It has taken two days for Al Nasseb and his crew of technicians and sound engineers to prepare for back-to-back concerts of French composer Camille Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals that will be given to an audience of children from schools across Qatar. Al Nasseb’s mood right now is most likely down to the fact the orchestra are performing in their own living room, with everything in place for a musical delight.

After four years of rapid progression on the national and international scene, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra has carved out a significant niche in the arts community of Qatar.

Another string to their bow

arTs.

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Special report

Foundation

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“The Opera House is definitely our home out of all the venues we hold concerts at,” Al Nasseb beams. “The majority of work happens during the before and after of a concert. My work begins by taking the plan from the artist manager for the next performance to prepare the stage and seating positions, and sound and lighting. Sometimes we use projections and these have to be incorporated.

“It’s enjoyable work but, of course, it is time-specific, and ensuring everything and everyone is in sync involves immense organization.”

Running like clockwork, 101 musicians assemble backstage. For concerts of this nature it is only the string section in action, with the addition of a few solo instrumentalists. The atmosphere continues to be jovial as the chattering, enthusiastic audience streams into the auditorium. And then, in one smooth movement, the orchestration of the production shifts from Al Nasseb, the operational conductor, to Michalis Economou, the conductor who will lead the orchestra on stage.

In September of 2011, Economou became music director of QPO. Born in Greece in 1973, he is also the chief conductor of the Athens Symphony Orchestra and the principal guest conductor of the National Radio Greek Orchestra. Today, he finds himself leading a unique group of musicians fusing Arabic and Western music.

“It is not a completely new thing for me to combine these two worlds,” Economou says. “I come from Greece, which is a country that is in the middle of the Western and the Eastern tradition. Our folk music is very close to Arabic folk music, so I was born with these sounds in my ears. This makes things easier for me.

“I feel highly honored to be leading this group from a musical aspect because all of these people come from high-level schools and are greatly educated – both technically and musically.

“This series of concerts that we’re doing for schools is the most important in the entire season. The reason is that music not only serves as entertainment but also as education.”

On first violin, Annemari Ainomae has been with the QPO since its inception four years ago in 2008. A native of Estonia, Ainomae continues to be awed by the reaction the orchestra receives after performances and, in particular, when it centers on community commitments.

“I think all of the musicians would agree that reaching out to the community through our efforts on stage is very rewarding,” she says. “There is benefit for the children, but there is also benefit for us. It’s a gift for them because they can get this really high level of education by having fun in a concert hall and it’s a gift for us to give something back – to make a difference.”

In 2007, Kurt Meister was appointed Managing Director of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, and in

The yeay Kurt Meister was named executive

Director of the qpo

2011

1. nasser al nasseb directing personnel backstage; 2. he looks on from offstage as the orchestra begins to strike up; 3. Michalis economu conducting the orchestra; 4. a flute player performs during the carnival of the animals concert; 5. a section of the orchestra looking sprightly whilst playing in one of the two concerts for children.

1. 2.

3. 4. 5.

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2011 he was named Executive Director. Having previously worked with renowned conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Carlos Kleiber, Karl Böhm and Rafael Kubelik, Meister has a reputation for amalgamating and harmonizing orchestras from the roots up.

“I’ll tell you something ... I’ve spent many years in classical music, yet I didn’t know about all this wonderful music from this part of the world,” Meister says. “Indeed, our guest conductors come here, learn about this music and then take it back to Europe. It’s special what we do. It’s also special to have built an orchestra of the highest level from scratch; that’s not so common. I have built orchestras before, but they were for festivals.

“I knew we’d get really good musicians yet it was wonderful, just six months after we began, to be invited by the mayor of Milano to come to Teatro alla Scala, a very famous hall, to play. And now, to have played at the United Nations General Assembly, many long-standing and famous orchestras would love to be in our shoes.

“As for today, we give concerts like this because they’re central to our mission to be a bridge between western and Arabic music and people. Some are in English, some are in Arabic for the same reason.”

