Al Ain, Dec 11th, 2011 (WAM) -- Under the patronage of Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region HH Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the UAE University Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan opened the First International Conference on Engineering Geophysics at the UAEU campus in Al Ain today.
The conference organised by United Arab Emirates University and Al Ain City Municipality is attended by 150 researchers from 24 Arab and friendly countries. The opening ceremony was attended by Undersecretary of the Court of Ruler's Representative Sheikh Hazza Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Sheikh Shakhbout Bin Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAEU Vice Chancellor Dr. Abdullah Al Khanbashi, Chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs in Abu Dhabi Majid Ali Al Mansouri, Director of Al Ain Municipality Matar Mohammed Saif Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the UAEU Dr. Fatima Al Shamisi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at UAEU Dr Reyadh Al Muhaideb, deans of other faculties and representatives of various engineering, geological and Geophysical organisations in the UAE. Welcoming the participants in the major conference, Sheikh Nahyan said: "We in the United Arab Emirates University are fully aware of the importance of research and innovation as an engine of progress and an incentive for the development of our beloved motherland". He thanked the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) for their participation in the conference. Geophysics is generally applied for exploration purposes to provide useful information regarding the early detection of potentially dangerous subsurface conditions. The sources of hazards in civil engineering disciplines result essentially from undetected near-surface structures, such as cavities and/or inhomogeneities in subsurface foundation geomaterials. Information related to the local soil conditions is vital for risk assessment and mitigation measures. The conference is oriented towards new applied and theoretical approaches in engineering geophysics as well as specific case studies in civil engineering and environmental applications. "Our vision is for the United Arab Emirates University to become an internationally distinguished comprehensive research university", explained Dr. Khanbasi in a statement made on the occasion.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.
