Qatar National Research Fund organises ‘Ibn Al Haytham Days’

Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), of Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D), held a two-day ‘Ibn Al Haytham Days,’ highlighting the Arab scholar. 

The event was held at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Student Centre, in partnership with the Supreme Education Council (SEC), Sidra Medical and Research Centre, Qatar University, Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) and the US embassy.

It was organised on the sidelines of the Photonics Middle East Conference (PMEC), co-sponsored by QNRF, and was part of Qatar marking the 2015 observance of the United Nations International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL). 

In his introduction at the event, Dr Abdulla Al Kamali, Special Programmes Manager, QNRF, said, “It’s the right time for students to revive their interest in Arab scholar Ibn Al Haytham, and the event lets them contribute in their own way.”

In line with Qatar Foundation (QF) mission, QNRF took part in the event to promote awareness about the role of Arab and Muslim scientists in the development of modern sciences and positioning Qatar as a hub of research excellence.

Day one of the event saw the final round of a competition aimed to encourage high school students from 22 schools to design and develop six-minute presentations on topics related to photonics and the human eye in front of three-member panels. 

Students worked in teams of two to five under the supervision of their physics teachers and coordinators. 

Om Ayman Secondary Independent School for Girls won the first place and Rabea Al Adaweya Secondary Independent School for Girls came second. Omar Ibn Al Khattab Secondary Independent School for Boys won the first place for boys and Jassim Bin Hamad Secondary Independent School for Boys came second. 

On the second day, the 2001 Nobel Laureate in Physics, Professor Wolfgang Ketterle, gave a presentation ‘The Coolest Use of Light – How to Make the Coldest Matter in the Universe’. 

Thomas Altman, a US-based high-school teacher and expert in laser and light activities, conducted experiments and hands-on demonstrations of light phenomena on both days.

Professor Ilham Al Qaradawi of Qatar University, and member of the event organising committee, gave a presentation on Ibn Al Haytham’ contributions and achievements.