As the curtain falls to signal the end of the second concert of the morning at the Opera House, the baton is passed back to Al Nasseb. In about 36 hours the

orchestra will be playing at the Museum of Islamic Arts in the first of a new series of chamber music.

Al Nasseb explains: “We have time to perfect everything prior to a performance, but when we have to change venue overnight there is much organization to be done. It will be this afternoon when our work becomes more intricate and pressurized as we need to transfer everything to the Museum of Islamic Arts for a performance tomorrow evening.”

“I have a team of eight people who will pack away and help to transfer some of the instruments and sound equipment. The trickiest part of this process is getting the piano removed from the theater and transported to the next venue. It weighs 450kgs so it takes a lot of professional care. We will usually have a piano tuner on hand for an operation such as this.

“We’re looking forward to numerous performances at various venues later this year. One of the highlights so far has been collaborating with Opera Aida. Eighty choristes, 12 ballet dancers, 35 actors and eight world- famous singers together with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra – a truly special occasion.

“Music is my life, I also compose music, and working with some of the best in the world is a true privilege. When it comes to the time for the orchestra to take the stage, I enjoy the sense of accomplishment my team and I feel for assisting in productions – no matter how big or small the scale.”

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number of years qpo has been playing since inauguration in 2008

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6. a view of the spectacular ceiling at the opera house at Katara cultural village with its young audience in attendance; 7. an overview of the qatar philharmonic orchestra in action; 8. an audience member gets a rare opportunity to conduct the orchestra; 9. violinists perform in one of two concerts for children.

Special report

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Two innovators who graduated from qatar foundation (qf) universities are making their mark in the world of scientific design after using their skills learned at QF to come up with ingenious concepts that could change lives around the world. Jaber Henzab, 25, and Hekmat Al Rouh, MD, also 25, two men whose dedication to their inventions harks back to their experiences at QF, have both made it through to the ‘proof of concept’ stage on Stars of Science,

the QF-initiated show that has kept viewers glued to their screens on a weekly basis since the September launch of its fourth season. The program, designed as a vehicle to unlock human potential and to inspire innovators, is the premier showcase of young entrepreneurs in the Arab world.

Today, Henzab, is in the midst of launching his own industrial development start-up company, but in March 2012 he was one of many proud Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) graduates of the university’s Mechanical Engineering course. Henzab was the first Qatari national to train with Porsche AG in Germany, and his candidacy is the result of hard work, international experience and the opportunities within the grasp of any spirited TAMUQ student.

FuTuRESTARS OFSCIEnCETwo QF-educated candidates appearon Season Four of hit TV program with their ingenious innovations.

InnovaTIon.

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“My final year definitely gave me good preparation for where I am now,” he says. “It was during my final year that I first thought of the concept and did some research at the university.

“I asked for a lot of advice and got a lot of help from the Mechanical Engineering department at TAMUQ and did surveys at Hamad Medical Corporation with medicine doctors and pharmacists.

“I was lucky that during the last season of Stars of Science, I was invited by TAMUQ to attend a special poll for a late-season episode, so a colleague and I went to the studio to evaluate the finalists’ projects. I was specifically chosen from the department, so it was a great honor.

“I saw some amazing prototypes there and thought that if I applied to the show next year, this would accelerate my ideas for my Automated Home Pharmacy invention. I would have a fully working prototype if I progressed far in the show.”

Though Henzab would not reveal how far along his journey during Season Four of Stars of Science took him, he speaks excitedly of the potential.

“My hope is to have the Automated Home Pharmacy in the hands of every person who will need it. This could be used all over the world,” he says.

As his business start-up project nears fruition, Henzab says that he won’t forget the impact his education at TAMUQ or experience within QF had on him, especially since his next steps may also involve QF itself.

“From the beginning, at TAMUQ we were provided with great knowledge and great facilities,” he says.

