Nearly 100 scientists at chemistry meeting

Al-Sowaidi with Texas A&M at Qatar’s Weichold

Nearly 100 scientists from around the world participated in the fifth annual Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco)-Texas A&M at Qatar Chemistry Conference, hosted by the latter in Education City.
The participants discussed computational chemistry, advanced chemistry research and how to facilitate bridges between industry and academia to integrate this new knowledge.
Dr Krishnan Raghavachari delivered the keynote address, "Accurate Electronic Structure Methods for Small, Medium and Large Molecules”.
A professor of chemistry at Indiana University in Bloomington, United States, Dr Raghavachari is also the winner of the 2009 American Physical Society’s Davisson-Germer Prize in Surface Physics.
Texas A&M at Qatar dean and chief executive Dr Mark H Weichold said that the event is important to both the academic and industrial communities.
"With an emphasis this year on computational chemistry, this event contributes to the university’s mission of teaching, research and community service, while representing our partnerships with industry leaders in Qatar, such as Qafco,” Weichold said.
The conference programme also included speakers from Qafco, Rice University, Rutgers, University of California, University of Toronto, University of Florida, Texas A&M University, University of Washington and Texas A&M University at Qatar.
Qafco managing director Khalifa Abdulla al-Sowaidi observed that such conferences offer a platform upon which the fields of science and business can create and share processes which support sustainable development.
"Qafco sees this as an opportunity to bond with our partner, Texas A&M at Qatar, and as an endeavour to chart a framework for future co-operation between industrial establishments and academic institutions,” al-Sowaidi said. 
The science programme chairman Dr Hassan Bazzi said that the conference reflects the growing research and development culture in Qatar, especially with the increasing support that the Qatar Foundation is allocating to this important sector.