Excellence in student and faculty research recognized

To underscore its growing emphasis on research and development, the American University of Sharjah is currently supporting 91 diverse research projects through grants totaling more than AED one million. This was announced at the “Research and Recognition – Student and Faculty Awards” ceremony on April 27 on campus.

The prestigious event was held to honor achievements in research at AUS. Student winners of the Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) Awards and the BP Awards were honored at the presentation along with faculty winners of the AUS Faculty Research Grants 2005.

Among those attending the event were Dr. Amr Abdel Hamid, Advisor on Higher Education to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah; Mr. Salem Al Qaseer, Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs; Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; Mr. George DeBin, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration; deans of the three AUS schools and the College of Arts and Sciences; as well as other senior university officials along with Mr. Abdul Nasir Al Midfa of Sharjah Islamic Bank, and Mr. Nasir Akram of BP Sharjah Oil Company.

Speaking on the occasion, AUS Chancellor Winfred Thompson emphasized the importance given to research at AUS and said that along with faculty research, students research projects are also being actively encouraged and supported by the university.

Dr. Judith Killen, Director of the AUS Office of Graduate Studies and Research, announced the recipients of the AUS Faculty Research Grants Spring 2005. She said that this year 44 proposals were submitted by faculty out of which 27 were selected by the University Research Committee and the Office of Graduate Studies and Research for a recommended amount of AED 468,729. “With the awarding of these grants, AUS is now supporting 91 projects for a total of AED 1.1 million; this includes the 54 projects funded last year through the Faculty Research Grant 2004 as well as the Seed Grant Competition, Fall 2005,” she said.

“Of the current 27 projects awarded, 19 are funding more than 30 student research assistants and involving many more students through funding from other sources. It is no accident that several of the winning student projects we recognize here today began with a faculty research grant award,” she added.

She also informed the audience that AUS is in the process of filing its first patent – for the Fetal ECG monitor. “The development of this device, which may save the lives of mothers and their babies all over the world, was partially developed through a faculty research grant,” she said. “Our faculty members are conducting research that addresses topics that are relevant internationally.

These include innovative drug development systems, climate change, environmental cleanup, pesticide runoff and thin films development among others. Our faculty members are also conducting research of particular relevance tothis region: the excavation of heretofore unstudied archeological sites, the removal of heavy metals from used oil, corrosion in extreme environments and rust detection systems, to mention only a few.”

The 12 student award winners were presented certificates by Chancellor Thompson and Dr. Sallie Sheppard, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Dr. Nadia Alhasani, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, acknowledged the student's achievements: “Whether through individual or collaborative work, these students have contributed to the university's mandate to become a ʻcenter of research.'” “We are very pleased to be launching this new annual award program by BP today,” said Ms. Debbie Strachan, BP Commerce Manager.

Winning entries for the BP awards were selected by the University Research Committee in collaboration with BP and all winners received a highend laptop computer. The AUS University Research Committee also selected the winners from the projects submitted by students in response to the SIB awards. Recipients of these awards received cash prizes.