“The university has everything you could need to test your knowledge and not just to test your ideas, as you can build them, too.

“Right now there is huge encouragement for young

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InnovaTIon.

“I’m passionate about mechanical engineering, about designing projects,” says Henzab. “This is why I chose to study at TAMUQ and why I started to pursue international internships.

“My first internship was at Porsche AG in Germany. I worked at their research and development center, and after that I went to Japan to work for an electric-power transmission generation company called Chubu Electric.

“I always try to learn new things, to see how big companies develop their products, and from this knowledge I designed my own concept for the show.”

Henzab’s idea is dubbed the ‘Automated Home Pharmacy’ and posits a novel approach to ensure that the elderly take their prescribed medication at the right time. Intended for home use, the automated system is designed to enable its users to become more independent by taking control of their medication intake.

“You fill the machine with the medications for the whole week and it can be programed within minutes,” explains Henzab. “Then when it’s time to take the pill, the machine will generate voice alarms to catch the attention of the target user.

“If the pill has not been taken then the machine will send an SMS message to the user’s caregivers – it could be a son, daughter or nurse. Also, we have a monitoring system to show if the patient is complying with the instructions, while the entire history of usage is available online, so doctors can monitor the process from their offices.”

The ingenious concept is just one of many bright ideas for this season’s Stars of Science, and, in the case of Henzab, inspiration came from his pivotal final year of study at TAMUQ.

From the beginning at TAMUQ we were provided with great

knowledge and great facilities

The Stars of Science panel listen intently as Jaber henzab tells them about his innovative idea.

hekmat al rouh explains his design concept to the judges on Stars of Science.

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The number of candidates who made it to the fourth season

of stars of science proof of concept stage

frozen foods doesn’t mean much if the food isn’t stored properly. You could have something that has been in proper storage beyond its expiry date and it will be fine to eat, while you could have something with an expiry date that has not been reached but due to poor storage it is dangerous to consume.

“People have no real way of knowing through any indications which choice would be safer.

“For example, one day I had a similar experience with an iced drink. I didn’t want to finish it in one go, and when I returned to it the ice had melted and watered down the taste of the drink. I knew then that I should use ice as an indicator stamp for food products, and from there came the idea for my invention.”

Having been developing the concept, Al Rouh’s next step involved assessing just how feasible the invention might be, and from there he sought guidance from within WCMC-Q.

“I knew that I needed professional help. The person that I really talked to a lot was my physics professor, Marco Ameduri, whom I spoke to about the feasibility of such a concept and how to match the temperature profile of the food with that of the desired indicator.”

At first glance Al Rouh’s Frozen Food Thaw Indicator Stamp appears identical to a regular ice cube. Inside that ice cube, however, there is a suspended ring of water-soluble dye. When the food product is left exposed for enough time, the ice begins to melt and reaches the water-soluble dye. Once the ice moves from solid to liquid, the ring disappears and its dye colors the ice cube and food’s packaging.

“Exactly where the cube might be placed would depend on the food product itself, but the target product I’m aiming for is quite wide,” says Al Rouh. “Whatever is stored below 0° Celsius is, in theory, suitable for use.

Beyond Stars of Science, Al Rouh is looking ahead to another aspect of QF, realizing just like his fellow candidate Henzab, that his project could be perfectly suited to the innovation projects at QSTP.

“For the future, I have thought a lot about QSTP and I’m aiming to develop my concept further, to hopefully have it adopted by its Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. I think that it’s a place that could help bring everything to fruition for me.”

For now, however, Al Rouh says that he is content just to see the reactions of QF colleagues to his role in this year’s fiercely contested battle of innovators on Stars of Science.

“I wasn’t able to publicly announce my candidacy for such a long time and had to keep everything hush-hush,” he says. “So once the show began it was a great surprise to everyone.”

Qatari entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, and for the future and my startup company there is an ideal environment at the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP).

