JERUSALEM | "On Saturday, April 21, 2018 Al-Quds Bard College for Arts and Science (AQB), with the full support of Al-Quds University, hosted the “First Undergraduate Research Conference” to be organized in Palestine. The conference brought together Palestinian undergraduates from all over the country to present their excellent research works in a competitive environment.
The undergraduate research conference served as a platform for Palestinian students to present their projects, discuss their work, and join the tradition of getting together with fellow-researchers in a stimulating environment. The main goals of the event were to educate the participants on how to organize a public event and apply for a conference, and how to write a proposal, present a project in a concise manner, and defend research works in front peers during a critical discussion. It also offered the opportunity to highlight students’ academic achievements.
The conference was opened with a presentation by a keynote speaker, Dr. Zaidoun Salah, a distinguished scholar and an admired professor at AQB, who talked about his most recent research projects and experience of working in academia in Palestine. The ceremony was followed by three separate panels: Biomedical Sciences & Health, Engineering & Computer Science, and Social Sciences, as well as the posters’ session. In these panels, over 20 students from all over Palestine presented their works. The participants were from Al-Quds University, Al-Quds Bard College, Birzeit University, Hebron University, Palestine Polytechnic University, and the University of Palestine in Gaza. Students from the University of Palestine joined the sessions via video conference, and their posters were exhibited along with the other participants'.
Based on the assessment of the presentations in each respective division, the following participants were awarded by the academic community for their distinguished projects:
- Oroob Shweiki, Al-Quds University, for her project: “Complications of Iron Overload and Autoantibodies in Thalassemia Patients in Palestine”
- Hidaya Abu Ammash and Yasmeen Wahdan, Al-Quds University, for their poster: "Factors Related to Access to Dental Care among Palestinian Pregnant Women in Jerusalem Governorate".
- Shaima Naim, Shima Al Sadoni, Malak Osama, and Leyan Elshawwa and Malak Al Qedra from the University of Palestine (Gaza) for their presentation on "Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries among 4 Year Old Preschool Children in Gaza City: A Cross Sectional Study"
- Abdallah Nasr, University of Palestine (Gaza) for his project: "Experimental Investigation on Performance of Cold Mix Asphalt Containing Cement and Rc2 Treated Filler"
- Suhaila Owiwe, Hebron University for her presentation on "How Palestinians Run Away from Poverty: Palestinian Labor in Israeli Settlements"
All the participants received certificates from the Dean of Scientific Research at Al-Quds University, Dr. Elham Kateeb, and the Associate Dean of Al-Quds Bard College for Arts and Sciences, Dr. Rebecca Granato.
On this occasion, Al-Quds Bard extends thanks for organizing and conducting the event to Dr. Elham Kateeb, Dr. Rebecca Granato, all the chairs and moderators of the sessions including Dr. Hazem Agha, Dr. Kholoud Dajani, Dr. Mohammad Hjjoj, Dr. Omar Surkhi, Mr. Yazid Al-Badarin, Dr. Thomas Keenan, and Dr. Zaidoun Salah. Thanks also go to the administrative staff and the Public Relations team at Al-Quds University for their help.
