Doha: Qatar University (QU) hosted the Second International Conference on Sabkha in Qatar, convening a contingent of international scientists and researchers to foster scientific research related to sabkha environments and support protection efforts. A statement by QU on Wednesday said the three-day conference brought together experts from the United States, Europe, China, Turkiye, and the Middle East to explore the scientific and environmental significance of sabkhas as unique and fragile ecosystems.
According to Qatar News Agency, the sessions, sponsored by ExxonMobil Qatar, addressed the biological, geological, and chemical processes that shape sabkha systems. The agenda deliberated on the latest developments and ongoing challenges in understanding low-temperature dolomite formation, drawing on laboratory experiments, field observations, and emerging analytical and imaging techniques, among other topics.
Aiman Erbad, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the College of Engineering at QU, said hosting this scientific conference underscores QU's commitment to its leading role in supporting scientific research and strengthening its societal impact. This aligns with its Strategic Plan (2023-2027), which places scientific research and impact enhancement as a pivotal priority, particularly when it comes to national development, environmental protection, and sustainability. Preserving Qatar's unique natural environmental heritage is among the foremost priorities, with sabkhas representing one of its substantial components, Erbad underlined.
Erbad stated that the conference outcomes were aligned with both national and QU aspirations, and that the showcased research helped boost research-based higher education, while engaging university students at various academic levels in research of local relevance and global significance.
For his part, Director of the Environmental Science Center (ESC) at QU, Hamad Al Saad Al Kuwari, affirmed that sabkhas represent unique ecosystems formed under arid climatic conditions, noting that the most representative modern sabkhas are found around the Arabian Gulf. The conference was intended to advance research momentum in sabkha systems, highlight their multidisciplinary significance, and upscale awareness of the need to protect them, Al Kuwari noted. He commended the vital role of ExxonMobil, the official sponsor, in enabling the successful organization of the conference.
Overall, the conference highlighted QU's pioneering role in advancing sabkha research and environmental protection, contributing to strengthening collaboration among researchers and scientific institutions, while showcasing the unique natural habitats of the State of Qatar.