“So I always knew that once I had left university I would be back at Qatar Foundation.”

The other Qatar Foundation candidate for this year’s Stars of Science is Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) graduate Al Rouh, MD, now a Project Co-ordinator within the Department of Global and Public Health at the university. An avid fan of the show since its inception, the 25-year-old had been patiently waiting for his opportunity having unwittingly missed out on the Season Three application deadline by mere days.

“I was aware of the show from its very beginning, but I didn’t enter because I never had an idea that I felt was worth applying for,” says Al Rouh. “It was always in the back of my mind that I would love to participate in this program.”

Having graduated from WCMC-Q in May 2011, Al Rouh worked at the university’s prospective student-targeting Summer Enrichment Programs for two years running, taking a role at the WCMC-Q’s Department of Global and Public Health to continue his pursuit of research in a familiar setting. His concept for Stars of Science, however, the ‘Frozen Food Thaw Indicator Stamp’, came from an unlikely source of inspiration.

“The idea was extremely unexpected because I have very little knowledge of food safety or industrial design,” he says.

“It began when I recalled how the expiry date on

There is huge encouragement for young Qatari entrepreneurs

to start their own businesses

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Jaber henzab is now launching his own industrial development start-up company.

coMMunITy.

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Educating migrant workersto manage their financesDr Ganesh Seshan, an economics expert at Georgetown University – School of Foreign Service in Qatar, believes that offering Qatar’s migrant workforce advice regarding their finances could ultimately provide benefits for their host countries.

When Dr Ganesh Seshan arrived in Qatar six years ago, fresh from a job working for the World Bank in the United States, he was immediately struck

by the large number of foreign workers.More than 90 percent of the labor force in Qatar is

estimated to be made up of non-nationals. While a proportion of this workforce consists of highly-skilled professionals, the majority are less skilled

workers from developing countries who benefit from the opportunity to send a significant amount of their earnings each month back to families in India, the Philippines and elsewhere. Many of the men work in the construction industry, while female workers are in demand for the domestic and service industries.

The relative lack of research into this large migrant workforce prompted Dr Seshan, an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University – School of

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Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q), to start doing some groundwork of his own.

Assisted by an academic with similar interests, Dr Dean Yang, an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, Dr Seshan began work studying the economic and social aspects of the migrant population.

His latest project includes some insightful findings on the impact of financial education on migrant workers. Specifically, he has found that even a one-off, half-day financial workshop could make a positive difference in changing the spending and saving habits of migrants supporting families in their home countries.

The project involved a group of 230 migrant workers from the southern Indian state of Kerala, all of whom were married with wives who had remained at home.

Initial interviews were conducted with the men and their wives to provide baseline data between August and December 2010. Some of the migrants were then offered the opportunity to attend a financial workshop conducted by KV Shamshudeen, the chairman of Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, who has been working to improve the financial circumstances of Indian migrant workers in the Gulf for more than 10 years. Follow-up interviews were then conducted with the same couples just more than a year later.

The project, funded by the Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) of the Qatar National Research Fund, gave SFS-Q students the opportunity to work in a variety of research capacities, including designing questionnaires, interviewing migrants and preliminary data analysis.

Dr Seshan says that one of the most interesting findings of the project, which forms the basis of a

discussion paper he has co-authored with Dr Yang, is that such a relatively small initiative can have such a big impact.

On average, migrants who took part in the financial workshop sent home the equivalent of an extra $400 in the space of just over a year – or almost two months’ worth of household expenses.

“Compared to the control group, these migrants sent more money back home that was subsequently saved,” Dr Seshan says. “In addition, a higher proportion of the migrants who were offered the

quIcK facTs

qatar’s Migrant workforce qatar is reported to have the highest ratio of migrants to citizens in the world.

In 2011, 94 percent of the labor force in qatar were non-nationals.

remittances sent from qatar to workers’ home countries in 2011 were approximately $10.3 billion.

workshop started to discuss money matters jointly with their wives, which was one of the things that the workshops advocated.”

