The upcoming lecture is the last in a three-part Joint Research Seminar Series

In a three-part collaborative series designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry, Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Science and Engineering (CSE) and Qatar Shell are to conclude the Joint Sustainability Research Seminars (JSRS) on April 18 for this academic year. The final lecture will be delivered by Dr. Abitha Ramesh and Dr. Nick Laycock, and is set to focus on material and corrosion challenges in gas production and processing.

The one-hour session will be held at the Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Building in Education City, and is open to the wider public, students, staff, and faculty members. Dr. Mounir Hamdi, dean of CSE, said: “As academics, it is a core aim to encourage knowledge-sharing with the hope of contributing to a better, more sustainable future for the next generation. As such, we seek to promote a greater understanding of the topics we present through the college’s lectures, seminars, and symposia. Our upcoming lecture, which is held jointly with our partners at Qatar Shell, will foster an even more important discussion that is essentially linked to our country’s future.”  

Attendees will learn more about corrosion management at Qatar’s Pearl offshore and onshore gas facilities, and receive an overview of the Materials and Corrosion research program at the Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre (QSTRC). The latter deliberation is particularly relevant to the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) plant, marine corrosion prevention, and corrosion monitoring of sour gas pipelines. 

The public event will also provide guests with an industry expert’s perspective on efforts that are underway to preserve and protect the environment by targeting sustainable growth in the energy and water sectors. Furthermore, it will additionally present visitors with a unique opportunity to network with subject matter experts.

Dr. Abitha Ramesh and Dr. Nick Laycock, Corrosion R&D Leads for QSTRC and Qatar Shell respectively, will be delivering the corrosion management seminar. Dr. Ramesh is a well-established expert in this field. Dr. Laycock has over 20 years of experience, six of which were spent at Qatar Shell. He holds an MSc and PhD from the Corrosion and Protection Centre at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, and has received several distinguished awards throughout his career.

HBKU and Qatar Shell’s JSRS builds on the organizations’ shared values to strengthen awareness about energy and environmental protection. The first lecture of the series in February was presented by Dr. Dhruv Arora, and discussed conservation methods of preserving the environment that are currently undertaken by the energy sector. The second lecture, hosted in March, deliberated on efforts undertaken to safely extract natural resources through more sustainable means.

Established as a dedicated academic and research space, the College of Science and Engineering at HBKU boasts three divisions in the fields of Life Sciences, Information and Computing Technology, and Sustainable Development. As a multidisciplinary college, CSE leads higher education programs that aim to tackle today’s challenges and opportunities in engineering, science, and technology.

To find out more about CSE, please visit cse.hbku.edu.qa.