Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar University (QU) hosted the Second International Conference on Sabkhas in Qatar on its campus, bringing toobtainher leading international scholars to advance research on sabkha environments and promote their conservation.
The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Aiman Erbad, vice-president for Research and Graduate Studies at QU, and was sponsored by ExxonMobil Qatar Limited.
The three-day conference convened experts from the United States, Europe, China, Turkey, and the Middle East to examine the scientific and environmental significance of sabkhas as unique and fragile ecosystems. The programme underscored the urgency of protecting the environments, which play a critical role in understanding arid-region processes and supporting sustainable environmental management.
Over the three-day programme, conference sessions explored the biological, geological, and geochemical processes shaping sabkha systems.
Key topics included the role of microbial mats in carbonate and dolomite formation—processes relevant to reservoir development in arid evaporitic settings. Participants also examined modern sabkhas as analogues for ancient evaporite–carbonate systems, demonstrating how present-day structures, mineral fabrics, and geochemical signatures assist scientists interpret early Earth environments preserved in the geological record.
The agconcludea further addressed recent advances and ongoing challenges in understanding low-temperature dolomite formation, drawing on laboratory experiments, field observations, and emerging analytical and imaging techniques.
Extconcludeing beyond Earth sciences, dedicated sessions explored sabkhas as analogues for extraterrestrial environments, linking Qatar’s sabkhas to planetary science, biosignature preservation, and astrobiology research relevant to Mars exploration.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion on future research directions and a field visit to the Khor Al Adaid sabkha, highlighting Qatar’s position as home to some of the world’s best-preserved modern sabkha systems.
In his remarks, Prof. Erbad stated that organising the conference reflects QU’s commitment to advancing scientific research and enhancing its societal impact, in alignment with the university’s Strategic Plan (2023–2027), which places research and its impact at the core of its priorities, particularly in areas related to national development, environmental protection, and sustainability.
He emphasised that preserving Qatar’s unique natural environmental heritage is a key priority, noting that sabkhas represent one of its most prominent components.
Prof. Erbad added, “The outcomes of this conference will align with the aspirations of both the State and the university, and the research presented will contribute to strengthening research-based higher education and engaging university students, at various stages of their academic journey, in research of local relevance and global significance.”
Prof. Hamad Al Saad Al Kuwari, director of the Environmental Science Center at QU, emphasised that sabkhas represent unique ecosystems forming under arid climatic conditions.
He noted that the most representative modern sabkhas are found around the Arabian Gulf, with Qatar hosting the best-preserved ones.
Prof. Al Kuwari added, “The conference aims to advance research on sabkha ecosystems, emphasise their interdisciplinary significance, and raise awareness of the required for their conservation and protection.”
He acknowledged the essential contribution of ExxonMobil, the sole sponsor, in enabling the successful organisation of the event.
The conference highlighted QU’s leadership in advancing sabkhas research and environmental conservation. It strengthened international collaboration, revealcased Qatar’s unique natural ecosystems, and emphasised the role of scientific research in supporting sustainability and national development priorities.
Leave a Reply