According to Dr Seshan, the study is only the second of its kind in the world to examine migrant financial literacy using a randomized control trial, which he describes as a “gold standard” for such work.

He says there is clearly scope to expand the study by involving more people, extending financial education to migrants’ family members and potentially introducing trials of a financial savings product.

Dr Seshan is also hopeful that Qatar will eventually become home to an impact-evaluation center, a hub for research to determine if new policies or practices will be effective on a wide scale.

Dr Seshan believes that improving the economic prosperity of migrant workers will have a knock-on effect for other countries that, like Qatar, have a large foreign populations.

“If you can help these people achieve their financial goals, whether through financial education or other means, then these are the people more likely to go home happily and less likely to overstay their welcome,” he says. “So not only do they benefit, but the host country benefits as well.

“Host countries are in a position to look at various programs that can benefit migrant workers that could ultimately be beneficial to the host countries as well.

“For example, if you improve living conditions, the working environment, and the safety of these workers, you are going to have more productive workers who are less likely to fall ill, less likely to make demands and more likely to contribute towards the objectives of the company. It’s a win-win situation.”

If you improve living conditions,

the workingenvironment, and the safety of these workers, you are going to have more productive workers

a migrant’s wife is interviewed by georgetown sfs-q students in Kerala as part of pilot field work for the study.

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research.

QSTec: Harnessing the power and potential of QatarAs Qatar seeks to further diversify its economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, one company has ambitious plans to build the solar energy industry to protect and preserve the country’s natural resources.

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Q atar National Vision 2030 is proof positive that the future of Qatar is bright, yet plans for the viable sustainability of the nation extend well beyond the next

two decades. One of the bodies that wishes to have a major effect on Qatar, and indeed the world, is Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec), an integrated solar company that has the lofty goal of diversifying the economy, providing the Middle East with the additional 100 Gigawatts of energy needed by 2020 and, perhaps most ambitious of all, becoming the world’s leading name in solar technology.

Launched in 2010, QSTec is a joint venture formed between Qatar Solar (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qatar Foundation), SolarWorld AG and Qatar Development Bank.

Speaking at the 3rd Arab German Energy Forum in the German capital, Berlin, QSTec CEO and Chairman Dr Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri recently spelt out Qatar’s ambition, telling attendees: “We will always welcome new ideas and initiatives and, through our parent company, Qatar Foundation, we have links to research funding, resources and development that allow ideas to become a reality.”

Next year, the first big step in the evolution of QSTec will reach completion at the 1.2 million square meters of land secured at Ras Laffan Industrial City, for a $1 billion plant devoted to the production of polysilicon. Polysilicon is the purified silicon that serves as a raw material to make photovoltaic cells, used to generate electricity by converting solar radiation into direct-current electricity through semiconductors. These cells, when placed together, form a solar panel.

Production at the plant will allow QSTec to create what it describes as its own “solar-value chain”, beginning with polysilicon and later incorporating solar cells and solar-panel manufacturing facilities. At the end of the value chain for QSTec is the development of unique solar solutions that will harness the power of the sun to conserve and protect Qatar’s natural resources.

Phase one of the Ras Laffan plant will involve the production of 8,000 metric tons per year of polysilicon, which Dr Al Hajri tells The Foundation will give Qatar enough solar energy to power 240,000 houses for an entire year.

Eventually, the plant will expand to produce 45,000 metric tons per year, an ambition that QSTec’s CEO says will be met by 2019/2020, by which time the solar value chain – from polysilicon to future solar power applications – will be fully integrated.

When asked about the challenge of meeting the needs of the Middle East by providing an additional 100 Gigawatts by 2020, Dr Al Hajri says that it is “absolutely achievable”.

