By now, you have heard of the term ‘cloud computing.’ In fact, you’re probably using a cloud service every day without even realizing it—web mail platforms like G-mail and Yahoo fall completely within the cloud-computing genre, as does social media. We’re gradually trusting clouds more and more to store, compartmentalize and manage our social and professional lives. Meanwhile, the technology grows invisibly larger, absorbing our data and expanding toward a critical mass that researchers say is already flipping the concepts of hardware, software and data on their heads.

The tools used in oil and gas exploration pummel through a myriad of harsh conditions to get data for underground mapping. However, pressure, 150°C+ heat and the vibration during drilling challenge the process. To start with, the downhole conditions are among the most unsuitable for power supplies, be they cords or batteries. Researchers in Qatar are looking at a way to improve the power source for drilling equipment, which could greatly enhance its performance and capabilities over time.

For the first time, fine detail about the wind and wave conditions around the coast of Qatar has been recorded. By arranging the most sophisticated equipment available on the edge of a 500-meter pier extending into the Gulf, a research team at Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) has collected detailed readings of air and wave currents around the peninsula. Their findings highlight a dearth of information on coastal conditions that have the potential to offer vital insights into many sectors.

One of QNRF’s greatest strengths is that we have listened and responded to your needs, and we continue to work closely with you to understand them as they change. We have built our own internal banks of knowledge and expertise, and that strategy has worked well, giving QNRF more opportunities to offer diverse programs of funding and support. This evolution is key in QNRF’s history and demonstrates that the focus on doing what’s right for the research community and delivering what they want, when they need it, is still at the very heart of QNRF’s decision-making. Six years on and QNRF is still listening and delivering what you want and moving closer to fulfilling our vision of creating knowledge-based society, fostering innovation and inspiring future generations as we go.

Born and raised in Qatar, and with a US education in molecular biology, Ms. Riham Daher has worked at QNRF for nearly five years. She says she is proud to work for the first funding mechanism of its kind in the region and that it's the unique Programs of QNRF that make it a vital research connection point, worldwide.

Dr. Somaya Al-Ma’adeed received her BSc in computer science from Qatar University in 1994. She received her MSc in mathematics and computer science from Alexandria University, Egypt, in 1999 and went on to get her PhD in computer science from Nottingham University in 2004. Since 1994, she has worked on research based at Qatar University, specializing in character recognition, writer identification, speech recognition, tendering systems and document management. Dr. Al-Ma’adeed has published around 20 papers in these areas and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at Qatar University.

Parents, students and QNRF staff recently gathered to honor the winners of the fourth Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) competition, which was held this year under the auspices of Mr. Faisal Alsuwaidi, President, Research and Development, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

The Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) has launched the third cycle of its Young Scientists Research Experience Program (YSREP), which from this cycle on will be called the Junior Scientists Research Experience Program (JSREP). The program provides support in all areas of science to young Qatari and expatriate scientists below 40 years of age. Candidates applying for funding under this program must hold a doctorate (PhD or MD) or terminal academic research degree.

Thirty QNRF-supported research projects were recently screened by intellectual property (IP) specialists, who assessed their potential impact on human, economic, environmental and social development in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. The QNRF-QSTP Joint IP Management Project focuses on research projects funded by QNRF's flagship funding vehicle, the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP).

QNRF's National Priorities Research Program-Exceptional Program (NPRP-EP) has reached a critical stage with the announcement of its first award. Of six proposals so far reviewed, one has been chosen to receive US$4.5 million over a five-year period.

Researchers, administrators and executives gathered recently at the Qatar National Convention Centre for the fourth QNRF Annual Forum, under the patronage of Mr. Faisal Alsuwaidi, President of Research and Development at the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF).

Breast cancer is the top cancer among women worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The disease is rooted in a complex mix of genetics, increased life expectancy and lifestyle choices as well as environmental factors. In fact, it’s so hard to pinpoint what exactly predisposes someone to breast cancer that preventing it is not as much of a focus on early detection, which is the cornerstone of breast cancer control strategies due to its positive impact on prognosis and survival rates.

Steel alloy pipeline is the mode of transport for natural gas and its byproducts. To prevent the escape of hazardous materials and costly maintenance shutdowns, these massive tubes must be airtight and durable. They must also be supple enough for welding and molding. These two demands are hard to meet without breakdowns in the system.