Report - Plan for a University Marine Science Department, Doha, Qatar, With a Synopsis of: Remote Sensing Technology in Marine Sciences (Confidential) WITH University of Qatar brochure "Mukhtabar Albihar"

Gohar, H.A.; A.A. Soliman; S.M. Soliman; J.D. Woods; A. Lockwood; S. Morcos; M.F. Saoud; A.M. Abdel Gawad

Published by State of Qatar Faculty of Education, Doha, 1975

About this Item

Yellow printed wraps with black cloth spine 21x28cm. 46, 2pp English + 2, 42pp Arabic text. Very good. The Report gives valuable insight into the University of Qatar's early development. It was formed by Royal Decree in 1973 as the College of Education, with 150 students. In its first year, Science Head Dr Soliman M Soliman appointed a lecturer for each discipline. In 1974 staff numbers were increased to 2 each in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Biology. In 1975 these areas became autonomous, followed by Botany and Zoology in 1976. The College became a University in 1977 (referred here as "Gulf University"). The need to prioritise marine sciences was clear: "Traditional interest in the sea that is widespread amongst the population of Qatar, many of whom depended for their livelihood on its produce in years gone by, but also because of the great potential strength that the sea holds for the future economic strength of Qatar" (p5). Thus in 1975 an Expert Committee was formed, chaired by by HAR Gohar (Cairo University) with members from the Faculty of Education (Soliman and MFA Saoud), Ain Shams University (VP Abdel Aziz Soliman), Southampton University (JD Woods and AD Lockwood), and UNESCO (Selim Morcos). Their Report recognises Qatar's unique potential for fisheries, and vulnerability to pollution. It describes a "minimum viable department" capable of exploration, teaching and research. It proposes launch in 1976 with new staff and a motor launch for inshore work (Phase 1), expanding to a full department by 1980 with specially designed building, research vessel, other craft and equipment (Phase 2). Undergraduate teaching would be provided for Qataris and others (particularly from Gulf States), with post-grad options abroad. Technicians would be trained on research vessels and in labs. The top priority would be to build a collection of specimens and a data centre, with a full marine survey to direct research and regional cooperation. The University brochure, "Mukhtabar Albihar", 42x22cm folding into 8 panels in English and Arabic with colour photos, undated c1982. This describes the research vessel built in Norway under University and Unesco supervision, and operated during 1982-2012. The Report looks to be extremely rare, not recorded on Worldcat or Library Hub, with scant references online. A Unesco paper credits its "valuable guidance" in taking plans forward (Crisp, "Faculty of Science, University of Qatar", Unesco, 1978: 1).

Seller Inventory # 4518

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Report - Plan for a University Marine Science Department, Doha, Qatar, With a Synopsis of: Remote Sensing Technology in Marine Sciences (Confidential) WITH University of Qatar brochure "Mukhtabar Albihar"
• Publisher: State of Qatar Faculty of Education, Doha
• Publication Date: 1975
• Language: English
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Very Good