“This is one of our visions; to be leading the solar industry. The mechanism we are going to use is built on high quality to become competitive and to make sure our commitment requires a higher level of safety and protection, which means a very long-term relationship with the customer, whether they are in Qatar or international,” says Dr Al Hajri.

Dr Khalid Klefeekh al hajri, qsTec ceo and chairman, outlined his company’s visions for the future.

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research.

“These are the factors we have to consider for how we can become the leading company worldwide.”

Aside from SolarWorld and Qatar Foundation, the ambitions of QSTec are being met by a variety of local and international partners, such as a recent long-term hydrogen and nitrogen supply agreement with Gasal, advanced expertise shared by Germany’s Centrotherm Photovoltaics, and a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahraama). Energy City has also become the first real estate company to sign with QSTec, having pledged that they will incorporate solar panels and technologies into their future developments, including a Lusail-based business cluster. Each agreement, Dr Al Hajri explains, brings QSTec’s goals full circle.

“Creating a lot of development in the solar industry means more cells, more modules; each part has its own technology and requirements, meaning that our progress provides us with opportunities for each part to increase its research and development (R&D) sector,” he says.

“QF built Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), which became a house for all the technology required for R&D, and it is our intention to cooperate with some of the world’s top R&D partners to ensure that our applications are made and used in Qatar, as well as exported from Qatar.”

One of the hot-button topics in the world of solar technology is the fast-emerging opportunity afforded by solar cooling, which is to be a focal point of Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first carbon-neutral tournament in the event’s prestigious history. Though QSTec’s involvement in the use of advanced technologies to keep both supporters and players cool during games is purely speculative for now, Dr Al Hajri

believes that there will be many solar-technology milestones in the next 10 years.

“When we think of 2022, by then we will have something that everyone is looking for,” he says. “We will have to provide the best quality of service of solar energy in all adaptations, but you will see more and more achievements before then.”

Evidently it is an extremely exciting time for QSTec as it begins to make its first bold strides into the world of polysilicone production, but likewise, the potential for solar energy to alter positively Qatar’s landscape – quite literally in the case of the installation of solar panels – appears limitless.

“When you put it all together in totality,” says Dr Al Hajri, “Qatar is placing itself in a great position to put together a strategy that will positively affect the environment.” The same could easily be said of QSTec.

Qatar is placing itself in a great position

to put together a strategythat will positively affectthe environment

The eventual target of metric tons per-year production of polysilicon at the ras laffan plant

2010The year in which qsTec was formed

100The number of additional gigawatts needed to power the Middle east by 2020

1.2 million square

meters: the total amount of secured

land at qsTec’s plant at ras laffan

Industrial city8,000 The number of metric tons per year of polysilicon to initially be produced at ras laffan

45,000

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calenDar.a guIDe To qaTar founDaTIon evenTs TaKIng place In The coMIng MonThs

NOVEMbEr 2012

World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE ) 2012 13–15 NovemberQatar National Convention Centrewww.wise-qatar.orgThe fourth annual World Innovation Summit for Education at Qatar National Convention Centre. The WISE 2012 Summit will bring together more than 1,000 prominent education, corporate, political and social leaders from more than 100 countries for a comprehensive program of multi-sectoral debate, creative thinking and networking under the theme of the WISE 2012 Initiative: ‘Building the Future of Education’.

Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony 16 November, 7.30pmDoha, Aspire Zone — Ladies Clubwww.qatarphilharmonicorchestra.orgQatar Philharmonic Orchestra’s Chamber Music ensemble will give performances of Mozart: Divertimento in D Major, K. 136,Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat Major, K. 364 (320d) andMozart: Jupiter Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551. Featuring music director Michalis Economou, with Nina Heidenreich on violin andVictor Sumenkov playing viola.

DECEMbEr 2012

19th International Conference on Neural Information Processing12 - 15 NovemberFour Seasons Hotel, Dohawww.iconip2012.orgThe world’s premier machine-learning and computational neuroscience conference will be held in Doha and chaired by Dr Mark Weichold, Dean and CEO of Texas A&M University at Qatar. The field of neural information processing applies the physiology of the human brain to computer science,

with applications in the development of artificial intelligence technologies. Leading researchers in the field will convene in Doha to discuss developments.

