MUSCAT - Without passion and determination nothing can be achieved. Seven 3rd year BSc Applied Geosciences students shared their enthusiasm for the science of our planet, during a public evening presentation held on Tuesday evening at the German University of Technology (GUtech), Airport campus in Al Athaiba.
"You never find a Mercedes Benz in the mountains, but the rocks with the metals for its production," said Aisha Al Riyami, while explaining the different rocks and sediments that can be found in the Omani Hajar mountains. In general the mountains can tell us about the tectonic movements, that occurred millions of years ago.
"Oman is an open book for geoscientists," said Maha Al Rawahi. Many rocks that are usually hidden inside the earth or covered by a forest, can be seen in Oman. Especially the black lava mountains and Omani ophiolites are renowned worldwide and attract many geologists and tourists every year. "The present is the key to the past" said Aisha while pointing out that a group of professors of the department of Applied Geosciences at GUtech along with its German parent-university RWTH Aachen University found evidence for floods that happened several thousand years in the Sultanate of Oman. Fossils found in al Wasta region and in Muscat that were on display in a small exhibition on the sidelines of the presentation tell us about life in Oman around 65 million years ago. "When you study Geosciences, you study the theory in the classroom, but work many times in the field as well" said Maha. All courses are supervised by professors from RWTH Aachen University. For additional fieldtrips abroad or special laboratory courses at RWTH Aachen University, the travel costs are included in the tuition fees.
According to the GUtech students, many career possibilities await Geosciences students: "You can work in an office or in the field and specialize in geochemistry, hydrogeology, mining geology, petroleum geology, structural geology," said Kawther Al Quraishi. "If you are interested in history, biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics, you should study geosciences. If you are especially interested in history you can focus on paleontology," said Kauthar Al Quraishi.
GUtech offers a four-year (eight semesters) Bachelor of Sciences programme in Applied Geosciences and a three year (six semesters) MSc programme in Petroleum Geoscience. Both programmes are taught in English. The BSc programme focuses on three areas of key importance to the Gulf region and its future: energy, water and mineral georesources. The first three semesters introduce the fundamentals of the study programme in mathematics, natural sciences, which include physics and chemistry and geosciences.
GUtech emphazises the future career prospects of its graduates and therefore many courses in the programme are presented in cooperation with local and international industry partners. Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and presentation skills are integrated throughout the curriculum. From the first day at GUtech students are encouraged to think critically and act responsibly; GUtech staff assists them in developing these competences.
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For more information, please contact:
Manuela Gutberlet
Public Relations Manager
German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech)
Tel: +968 2461 6681 | Fax: +968 2461 6677 |
PO Box 1816, Athaibah, PC 130, Sultanate of Oman
Sultan Qaboos Highway, direction Muscat Intern. Airport, exit Petrol Station
Building 636
www.gutech.edu.om
© Press Release 2011