The 2012 International Diabetes Federation (IDF)/ Middle East and North Africa regional International Diabetes Conference14-16 December, Qatar National Convention Centre www.idf-mena.org/idfmenaconference2012.htmlOrganized by Qatar Diabetes Association, the International Diabetes Federation, and Qatar Foundation, the conference will bring together prominent health experts and leading authorities in diabetes

management from the region. Workshops and seminars will discuss ways to increase awareness and the correct management of diabetes within different communities.

JANUArY 2013

Offshore Middle East 2013 Exhibition21-23 January 2013Qatar National Convention Centrewww.offshoremiddleeast.comResponding to the growth and vitality of the offshore industry in the Middle East and following the hugely successful Offshore Middle East Conference & Exhibition in Doha, 2010, Offshore Middle East Conference & Exhibition returns to Qatar at

the Qatar National Convention Centre, on 21-23 January 2013.

FEbrUArY 2013

POWEr-GEN Middle East4-6 February 2013Qatar National Convention Centrewww.power-gen-middleeast.comPOWER-GEN Middle East returns to Qatar for the 11th annual conference and exhibition from 4-6 February 2013 at the Qatar National Convention Centre. Renowned for providing up-to-date information about the latest technological developments in the power industry, POWER-GEN Middle East is a must-attend event for professionals and decision-makers in the power industry.

Doha 2012 UN Climate Change ConferenceThe 18th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will convene under the auspices of the Doha 2012 UN Climate Change Conference, with the goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent climate change. The UNFCCC is the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, under which 37 industrialized countries have agreed to legally binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. 26 November-7 December 2012, Qatar National Convention Centre. www.qatarconvention.com

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qf raDIo.

We hear how Saad Al Hudaifi, QF Radio’s Media Center Manager, has his finger on the pulse of Twitter through a program dedicated to who’s tweeting and what’s trending.

T he rise in the use of social media networks is a modern-day phenomenon. Since the dawn of the internet, opportunities to

interact with people through electronic media have developed into something that very few could have predicted.

The popularity of Twitter has led QF Radio’s Media Center Manager and presenter of Twitter, Saad Al Hudaifi, to believe that there is a place on the airwaves for discussing and digesting tweets from people from all over the world.

“Twitter is the communication tool of the now, whether it’s used in relation to breaking news or general opinion,” Al Hudaifi says. “It’s an instant and effective way of sharing ideas and thoughts on a wide variety of topics. Through my program, I try to give insight into what people from all

Bright Morning 07.00 sunday to ThursdayA look at the world of news, topics and ideas, revealing fresh and enlightening information along the way.International news 09.30 Daily Innovations *10.00 MondayAn exciting look at the scientific, technological and environmental advancements that are changing the world in which we live.The Movie guide 12.00 ThursdayBringing you up to speed with all the latest films available to view in the cinemas around Qatar and the world.english news *13.00 DailyMarket economics 15.00 TuesdayThe financial market, and all the news, analyses and details of the fluctuating ups and downs, whether relating to our region or the wider world.stars of science 15.00 wednesdayGuiding you through the most intricate details of the successful TV show Stars of Science.green Tea 16.00 saturdayDiscussing our health, our nutrition and how to get the most out of life.Therapeutic fatwas 16.00 fridayLooking at the hot topics relevant to the individual, family and society.voice of the youth 17.00 ThursdayThe younger members of our society can call the studio to express their feelings, opinions and ideas.raising a child 17.00 MondayListeners get to learn useful tips about parenting, communicating with children and solving their problems.corners *18.00 sunday to ThursdayA show that takes you to all corners of life and a place where topics ranging from health and wellbeing to technology, from local talent to politics, and film to events all get an airing.fashion *18.00 saturdayA show that brings you all the latest fashion news.straight up 19.00 sundayFocusing on daring subjects and dealing with them in a fair, objective and unbiased manner.Twitter 19.00 TuesdayYou take us on a journey where we can learn more about the tweets that you’ve written on your personal twitter accounts.legendary artists *20.00 DailyTaking you on a journey with a new legendary artist every day to listen to the featured artist’s songs and learn their story.sport global 21.00 DailyAll the action from the most high-profile tournaments from around the world.

QF Radio’s programs can now be downloaded via iTunes.The station can be found under Radio > International > QF Radio.

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walks of life are discussing. The Twitter program on QF Radio is akin to a snapshot of the most important and intriguing tweets from people all around the world, not only Qatar. The popularity of Twitter is reflective of society and society’s need to have a voice. It’s a challenge to get this snapshot of the online social networking site because of its sheer enormity.

“Focusing on inspirational and, perhaps, sometimes controversial users on Twitter gives me a gateway into what others are saying about particular issues across subjects that range from politics to sport and from entertainment to business.

“I aim to highlight a full range of tweets and I’m careful that my selection is balanced. In chosing what to air, I always keep in mind the sort of issues and topics that I believe listeners of QF Radio will be interested in.”

Following the trends

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all programs are in arabic only, except those marked with * which are in english.

www.qf.org.qa 31

what is your role at human resources (hr)?I am Government Affairs Co-ordinator here at

Qatar Foundation. My main duty is to act as a link between QF employees, students and visitors to QF, and government departments in Qatar. All paperwork for applying for entry and exit visas in and out of the country and for obtaining resident visas for new employees and students goes through this office, so you can imagine how busy it gets, particularly after Ramadan when there is an influx of new workers and freshman students from abroad. With numerous major conferences being held at QF throughout the year, there is also a huge amount of work to be done for visiting parties. Many guest speakers and lecturers arrived for the Annual Research Forum and the WISE Summit, just a couple of the big events which we contribute to by ensuring all visitors have their visit or business visas within a sufficient period of time.

what do you find most inspiring about your work and

why do you think it is important?As I encounter many different kinds of people

on a daily basis, I am inspired by some of the amazing people I work with and deal with in my job. It can be frustrating for people who are new to Qatar to understand the procedures that are in place with regard to official documentation such as resident permits and so on. I

believe it is very important for me to help people to understand how procedures work and, once I’m successful in doing so, I take great pleasure in the reassurance that gives people. My colleagues have been wonderful to work with since I joined QF 18 months ago and I look forward to continuing my work here, which I know makes a real difference to people’s lives.

what are your professional aspirations, hopes and

dreams?For now, I am very happy with what I’m doing and

with this stage of my career. I plan on returning to education soon, though, and I’m looking into studying for a Master’s degree. It would definitely be something in relation to HR, but I have not decided on a specific Master’s just yet. I like to aim high in life and I know that education is key to unlocking my potential. QF has helped me to grow and realize what I am capable of achieving. I’m aware that I must continue to better myself, and combining a hard work ethic with more education seems to be the natural course of action.

what advice do you have for students wanting to pursue a career in hr?Following your dreams is most important. Never

doubt your ability and never settle for second best or less than you are capable of doing and achieving. This mentality works in the classroom and in the workplace. Building relationships is vital in HR work. If you reach out to people, you will be on the road to being successful in your career from an early stage. I’ve held these values and ideas since I started out in the workforce, and it has worked as a recipe for success thus far.

“I like to aim high in life and I know that education is key to unlocking my potential”

ouT To lunch wITh...

Salem Al marri

QA

Each month The Foundation meets a young professional to learn about their career, their inspiration and the person behind the role.

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W orking as Government Affairs Co-ordinator

at Qatar Foundation’s Human resources Directorate, Salem Al Marri tells The Foundation how people are our greatest resource.

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